The Lake Superior 2008 shipping season has begun! The first of this season's Iron Ore freighters has arrived in Marquette. The "Mesabi Miner" made her journey to Marquette from the twin ports of Deluth / Superior. The 1,000 foot self-unloading bulk carrier was originally launched February 14, 1977! She arrived with a load of coal from Midwest Energy Resources to our harbor yesterday.The U.S. Coast Guard began breaking Lake Superior ice last Tuesday to speed up the process of reopening lanes for the shipping season. The lake ice on the Great Lakes would take weeks to naturally melt, so every year the Coast Guard helps it along by breaking ice 20 to 36 inches thick in order to form shipping lanes with icebreaking tug boats like the Biscayne Bay, a 140 foot tug.
You can view video and photos of the Mesabi Miner at You Tube by clicking on the links below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJyR9XFT3f0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I1vdu_6Rn4
I will continue to be "on the look out" for signs of SPRING and will keep you posted!!!
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