Reviews & Ratings for the Stewart-J-Cort

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI (WPBN/WGTU) -- The long-awaited shipping season at Soo Locks is about to commence following a ten-week closure for essential repairs. The first vessel, the Stewart J. Cort, is poised to make its inaugural passage just after midnight on Saturday. On Friday afternoon, the captain was honored in a special ceremony, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of maritime enthusiasts who eagerly gathered to capture images of the impressive thousand-foot freighter gliding along the St. Mary's River. A friendly competition is brewing as the Stewart J. Cort races against the Philip R. Clarke for the honor of being the first ship through the locks. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting start to the shipping season!

A concerning situation unfolded aboard the cargo vessel "Stewart J. Cort" when a 41-year-old crew member from Cleveland unexpectedly jumped overboard into Lake Michigan. Prior to this incident, company officials had addressed the crew member regarding his alcohol consumption, emphasizing their strict zero-tolerance policy. According to the Mason County Sheriff’s report, the man was instructed to remain in his quarters until the ship reached port due to previous alcohol-related issues. Unfortunately, the crew member's decision to leap into the water has left authorities searching for answers as he is now missing.

The United States Coast Guard has officially concluded its search for a missing crew member who fell overboard from the vessel 'Stewart J. Cort' near Big Sable Point in Lake Michigan during the early hours of August 23, 2015. The incident occurred around 2 a.m., when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan received a distress call via Rescue 21 on VHF-FM Channel 16, reporting a man overboard approximately 3 to 4 miles from Big Sable Point. Witnesses from the ship observed the individual climbing over the railing and jumping into the water. Immediately following the incident, the crew responded by deploying three life rings and alerted the navigation bridge, which prompted the vessel to initiate a systematic search for the missing crew member. However, due to challenging conditions and adverse weather forecasts, the decision was made not to deploy the vessel’s smaller workboat. In addition to the 'Stewart J. Cort', nearby vessels such as the 'Samuel D. Champlain', 'Joyce L. Van Encevort', and 'Vikingbank' joined in the search efforts. The Coast Guard dispatched a crew from Coast Guard Station Manistee, Michigan, utilizing a 45-foot response boat, along with air support from the Air Facility Muskegon and Air Station Traverse City aboard Dolphin helicopters. Over the course of the search, Coast Guard personnel conducted 11 distinct maneuvers covering a total area of 76 square nautical miles. The weather conditions in the search area presented significant challenges; a small-craft advisory was issued, effective from 8 a.m. EDT on August 23 through the evening of August 24, with predictions of winds reaching 20-25 knots, later veering to 30 knots, and waves expected to reach heights between 3 to 5 feet. Alongside Coast Guard assets, several commercial vessels also participated in the search operation.