Superior Entry Webcam Update!

With April here, I thought I would give a stutus report of the Superior Entry Cam project. The camera is ready and tested. The communications antennas have been programmed and are ready for further testing. Electrical wiring to upgrade and prepare for the camera installation has been delayed due to weather and judging by the forecast may still experience some delays. This has been a long winter and it is going to hang on for a bit longer. We have enough money to pay for the wiring upgrades, so, it is just a matter of a few more weeks, although, there is bound to be some glitches, especially with the communications. That's all I know for now. Den

James R Barker arrived Two Harbors 03/30/2018

James R Barker arrived Two Harbors Friday afternoon.

Herbert C Jackson arrived Duluth 03/30/2018

Herbert C Jackson arrived Duluth early this morning.

Lee A Tregurtha Departed Duluth, arrived Two Harbors 03/30/2018

Lee A Tregurtha Departed Duluth arrived Two Harbors early this morning on its first cruise of the season.

CSL Laurentien arrived Two Harbors 3/29/2018

CSL Laurentien arrived Two Harbors this afternoon.

Roger Blough departed Two Harbors 03/29/2018

Roger Blough departed Two Harbors early this morning.

John G Munson arrived Duluth 03/28/2018

John G Munson arrived Duluth this morning to load iron pellets.

Roger Blough arrived Two Harbors 03/27/2018

Roger Blough arrived Two Harbors Tuesday evening.

Stewart J Cort arrived Duluth 03/27/2018

Stewart J Cort arrived last evening to load iron pellets.

Frontenac arrived Duluth 03/27/2018

Frontenac arrived Duluth this morning to load iron pellets.

Baie St Paul arrived Duluth 03/27/2018

Baie St  Paul arrived Duluth this morning to load iron.

Philip R Clarke departed Duluth 03/26/2018

Philip R Clarke departed Duluth this afternoon.

Cason J Callaway arrived Duluth 032618

Cason J Callaway arrived Duluth this afternoon to load iron pellets.

It appears the boats, people and gulls have returned.

Presque Isle arrived Duluth 03/26/2018

Presque Isle arrived Duluth early this afternoon to load iron.

Edgar B Speer arrived Two Harbors 03/26/2018

Edgar B Speer arrived Two Harbors early this morning.

Burns Harbor departed Duluth 03/26/2018

Burns Harbor departed Duluth early this morning

Philip R Clarke arrived Duluth 03/26/2018

Philip R Clarke arrived Duluth early this morning for BN.

Edwin H Gott departed Two Harbors 03/25/2018

Edwin H Gott departed Two Harbors this morning.

Edwin H Gott arrived Two Harbors 03/24/2018

Edwin H Gott arrived Two Harbors late Saturday during strong east winds.

Edwin H Gott departed Duluth 03/24/2018

Edwin H Gott departed Duluth this afternoon.

James R Barker departed Duluth 03/24/2018

James R Barker departed Duluth early this morning after some quick maint.

James R Barker - by Paul Scinocca

 Paul Scinocca took this nice image of the James R Barker on it's way out today.  See more of Paul's images at: https://www.facebook.com/paul.scinocca

James R Barker arrived Duluth 03/23/2018

James R Barker arrived Duluth this afternoon shortly after departing.  Unknown reason.

Good to hear the Barker horn again though.

Kaye E Barker departed Duluth 03/23/2018

Kaye E Barker departed Duluth this afternoon with a fresh coat of paint.

James R Barker departed Duluth 03/23/2018

James R Barker departed Duluth this afternoon loaded with pellets.

Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort departed Two Harbors 03/21/2018

 Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort  departed Two Harbors late morning

Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort arrived Two Harbors 03/20/18

After battling ice for the afternoon, the Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort finally arrived in Two Harbors at 22:30

Almost there!

The Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort is finally moving after an afternoon in the ice. The Tug backed away from the barge and cut a path to open water then came back and reconnected and is now on its way to Two Harbors.
This picture is from the WDIO Tower cam at 18:45 this evening.

Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort departed Duluth 03/20/18

Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort at noon today bound for Two Harbors. First boat out of Duluth for the 2018 shipping season.

The Trader got stuck in the ice shortly after departure.

Harbor will wake up this week!

Update: 3/19/2018 - New Schedules

Tuesday 3/20/2018 17:00 - Erie Trader/ Clyde S. VanEnkevort hopes to get underway before noon Tuesday, heading to the CN dock in Two Harbors to load iron ore.

Thursday 3/22/2018 The Edwin H. Gott and Kaye E Barker 
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Ice breaking operations will increase this week with the anticipated start of the shipping season this Thursday when the Edwin H Gott and Burns Harbor pull out of their winter layup slips.

New GLA Cam installed

The new GLA cam is now installed.  I still have some tweaking to do on it, but, it's good to see the view.
Thanks to everyone who donated to the replacement after it failed last week. 

Two Harbors Fishermen 031018 - The rest of the story

The previous video showed the last half of a long challenge for two fishermen determined to get their boat into Lake Superior.  This video is a 5 minute timelapse of the entire two-hour endeavor.

-Early Spring fishing, certainly has its challenges.

Two Harbors Ice Fishing/Breaking

These two fishermen (perhaps Sven and Ole) are the most determines guys that I have seen on the cams.  Saturday morning, after chopping a place for their boat, the two were finally able to launch and break their way free onto Lake Superior.

They returned six hours later.

A good example of ice fishing and breaking when needed.



Music by: Eric Matyas http://soundimage.org/

Harborcam Update

Superior Entry Cam

• I will be testing the new antenna system when it arrives later this week.
• Wiring upgrades on the Superior Piers should be done in the next few weeks.
• The new camera is ready for installations once the other system wiring and antennas are in place and tested.
• Still hoping for around May 1st.

GLA Cam

• The New camera has been ordered and I should be able to get it in place by later this week.

General 

•  Boat crews are returning to the big boats that have been layed up here for the winter.
• The Alder, along with the larger tugs will begin icebreaking operations this week.
• The Alder will be going out on a press tour Thursday at 9AM.
• Other Great Lakes icebreaking operations are also starting up this week.
• Expect Large boat traffic by March 23rd.
• The Soo Locks open on March 25th.

Know Your Ships 2018 now available

The 2018 version of Know your Ships is now available over at: http://knowyourships.com/

Complete GLA Camera Failure!

Update: 17:30 - Thanks to the 25 people who donated to the GLA cam replacement. I just ordered the new cam and it will be here next week.

Amazing that we can raise nearly $1000 in 5 hours.  - Thanks so much. The new camera is the same model that was installed at the Two Harbors Boat Launch. I will hang on to the old one for parts.

12:00 - I was able to get on the roof of the Great Lakes Aquarium this morning after not being unable to access the camera remotely after multiple resets.

After testing the power supplies on the roof, I had to remove the camera for testing on the bench. It appears that after 4 years of continuous operation the camera has completely failed.
The GLA is a great location for a camera and I will start another fundraiser to replace this camera.

The good thing is that everything is in place for a new camera and it shouldn't take long to get a new one in service.

And so it goes!

p.s. - Wisconsin Point is stilll moving forward.

Sunrise Glory

The sun is now inching it's way north every morning as warming weather and sunny days grow longer and more frequent.

The sunrise today from the Pier B cam was particularly beautiful.

Must be time to order some more chickens!

Wisconsin Pt Cam progress

Wiconsin Point Camera Update - The Wisconsin Point Camera needs to transmit the video signal 7 miles from the Superior Entry to the Harbor Hub (my hillside office).  I did some testing today with the first set of antenna's that I thought would work, since they have a 9 mine range.  In realilty I could only get them to reach as far as the Sky Harbor Airport which is 5 miles. So, I am going to try a pair of more powerful antenna's next and will keep you posted. I had a feeling it might turn out like this.

Below is a picture of one of the antenna's set up on a tripod for the first test.    The antenna appears larger then it really is (7in dia).  On the next pole over are the Bayfront Cam, Harbor Cam, Hillside Cam and an AIS antenna.

CGC Alder beginning Duluth operations 03/06/2018

CGC Alder began it's 2018 operation with a sail out into Lake Superior this windy morning on a short mission to test out the ice.

CGC Alder Ice Breaking Today

The CGC Alder will make its way under the Duluth Lift Bridge this morning on its first ice-breaking run of the season. Probably about 9AM -- check duluthboats.com for updates.

Congratulations -- Wisconsin Point Webcam funding complete!

In a few days we raises over $4200 for the new Wisconsin Point Webcam. 
Your generosity never ceases to amaze me.  Here is the plan for the cam!

• Next, I have to program and test the long range radio antennas.  
• The camera installation will be done in conjuction with a Corp of Engineers lighting upgrade project at the same time. Once the weather warms up, the upgrades can proceed.
• I have the camera on order and should be able to have it programmed and ready once the project begins.

My hope is that the installation will be complete sometime in April.  I will keep you posted as advances are made. I do expect some glitches with this project as it is a long distance to transmit a video signal.  However, I am confident it will work after some tweeks.

Thanks again, over 120 people contributed to the new cam---- simply amazing!

Den

Boat Schedules!

FYI,
The CGC Alder will be out this week, the tugs next week and the big boats will begin moving the following week.

Ghost Ship- JB Ford -- Taken by Jeff Doty

While the JB Ford sits in the scrap yard waiting to be turned into some other steel project, Jeff Doty used a lot of creativity to capture the ful moon over the bow.

You can view more of Jeff's exceptional photography at his Facebook Page.