Reviews & Ratings for the Indiana-Harbor

As the Great Lakes shipping season was set to close on January 15, 2018, early ice formation on Lake Erie posed significant challenges for maritime operations. On January 3 and 4, the U.S. Coast Guard deployed its formidable 140-foot ice-breaking tugs, the 'Neah Bay' and 'Morro Bay', to rescue numerous vessels ensnared by rapidly forming ice in the western region of Lake Erie and the St. Clair River. The sudden cold snap caused substantial ice build-up, leaving several vessels including the 'John J. Boland', 'Hon. Paul J. Martin', 'Indiana Harbor', and 'James R. Barker' stranded. The 'John J. Boland' found itself immobilized in western Lake Erie on January 1 but was freed by the 'Morro Bay' at approximately 8:45 a.m. on January 3. The 'Indiana Harbor' encountered ice in the Middle Channel of the St. Clair River on January 2 and was rescued by the 'Neah Bay'. Similarly, the 'Hon. Paul J. Martin' was trapped in western Lake Erie the same day but managed to escape with the assistance of the 'Morro Bay'. Meanwhile, the 'James R. Barker' initially broke free from ice in western Lake Erie on a Tuesday, thanks to the tug 'Calusa Coast', only to become trapped again and later liberated by the 'Morro Bay'. This ice-breaking operation underscores the vital role of the Coast Guard in maintaining safe navigation even during the harshest winter conditions.

In a swift response to a recent grounding incident, Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair is currently engaged in emergency repairs on the bulk carrier 'Indiana Harbor.' The vessel experienced significant hull damage and water ingress while navigating Lake Erie near Conneaut, Ohio, approximately two weeks ago. This urgent situation required the ship to undergo an emergency dry docking due to the damage sustained below the waterline. On May 13, 2017, Donjon crews learned of the imminent stopover, which led to the preparation of the facility at their Erie shipyard, a sprawling 44-acre site. By the evening of May 14, the team successfully deployed 280 docking blocks within the dry dock and flooded it in anticipation of the Indiana Harbor's arrival on May 15. The vessel, measuring 1,000 feet in length, docked at Donjon's 1,350-foot dry dock located at 220 East Bayfront Parkway on May 15. Subsequently, the repair teams commenced critical work, removing over 100 feet of damaged steel from the bottom of the ship. With great diligence, they have replaced approximately 32,000 pounds of steel on the starboard side to ensure the Indiana Harbor is restored to full operational capacity. For a detailed report, including photos, please visit: http://www.goerie.com/news/20170529/donjon-crews-perform-emergency-repairs-on-1000-foot-vessel.

The Great Lakes freighter Indiana Harbor, measuring an impressive 1,000 feet, is currently traversing the expansive waters of Lake Michigan. The vessel may be en route back to the Twin Ports to collect a new cargo of coal or taconite. Inside the ship, a groundbreaking ballast water treatment system is at work, injecting lye into the onboard ballast water to effectively eliminate any invasive species that may have hitched a ride to the next port of call. Once the lye has served its purpose, the system employs carbon dioxide to neutralize it, ensuring that when millions of gallons of ballast water are eventually discharged, the lake’s ecosystem remains unharmed. Reports indicate that this experimental treatment system is performing effectively, successfully eradicating unwanted organisms while also keeping pace with the ship’s formidable ballast pumps that can handle water movement rates of up to 60,000 gallons per minute, thereby maintaining the vessel's stability and balance as it operates. For more information, visit http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/244050/group/News/