John G. Munson - Tail End Charlie. Last Boat into Duluth.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Here is the last arrival into Duluth for the 2023-2024 shipping season, with the John G. Munson making her way through the Duluth shipping canal at sunrise on January 18, 2024. The Munson had arrived and anchored outside Duluth the day before, but waited until the morning to make her entrance. She would go into winter layup at the Port Terminal dock, opposite the Canadian laker Baie Comeau, to wait out the two-month break until shipping resumes again.
The Munson picked one of the coldest mornings of the year so far to make her arrival, with temperatures below zero... plus a chilly north breeze to make it feel even colder. A bank of sea smoke hovered over the water outside the harbor, obscuring the Munson until she was entering the shipping canal. A large gathering of Common Goldeneye ducks were within the shipping canal, as they tend to look for open water on lakes and rivers during winter months. But the ducks decided to temporarily relocate themselves once they saw the Munson headed their way!
The Munson was able to sound out a low, moaning master salute (three long and two short blasts) despite the cold air reducing her horn capacity. As usual, the Aerial Lift Bridge responded in return. Had the Munson's horn been completely frozen, it would have no doubt been a disappointment to those gathered to watch from the north pier. (I pretty much had the south pier to myself.) I was glad I watched from the south pier, as the sun broke through the clouds right as the Munson passed through the canal, helping to make her red painted hull glow a little in the cold morning air.
There would be one more arrival in the Twin Ports before the season was over... that of the John J. Boland arriving three days later at the Superior entrance. That final arrival will be covered in my next video.
The John G. Munson was built in 1952 and was originally 666 feet in length. Unlike a lot of lakers that were converted to self-unloaders later in their careers, the Munson was originally built as a self-unloader... allowing her to serve a variety of ports where shoreside unloading equipment wasn't available. She originally sailed for the Bradley Transportation Line from Rogers City, Michigan and was primarily used to haul stone before being acquired by the U.S. Steel Fleet (now operated as the Great Lakes Fleet), where her role was expanded to also carry iron ore. Today, she tends to alternate between hauling limestone and iron ore, often bringing limestone to Duluth and then departing with iron ore. The Munson was lengthened to 768 feet in 1976, giving her a cargo carrying capacity of 25,550 tons held in 7 cargo holds. Her original steam turbine was replaced by two MAK diesel engines in 2016. While the loss of another steam engine is mourned by some boat watchers, the conversion to diesel has helped to keep the Munson on the Lakes and still in service... hopefully for many more years to come!
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A beautiful day for making this video in spite of the cold. We'll give the Munson an 'A' for effort with that Salute..... a bit raspy with the cold, but better than nothing. So one more video to go before you are able thaw out during the Winter Layup. Again, thank you for your dedication, time and efforts to share these awesome videos and info with us.
Glad I can share this footage with everyone! I’m currently thawing out and enjoying the warmer temps this week. 😎
You definitely made the smart decision to set up on the South Pier. She looks great in the sunlight. I've always been a fan of John G because of the rare boom behind the pilothouse instead of at the stern configuration. Cuyahoga and Saginaw have the same setup, as did Mississagi before she went for scrap a couple yrs ago. Another really great capture.
I was on the north pier, but made a last second decision to go to the south pier when it looked like the sun might break through the clouds. Glad I did! 🙂
Agreed, i find it much prettier than the more common stern-mounted boom... nice to see Cuyahoga and Saginaw mentioned too! Those two are underappreciated!
John G. Munson: it's a bit cold out here.
Ducks: cold? Nah, it's alright for us! Uh-oh, here comes that ship. Fly away! Fly away!
The ducks at 1:11 incredible! ❤
Artistry itself. Loved it.
Yes indeed, hope she stays in service for years to come. This is a most wonderful video, with the mysterious sea smoke and the always cheerful ducks, topped off with the so cold horn. When she came into the canal she looks like a pensive and surprised old man, with the ice just perfect on her bow. I love this! Hopefully you thawed out quickly after risking life and limb to the freezing!
Thank you! 😊 I had three days to thaw out before the last ship came into Superior. And now it’s in the 40s this week. Crazy weather! 😎
Great video! @@1Long2Shortlooking forward to the 40's stay warm!
I’m getting spoiled by this warm weather. If the real winter weather decides to return, I’ll be very disappointed. 😆
@@1Long2Short all the snow melting and no safe ice fishing. One day closer to spring!
Beautiful video with vivid colors. Thanks for braving the cold!
Thank you Kathleen!
Beautiful winter shots! Thanks! Always beauty to balance out nature’s challenges 😊
Thank you! 😊
Beautiful! Were those Bufflehead Ducks? The Munson surely always looks sharp. Horn needs cough medicine, though. 😁
Nothing a little warm air won’t cure. 😉 The ducks are Common Goldeneye. They come to Duluth in the winter months and gather in areas with open water.
no those were after dinner pee pees
I thought buffleheads also.
Buffleheads aren’t common to northern Minnesota in the winter. They migrate to warmer states. Different color pattern too! 🙂
Love the Ducky Boys at the start!
Beautiful. The fog blowing ducks swimming and flying and Munson coming in....😊
Nice videography!
Thank you!
I got bridged for this one so its nice to see it in the proper lighting. Great video!
Thanks! I was in the north pier but made a last minute change once it looked like the sun might come out. Barely made it across in time.
@@1Long2Short at least the ducks don't have that problem 🦆🦆🦆😆
You always have to stop and see what the JOHN G. Is going to do
🤓🙋♂️👍
2:11 Are they eider ducks. ? At the beginning. What is the white line on the Munson's side
They are Common Goldeneye ducks. Are you referring to the line of ice along her hull or the painted stripe on her bow?
@@1Long2Short ah so she is decorated with ice very fetching 😊
Beautiful but cold 🥶 Great video of her and her captain and crew coming home. 😊
Think the ships horn needs to be fixed?
A duck quacking is louder than their horn. Sounds better too! 🦆
All horns are affected by the cold, some more than others. This sounds normal for the Munson considering it was below zero. 🙂
It sure has a sickly sounding horn.
Just cold. She’ll sound better again in the spring. 🌷
One more Jaws warning for the season!
🦈 🙂
The Shark Is Broken....lol. My nephew was in the play on Broadway. About the making of JAWS. Colin Donnell
It was broken during filming
😮