Read Authentic Ratings for the Dorothy-Ann

On January 3, 2018, the tug-barge combination 'Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder' found itself immobilized in icy waters near Perry Monument while en route for winter operations. This vessel is among several ships scheduled to arrive at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair this month. With ice breaking operations anticipated to commence on the same day, additional vessels will be able to navigate through the frozen bay, with some planned to dock at Dobbins Landing. Operated by Interlake Steamship Co., the 'Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder' routinely traverses the Great Lakes from March through January each year. Upcoming tentative arrival dates for other vessels include Tug Defiance/Barge Ashtabula on January 9, St. Clair on January 12, Presque Isle on January 15, Algoma Hansa on January 19, and Van Ekenvort Tug and Barge on January 23. For more details, including a video report, visit http://www.yourerie.com/news/local-news/barge-stuck-in-bay-ice-breaking-vessel-on-its-way-to-help/899765716.

The 2017 Great Lakes shipping season officially kicked off on Tuesday with the U.S.-flagged vessel Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder departing from her winter lay-up berth located in Erie, Pennsylvania. This tug-barge unit is set to transport iron ore from the Cleveland Bulk Terminal to the ArcelorMittal steel mill situated at the far end of the navigable Cuyahoga River. According to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), the Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder is expected to load about 15,000 tons of iron ore, which was extracted from the famed Iron Range. The seasonal coal shipping is anticipated to resume on March 22 when the Paul R. Tregurtha will load a hefty 62,000 tons at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal, destined for Silver Bay. Additionally, the Sault Ste. Marie locks are scheduled to reopen on March 25, a crucial passageway that usually accommodates over 80 million tons of cargo each season, with around 80 percent of that traffic flowing through the Poe Lock.