New Boat

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New fisheries vessel christened at Kingston

6/10 - Kingston, Ont. - A tradition that was once synonymous with Kingston's waterfront was played out June 8, when a new fisheries vessel was christened at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.

The Ontario Explorer, a vessel built in Wheatley by the Government of Ontario for Lake Ontario fisheries assessment and ecosystem monitoring, was christened with a bottle of sparkling wine, June 8, at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.

Dawn Walsh, a representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources large vessel build team, engaged in a time-honoured maritime tradition, smashed a bottle of wine (enveloped in a sock) against the front hull of the boat for good luck.

The Town Crier Chris Whyman, standing high on the ship's deck, let out three "hip-hip hoorays" as he rang out his bell over the crowd.

The all-steel, 20-metre $2.5-million vessel is the first to be built to the specifications of the Lake Ontario Management Unit. Until now, they have used converted commercial fishing tugs, some 50 years of age.

The Ontario Explorer not only looks better, but will provide better safety and working conditions for the crew, including a washroom, galley, up-to-date navigation equipment and digital/wireless technology for operating fishing gear.

"It's long overdue," says Time Dale, a Great Lakes Fisheries technician of the Lake Ontario Management Union. "It's a lot bigger and more comfortable than the others. We don't have to go over the side for a bathroom break."

Completed in August 2010, the vessel has been in use since last year. It will be based at MNR's Lake Ontario Management Unit in Glenora and can fit up to eight crew members on its outings.

"I was just lucky I guess," says a proud Captain Jon Chicoine, who considers himself fortunate to land the position of vessel master on the Ontario Explorer. "It's already working beyond our expectations."

The commissioned vessel will travel longer distances, staying on the lake for extended periods. It will be able to conduct gill netting, trawling and night-time hydroacoustic work.

According to Chicoine, the other vessels in use were restricted to the Bay of Quinte because they failed to meet new regulations.

On its excursions, the Ontario Explorer will conduct assessment work on various species of fish including salmon, lake trout, walleye and whitefish for ecosystem monitoring and commercial and sport fish fisheries management.

Kingston This Week

Great Lakes Maritime Market Saturday in St. Clair

6/10 - The Lake Huron Lore Marine Historical Society is sponsoring its annual Great Lakes Marine Mart at the Riverview Plaza Mall in St. Clair on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is in a new location this year, having been previously in Port Huron for many years. The mall is just across the street from the picturesque boardwalk in downtown St. Clair.

There will be more that 50 vendors offering various items relating specifically to the ships and shipping industry of this region. Among the items that will be available for sale are historical artifacts, books, photographs, artwork, shipwrecks, memorabilia, advertising and more. It is a great way to learn more about the fascinating history of the Great Lakes shipping for the beginner or the advanced historian.

Lake Huron Lore Marie Historical Society

Updates - June 10

News Photo Gallery

Historical Perspectives Gallery updated - George M Carl gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - June 10

On 10 June 1891, the tug AMERICAN EAGLE (wooden propeller tug, 46 gross tons, built in 1865, at Buffalo, New York) collided with the tug ALVA B (wooden propeller tug, 73 foot, 83 gross tons, built in 1890, at Buffalo, New York) which was not in motion, about 2.5 miles west of the Cleveland breakwater. The ALVA B hooked up a line and started towing the AMERICAN EAGLE in, but she sank a half-mile from the harbor entrance.

On 10 June 1891, the CHARLES W. WETMORE (steel propeller whaleback freighter, 265 foot, 1,399 gross tons) left the shipyard at West Superior, Wisconsin, on her maiden voyage, bound for Liverpool, England with a cargo of grain. During her trip to the Atlantic Ocean, she shot the St. Lawrence River rapids. In Liverpool, she loaded machinery for Puget Sound. She only lasted until September 1892, when she stranded one mile north of Coos Bay, Oregon in fog. Bad weather stopped salvage attempts and the vessel was abandoned.

Bethlehem's LEWIS WILSON FOY loaded her first cargo June 10, 1978, at Burlington Northern #5, Superior, Wisconsin, with 57,952 tons of Hibbing taconite pellets for Burns Harbor, Indiana. Renamed b.) OGLEBAY NORTON in 1991.

In 1892, the keel for the ANN ARBOR NO 1 (Hull#55) was laid at Toledo, Ohio by Craig Shipbuilding Co.

The ANN ARBOR NO 4 was sold to the Michigan State Ferries in 1937, and renamed b.) CITY OF CHEBOYGAN.

On 10 June 1877, while lying at her dock at Detroit, the wooden side-wheeler R N RICE burned. The damage was estimated at $30,000. After this fire, she was rebuilt as a barge.

The propeller MONTGOMERY burned in the early morning hours of 10 June 1878. The fire started while she was laying at the dock in Point Edward, Ontario. The carferry INTERNATIONAL towed her out into the St. Clair River and cast her off to drift. Fortunately there were no injuries. She finally was beached opposite Batchelor's Mill on the Canadian side by the tugs CRUSADER and J H MARTIN. At 10:00 a.m., she was still burning. The MONTGOMERY was a steam barge of 1,104 tons, built in 1856, and owned by Capt. John Pridgeon. She was fully loaded with 29,000 bushels of corn, 320 barrels of flour, 540 barrels of corn meal, 200 bags of timothy seed and 111 bales of broom corn, besides other freight. The local papers claimed that the spectacle presented by the burning vessel as she drifted down the river was "grand and beautiful". The light was so brilliant that the entire city of Port Huron was illuminated and many people came out to watch. The following day, the wreck was towed to the American side of the river just below Avery's Mill. Whatever was left of her cargo was taken off and sold. Her engines and boiler were so badly warped and twisted from the intense heat that they were worthless except as scrap.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer dredge MARKHAM (Hull#904) was launched in 1959, at Avondale, Louisiana, by Avondale Marine Ways Inc.

Data from: Jody L. Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.