Seaway Trail President Mitchell Passes

Sad news spread quickly this morning across the Seaway/Great Lakes region as Seaway Trail President and Clayton resident Teresa Mitchell passed away.

Known for making the Seaway Trail an American Byway and sharing with others all of the many things our region had to offer, Mitchell led the way in tourism.

Mitchell was a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC). From 1972 to 1986, Mitchell marketed the 1000 Islands international tourism destination for the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. She helped her mentor Dr. Vincent J. Dee, Sr. develop the concept for the Seaway Trail scenic byway and became the first Executive Director of the Seaway Trail Corporation in 1986. The route was named a National Recreation Trail in 1990-91 and a first-round National Scenic Byway in 1996.

Mitchell was influential in the development of New York State Scenic Byway legislation in 1991.

For her service to New York State tourism, she was awarded the I Love New York Individual Achievement Award by the New York State Economic Development agency. She led the $1.9 million renovation of the historic Union Hotel in Sackets Harbor into the Seaway Trail Discovery Center and Gift Shop that opened in July 2000. Mitchell also championed theme-based byway tourism and the development of quilting as cultural heritage tourism travel theme and created the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show held each March in Sackets Harbor. She had recently completed her War of 1812-style quilt for the March 17-18 show.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11am. Saturday, January 28 at St. Mary’s Church, Clayton. Calling hours will be 2-4pm and 7-9pm, Friday, January 27 at Cummings Funeral Service, Clayton. Contributions may be made in Teresa’s honor to the Seaway Trail Foundation, PO Box 660, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; Hospice of Jefferson County, 425 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601; the Clayton Rotary Club, PO Box 295, Clayton, NY 13624, or to a charity of one’s choice.

On a personal note, Teresa and I spoke many times on the phone and through email as I organized Sailing Seaway Clayton and each time we talked about how we should go to the Kove for a cup of coffee to chat. Its unfortunate that day never came.

53rd Seaway Season Wrap

Cornwall, Ontario (Janurary 17, 2012) - The St. Lawrence Seaway closed for the season on December 30, 2011, with the westbound vessel Algoma Spirit reaching Lake Ontario at 7:54 a.m. after having transited the locks on the St. Lawrence River. The Seaway’s 53rd navigation season commenced on March 22nd, and the system remained open for a record 284 days, exceeding by one day the previous record set in 2006.

The tug / barge combination John Spence / Niagara Spirit was the last vessel to transit the Welland Canal, clearing Port Colborne December 30th at 8:26 p.m. on its way to Lake Erie.

The St. Lawrence Seaway’s positive momentum remained intact in 2011, with tonnage volumes rising by 2.5% to reach an estimated 37.5 million tonnes. Trade patterns exhibited a number of changes, most notably with iron ore and coal becoming export commodities due to strong overseas demand. Grain volumes decreased overall by some 6.4% due to a decrease in the amount of U.S. grain moving via the Seaway. Strong increases in the volume of bulk liquids, salt and scrap metal contributed to an overall cargo increase of 930,000 tonnes for the system’s 2011 season.

Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, noted that the year brought about some significant progress on a number of fronts. “We recognize that while some of our core markets remain under pressure, work is progressing in terms of diversifying our market base, containing our costs, and increasing the system’s productivity. Over the last four years, our market development efforts have generated $12.5 million in new business revenue” said Bowles.“In addition to advances in cargo volumes, we achieved a good deal of progress in 2011 on a number of other fronts” said Bowles. “In October of 2011, a new three-year labour agreement was ratified, extending to March 31, 2014. We reached a fair settlement that controls our costs and ensures that our customers can continue to experience reliable service.”

“This is the second consecutive year of increases in Seaway traffic and tonnage, reflecting the resilience of the North American economy” said Collister Johnson, Jr., Administrator of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

A recently published economic impact study, commissioned by Marine Delivers, demonstrates the significant role that the Great Lakes / Seaway system plays in supporting the Canadian and U.S. economies. Some 227,000 jobs and $34 billion in economic activity are supported by the movement of goods within the Great Lakes / Seaway waterway. Since its inception in 1959, over 2.5 billion tonnes valued in excess of $375 billion has been transported via the Seaway.

Barge Cargo being Moved by Trucks

The off-loaded cargo in Kingston, left behind by tug Evans McKeil and the damaged barge Labrador, is slowly making its way to it's final destination according to reader Chris Howitt.

Tractor trailers were seen loading the ingots for a journey across the border by land, rather than water. The trucks, bearing NY license plates, will bring the cargo to Oswego.

Due to limited space on a truck bed, numerous shipments will need to be made.

Body Found Believed to be Someone Other Than Missing Sailor

Mixed reports from various sources, as well as comments from family of the missing sailor, Gary Charlton, claim that the body found washed ashore on Wolfe Island last week does not match the identity of Charlton.

Since October 2010, the family of Charlton has dealt with pain and sorrow, while hoping for news of his reappearance. However, the pain remains unchanged today as sources report that the body that found its way to the shore of Wolfe Island was not him.

"May God bless all that have lost someone," Gary's wife wrote on a blog post. "Hopes and prayers go to all in the same place we are at."

That's a Wrap... Season Over

The clock struck midnight and the 2011 shipping season along the St. Lawrence Seaway officially came to a close.

This season saw a spike in tonnage, which many hope will begin a trend of better days for the North American economy.

In addition, the Seaway season brought some interesting stories in 2011.

- A strike was avoided between SLSMC and union workers

- Unbalanced water levels

- Ships aground early in the season

- Tall ships in Clayton

- Submarines towed upbound for scrapping

- More yachts

- No ice to start the season; little-to-no snow at the end

Look for a complete recap in the upcoming issue of Thousand Islands Life.

Thanks for reading this season and stay tuned throughout the winter on news and information regarding the Seaway and the second-annual Sailing Seaway Clayton event.

Final Ship to Pass Overnight

Algoma Spirit had been windbound and forced to anchor yesterday, sitting for more than 24 hours. The ship departed around 1:30 p.m. from anchorage near Beauharnois Lock to continue upbound for Hamilton.

The ship is expected to reach Eisenhower Lock around 9:55 p.m. tonight and should clear the Islands before daybreak.

Algoma Spirit is the final ship on the Seaway for the 2011 season.

Body Washes Ashore on Wolfe Island

The Brockville internet news source, BrockNews, is reporting that a body has washed ashore on Wolfe Island and Canadian police are investigating.

According to BrockNews, Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating after a body washed up on the shore of Wolfe Island and was discovered on Tuesday afternoon.

OPP say that around 1:30pm on December 27, officers responded to the south west side of Wolfe Island where passers-by were walking and discovered a body that had been washed up.

Police say the identity of the body is not known at this time. It is not known at this point if the victim is male or female or how long they may have been in the water.

In October 2010, The Ship Watcher followed the breaking story of sailor Gary Charlton who was aboard the then-named Canadian Provider while on Lake Ontario. He was reported missing from the ship when he failed to report for his scheduled shift and the crew called emergency personnel once they reached the St. Lawrence River. It is not known how or where Charlton went missing.

More on the story can be found here.

End of the Parade in Sight

As the snow falls across the region, the ships continue to march their way to the end of yet another busy season.

Wednesday morning saw John D Leitch pass through the 1000 Islands, while this afternoon Algoma Provider did the same. Both ships were heading upbound for Lake Ontario.

In addition, the tail-end of the parade is in sight, but way off in the distance as Algoma Spirit sat anchored near Beauharnois Lock, east of Cornwall. Spirit, which is also heading upbound and destined for Hamilton to layup, looks to be the final ship of the 2011 season. As of 4:30 p.m. the ship had not left anchorage. In the event there are no issues with the ship, it will pass through the area on Thursday.

No ships have been downbound for a few days now and the final saltie, Jetta Theresa, departed last week.

Photo - Algoma Provider in the snowy Thousand Islands (1000 Island Images)

Barge Update from Kingston

Reader Chris Howitt checked in this afternoon with an update from Kingston regarding tug Evans McKeil and its damaged barge.

Cargo, which was headed for Oswego, continued to be unloaded as of 3 p.m. today and compressors were seen pumping water from the tanks in the barge's hull. The barge was not listing as it did a day ago, which could mean that once all of the load is removed, the combo will head for Hamilton without further delay.

Down to the Wire

The 2011 shipping season is coming to an end. No longer are we saying 'days' until the last ship of the year, but rather 'hours' now as we wait to wave goodbye until spring.

Last week the channel markers were removed from the river in the Islands region and many ships began to sign off and head for winter layup.

As of this morning, no ships currently remain on a downbound course for the Islands. However, four vessels are making their way upbound and heading for Hamilton. Everlast will be the first through the region this afternoon, followed by Canadian (Algoma) Transport later in the day. John D. Leitch and Algoma Provider are both east of Montreal today. Leitch will likely reach CIP 2 in the late afternoon and Provider will arrive in the evening. Both ships will make their way through the Islands on Wednesday night.

In addition, tug Evans McKeil remains docked in Kingston with a damaged barge. Its load was due into Oswego, but alternative ways of delivery are being arranged. The tug will take its barge to Hamilton for drydocking once cleared to depart.

Photo - John D Leitch on the St. Lawrence River (1000 Islands Images)