We welcome a new ship to this channel as we watch the Algoma Bear maker her arrival in Two Harbors, Minnesota on the morning of June 30, 2024. She was arriving empty to load taconite pellets at the Canadian National dock, which were scheduled to be delivered to Nanticoke, Ontario. The Bear is the newest Great Lakes freighter to enter service, replacing the Algoma Transport which retired in January 2024 and is currently being scrapped.
This was the third visit the Bear made to Two Harbors in her career so far, but the previous visits occurred at hours that weren’t good for recording her arrival (and didn’t work out with my schedule). I made a special 7-hour round trip to catch this visit, seeing no other ships on my trip north. But it was worth it to catch a new ship for the channel. I tried to capture some closeup details on the Bear, as this was my first time seeing her.
I admit to really liking the name chosen for this ship, as I often referred to Algoma ships as “bears” in my previous videos over the past few years. It’s certainly a more playful name than Innovator or Conveyor. Unfortunately, the Bear didn’t growl on this visit to Two Harbors… unless you count the deep rumbling sound her bow thruster made as she maneuvered into port. The noise was enough to cause a young child at the end of the breakwater to start screaming. To me it sounded like an elephant running on a treadmill. Not that I’ve ever heard an elephant on a treadmill…
The Bear made a less-than-gentle contact with the CN dock on her arrival. Perhaps the captain is just trying to accumulate enough scrapes and dents to make her match the appearance of the rest of the Algoma fleet. Joking aside, I think this is the first docking in Two Harbors that where I could audibly hear contact along with seeing a puff of dust.
The 740-foot Algoma Bear in an Equinox-class Great Lakes bulk carrier built at the Jiangsu Yangzi-Mitsui Shipbuilding Company and launched in early 2024, entering service on the Great Lakes in Spring 2024. She is owned and operated by Algoma Central, named for the bear logo that is the symbol of her owners. Her five cargo holds are accessed by 14 hatch covers. She has a mid-summer cargo capacity of 35,840 metric tons. Her self-unloading system consists of a two-belt gravity system with a loop belt elevator. Her 268-foot self-unloading boom is capable of swinging 90 degrees either port or starboard. She can discharge her cargo at a rate of 5,450 metric tons per hour.
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She is beautiful two harbors will be backed up maybe she will come to Duluth on her return trip
Great video, I hope you continue making great videos!
Yikes, that was a big clunk and poof! After watching all the news reports of the Michipicoten any scrape, boom, clunk and screech make me nervous! This is a wonderful boat, I hope she gets routed to Duluth and makes a big growl with her horn soon. And wow, kudos to you for the 7 hour trip to show us part of your life. Yahooo!
From Deb… Hey. I am new subscriber. Part of the reason is that I’ve been an artist and taught art principle for years. And in every single shot of your videos, it is obvious that you have a grasp on the principles of composition. Each one is beautifully crafted like a painting. You fill up a full two thirds of your frame with the subject. Your subjects are closely located north, south, east or west of the center of your frame. The strongest focal point of your subject…like a red light house roof…is placed to keep the viewers eye in the sweet spot of the composition. Although I totally dig all the ships, the lift bridge, etc, you bring more to the game with your gorgeous, artful shots…a true pleasure for an artist to view! Have you taken composition for photography, or is your talent innate? Perhaps you might learn to paint the ship world? Thank you for your beautiful videos!
Brand new??? It's all scraped scratched up on the lower sides ! I think the captain is brand new !
Man, did that Captain set that ship I nice to that ore dock! Well done!
So glad to see a boat in Two Harbors.
I guess the rust around the anchor divot (pocket?) on the starboard side is to be expected, as are the scuff marks on the red painted part of the hull. Looks like the Algoma Bear has already had a quick repaint near the starboard bow in one spot. However, somebody should go over the side and cover up that scratch underneath the ship's name. Overall, a nice looking ship. Hopefully she won't become a member of Algoma's "zombie fleet" for some time. 😅
Are the life boats lowered to the water by a crane or do they just slide off by their own weight into the water?
What a beautiful catch! I doubt that you could have asked for better conditions in the recording of this video making it well worth your trip. Thanks for the info – 👍
Great catch 1 Long 2 Short 😊
The stern cabin cracks me up. Probably a 20 man crew; looks like it can accommodate 40!😅
Excellent video. And thanks for your efforts ! 3 and half hour trip one way…. That's quite a stroll. Thanks again !!! 😊
Beautiful new vessel. Wonder if the pilot house still had that new ship smell. Great job.
Why dont the docksides have protective bumpers to aleviate damage to both dock and ships.
Look to have done a lot of parking by feel for a new ship !
Project 2025 wants to get rid of MARAD and the Jones Act. Which would affect MSC and SIU.
That is some expert piloting there, sidling up to the taconite loaders.
…except the part when she went bang against the dock, but who is counting?
At last, a wessel who can do transatlandic routes…😊