r/GreatLakesShipping

Great Lakes Tugs Tennessee and Maryland out breaking ice in Buffalo. Unsure of the year on this one, from my grandfathers collection of photos.

Got lucky to catch her pulling a 180° to dock at the chemical plant there on the other shore. Smooth sailing.

Great Lakes Towing - Tug Iowa maneuvering the Edward B Greene. This is another photo from my grandfathers collection, I think it must have been taken from the Buffalo Skyway which didn’t open until 1955

American Century passing Mackinac Island in the 4th of July.

The story below and video are from Vibe with Mike.

This Fourth of July, as we celebrate America's 250th birthday, I wanted to share a very special moment that I had the honor of witnessing.

The video from this week in Duluth, Minnesota, captures the unforgettable moment Don Rudnickas was officially promoted to Commander in the United States Coast Guard. Standing beside him were his wonderful family, including his brother, his proud mother and father, as they pinned on his command insignia. It was one of those moments that reminds you what service to our country is really all about.

I've had the privilege of getting to know Don, and anyone who knows him will tell you the same thing. He's a humble leader who puts his crew first, genuinely cares about the people around him, and leads with integrity every single day. For nearly 20 years, he has answered the call whenever his country needed him, never seeking recognition, only focused on serving others.

It was also an honor to attend the ceremony alongside so many of Don's Coast Guard shipmates, including Master Chief Petty Officer Justin Olson, Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Station Duluth.

The video attached to this post lets you experience this special milestone exactly as it happened. It's a proud moment not only for Don and his family, but for the entire Duluth Coast Guard community.

On this Independence Day, I have one simple request. Please take a moment to congratulate Don and thank him for his service. Leaders like Don quietly dedicate their lives to protecting others without asking for recognition, and they deserve our gratitude not just today, but every day.

Don, congratulations on your promotion to Commander. Thank you for your friendship, your leadership, your humility, and your commitment to serving our country. You've earned the respect of so many people, and we're all proud of you.

Magnum rollercoaster off to the side

Have you ever wondered what it's like aboard a Great Lakes fireboat?

Vibe with Mike was invited aboard Marine 19, the Duluth Fire Department's tactical fireboat, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important emergency response vessels on Lake Superior.

Ride along from inside the wheelhouse as the crew demonstrates the boat's incredible maneuverability, then watch firefighters train with the powerful water cannon while learning how it's controlled from the helm. You'll get a firsthand look at the equipment, the teamwork, and the training that helps prepare Marine 19 for emergencies throughout the Duluth-Superior Harbor.

Marine 19 plays a vital role responding to water rescues, marine emergencies, firefighting operations, and other critical incidents on one of the busiest ports on the Great Lakes.

This is a rare opportunity to see what life is like aboard a Great Lakes fireboat and experience the training that helps keep Duluth's waterfront safe.

Any idea on what year this photo may have been taken? I have a handful of these old photos from my grandfather, trying to do some research on them!

Have you ever wondered what it's like to stand on the bridge of a Great Lakes Coast Guard icebreaker and push the horn button to sound the traditional master salute as the ship arrives beneath the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge?

During an icebreaking mission on Lake Superior, Vibe with Mike was given the rare opportunity to experience exactly that aboard the USCGC Mackinaw.

The attached video takes you inside the bridge of the Mackinaw as it approaches the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. You'll experience what it's like from the captain's perspective, hear the powerful master salute echo across Duluth Harbor, and witness one of the most memorable traditions on the Great Lakes from a viewpoint that very few people ever get to see.

If you've ever been curious about what it's like aboard a Great Lakes Coast Guard icebreaker, what happens inside the bridge during an arrival, or what it feels like to push the horn button for the master salute, this behind-the-scenes experience gives you a rare firsthand look.

A sincere thank you to the captain and crew of the USCGC Mackinaw for making this unforgettable experience possible and allowing Vibe with Mike to share it with everyone.

We live large here in west Michigan!

Have you ever wondered what the crew eats while spending days aboard a 1,000-foot Great Lakes ship?

Last year, Vibe with Mike had the rare opportunity to sail across Lake Superior aboard the Indiana Harbor and spend time with the ship's cook, Moe, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look inside the galley.

Moe takes tremendous pride in feeding the crew. He prepares individual meals every day, keeps fresh food stocked for long voyages, and gives you a complete tour of the refrigerators, freezers, pantry, and galley where every meal is prepared.

You'll even see one of the most incredible grilling locations anywhere on the Great Lakes, right on the stern of a moving 1,000-foot ship with Lake Superior stretching to the horizon.

If you've ever been curious about what crews eat aboard a 1,000-foot Great Lakes ship, how food is stored, or what life is really like behind the scenes, this tour answers those questions.

A special thank you to Moe for opening the galley and giving us a look at an important job that most people never get to see.

Poor image quality due to lots of haze over the river and extreme heat and wind

Sorry about the repost - autocorrect had me laying in the river lol

I came to the harbor to see the barge St Mary’s Conquest(pushed by tug Bradshaw McKee), and was surprised when the Mark W. Barker appeared, backing out of the harbor. She came out to flip around in order to make way for another cement tug/barge, Samuel De Champlain/Innovation to dock at the Amrize terminal. She turned around and waited for the Conquest to enter before backing in. The Conquest was launched as an oil tanker in 1937, being converted to a cement barge by Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, WI in 1987. The Mark W. Barker was launched at the same shipyard in 2022, being the newest American lake freighter in service.