Sailboat gets in the way of Great Lakes freighter

[KDAD]

A friend of mine is on the Coast Guard at St. Clair, just below where this took place.

He said:
"I am familiar with the ship Cuyahoga. Cuyahoga is one of the older ships still operating on the Great Lakes. As for the sailboat - here is proof that anyone can buy and operate a boat. No license, or proof of competency required."

Full disclosure: I have been browsing the classifieds for a 32' MY lately...

 

[Marie13]

The oldest Lakers on the US side are the Alpena and I think the Kaye E. Barker. Both launched in 1942. Why so old? Jones Act.

 

[Marie13]

Interlake Steamship Company has a new build in progress. First new laker built for the US side since 1985.

Some folks may not be aware, but the Arthur M. Anderson, who was following the Edmund Fitzgerald the night the Fitz sank in November 1975, is still sailing. She was laid up for a few years but went back into service in 2019. She was launched in 1953, I believe.

 

[Wookie]

The oldest Lakers on the US side are the Alpena and I think the Kaye E. Barker. Both launched in 1942. Why so old? Jones Act.

Jones act is my friend

 

[Wookie]

Also anyone claiming it was operating in a "narrow channel" clearly doesn't how how to look at a damn chart. There's plenty of water there.

A vessel constrained by draft is whatever the skipper claims it to be. It has nothing to do with the depth of the water.

 

[Wookie]

Navigational chart of the area in question. Looks to me like the northbound laker has to come on close on the West Bank to make the lineup to pass under the bridge.

 

[TuckerIdaho]

View attachment 678767 Navigational chart of the area in question. Looks to me like the northbound laker has to come on close on the West Bank to make the lineup to pass under the bridge.

It went right down the middle of the channel. There's 52 feet down the middle of the span.

 

[flymolo]

A friend of mine is on the Coast Guard at St. Clair, just below where this took place.

He said:
"I am familiar with the ship Cuyahoga. Cuyahoga is one of the older ships still operating on the Great Lakes. As for the sailboat - here is proof that anyone can buy and operate a boat. No license, or proof of competency required."

Full disclosure: I have been browsing the classifieds for a 32' MY lately...

I feel like this thread was started for the purpose of slinging mud at sailors and so people could argue about it.

Is this facebook?

 

[KDAD]

I think most here do not have anything against sailors, including me. My view is that that is a very active and busy shipping channel with large ships frequenting it with all vessels having to contend with the wind, the current, the limited maneuverability, and each other and that smaller vessels, especially sailboats, would be wise to bear that in mind, regardless of who has "the right of way".

You know that ships are in the river and you can see them coming a ways away. Stay clear of the channel and start your maneuvers earlier.

 

[Marie13]

I think most here do not have anything against sailors, including me. My view is that that is a very active and busy shipping channel with large ships frequenting it with all vessels having to contend with the wind, the current, the limited maneuverability, and each other and that smaller vessels, especially sailboats, would be wise to bear that in mind, regardless of who has "the right of way".

You know that ships are in the river and you can see them coming a ways away. Stay clear of the channel and start your maneuvers earlier.

This.