Máxima - A Firecracker of a Saltie!

Here is the saltwater vessel Máxima arriving in Duluth, Minnesota on the morning of June 5, 2023. She was arriving empty to pick up a load of beet pulp pellets from the Hansen-Mueller Elevator A. Elevator A was built in 1908 and was operated by General Mills until 2015, after which she sat vacant until being acquired by Hansen-Mueller in 2022. The visit by Máxima was the first ship to be loaded at Elevator A since 2013. The tugboat Kentucky was on hand to help the Máxima maneuver around and back towards the Elevator A dock. The Máxima would depart two days later, bound for Amsterdam to deliver her cargo. Beet pulp pellets are used as feed for horses and other livestock.
Máxima is a ship I've been trying to catch since last year. I made two trips in 2022 to catch her, but she spent longer-than-expected at anchor on both of my visits to Duluth. So it was nice to finally catch her on this visit. Many have remarked that her design borrows from the classic lake freighters, with the pilot house up front, the cargo holds in the middle, and the engine section at the stern. The design is certainly attractive with her firecracker-red paint job. As she maneuvered and backed towards the dock, we got several dark puffs of diesel smoke... almost giving the appearance that the fuse had been lit on this "firecracker." Thankfully she didn't explode!
I made this video a little longer due to the historic visit to this reactivated dock, the unusual design of the saltie, and the extra help from the Kentucky. I added in the radio chatter between the Máxima and the Kentucky (and the Aerial Lift Bridge) that I could find. I attempted to place the chatter in the appropriate sections of the video, though timing may not exact.
The 491-foot Máxima entered service for Royal Wagenborg in 2021 after being constructed at the Niestern Sander shipyards in the Netherlands. She is one of the new EasyMax class of vessels that are multi-purpose cargo haulers with open top, box-shaped holds with movable bulkheads. She can carry up to 14,000 tons of cargo or 625,000 cubic feet of grain. She is powered by one MAK 6M32C diesel engine producing 2999 kW at 1500 RPM, driving a single 14-foot propeller housed in a nozzle. The EasyMax ships are designed to operate with extremely low fuel consumption and 60% less carbon dioxide emissions compared to other ships of this size. This design won Wagenborg a Maritime Shipping Award in 2018.
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[@1Long2Short]

Buy me a coffee! Donations, plus monthly and annual subscriptions. www.buymeacoffee.com/1long2short PayPal donations www.paypal.com/paypalme/1long2short As always, your views, likes, comments, and subscriptions are also greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[@jeroenknot6796]

Nice to see this ship at other end of the globe. She's from my home port of Delfzijl, Netherlands

[@eat_a_dick_trudeau]

I'd imagine this is what the Arthur M. Anderson would look like if IKEA got their hands on it.

[@roconnor01]

I'm loving tugboat 'Kentucky', with her classic hull lines. Cheers from the UK.

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks for watching!

[@leehanna4929]

Definitely a strange looking bow! Thanks for the extra length video!

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks for watching… as always! 🙂

[@nickkaye176]

Love listening to the conversation exchanges.

[@EvertHarley1]

Wow great to see a ship made 10 miles from where i live .................i know the harbor of Delfzijl and Wagenborgen company!!

[@timjim10]

Beautifully framed and shot. Again. Thank you for sharing!

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you! 😊

[@jeanadams1667]

Wow. Maxima, indeed.

[@dollywalker3929]

Special camera work,🤗🌟

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you! 🙂

[@BL-jt3qt]

WOW! What a different, unique and beautiful looking vessel..... glad to see/hear that you finally caught her on camera.... this was definitely a worthwhile catch. I know a lot of people that can't swing around and back a small car into a parking space as easy as that Captain and crew maneuvered that large ship back to the dock. Great camera work and info as always, and with a bonus of some radio exchanges - thank you.

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks! They did a great job bringing her into a dock that neither has probably visited… or if they have, it’s been at least a decade.

[@marci3667]

She’s a beauty!

[@williamdejeffrio9701]

Beautiful footage and audio. What a handsome boat!

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you!

[@rienold1963]

And Again the Ship from my Country,The Netherlands 👍😀btw I like your video’s 👍

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you!

[@Becsmom0501]

So majestic looking. Would love to see that in person. Thanks for sharing.

[@kowkunt8710]

Neat ship. I notice it is a bit of a hike from the Bow to the Stern to get aboard the survival vessal. Yes I have too agree this is a beautiful craft. Deigned and built with a distinct purpose in mind.

[@counterfit5]

Looks like it's all downhill though

[@pamanderson5841]

Thank you!!!

[@johnmcgarvie4061]

that boat is a bad ass!

[@reteipdevries]

Wow! Our Queen in Duluth. Beautiful!

[@michaelnorth946]

She is a beauty! Thanks for the video and information, the nozzle is what makes her so maneuverable.

[@cris_261]

Interesting looking ship. Looks as though the pilot house is built into the bow.

[@robertmcmanus636]

It looks like a laker updated with the bow made to withstand the N. Atlantic wave action. It's also a capable icebreaker from what I read online.

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Thanks for floating the boat

[@johnbant8440]

it's a beautifull dutch ship

[@tuxedotservo]

First thing I noticed was the bow rising up to just under the level of the pilothouse windows. Looks like it provides excellent protection - waves will expend their energy on that instead of the deckhouse. Tried to find video of the class working in waves, but so far haven't found anything. You can find a video of her launching - she not only looks like a Laker, but was launched like they used to on the lakes - sideways. I think that's more standard now around the world than it used to be, but there was a time when that was primarily a Great Lakes technique.

[@1Long2Short]

Yeah it seems all of the Wagenborg ships are side launched. Would be fun to attend one of those launches!

[@baeruuttehei1393]

The shipyards where the Wagenborg ships are built, in the north of the Netherlands, are all located on relatively narrow canals: there is no other way than sideways launching...

[@bradnutter41]

That bow also seems to be like the new normal especially on those mammoth Supply and Anchor handling vessels.

[@juliegogo2941]

Good looking sea going ship for sure. Thanks

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Great catch of the Saltie that wants to be a Laker!

[@GIGABACHI]

What an effing Legend, parallel parking that beast ! 👌😎

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Video exceptional framing, etc.

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you!

[@ecp6007]

Pretty snazzy looking ship. Looks very streamlined. Thank you for the great video.

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks for watching!

[@danielmorris3687]

Id like to wish 1 Long 2 Short and all American viewers of this channel a safe and happy Independence Day!! 🇺🇸 🎆 I'm really loving the old school straight deck look of these ships and am going to also make a effort to catch her at the St Clair river or Welland canal sometime this year. This is a great video to see the bow thruster in action on both sides. Great catch sir. ✌️🇨🇦

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you! 🙂

[@worldcooking]

Well filmed images!

[@peterw1609]

Always proud to see a Dutch ship far from home 😄

[@donaldmackay4837]

Great to see something different on a great channel . Love the video and radio chat .

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you! 🙂

[@user-fm5nf8fz4h]

Boy oh boy, that is one tough looking Beast.

[@Shipspotting_Vietnam]

Nice!! The ships on your channel is long and have interesting shape!!

[@TheUnflushedToilet]

It's nice seeing old docks being reused after a long time being inactive.

[@1Long2Short]

Yes, that is a positive change considering how many grain docks have been sitting idle. 🙂

[@halimtalafuka9946]

.

[@BryanRopar-wg7mv]

Nice video!!! your just like me with trains in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, & Altoona.

[@ginog5037]

One the most gorgeous ships ever❤

[@marthav2772]

That's A scary looking ship!😳 but very impressive!

[@waynesell3681]

She's a big one

[@forgemasterwolf290]

Cool

[@james011974]

Has to be one of the finest ships I've seen.

[@kingy002]

That's one hell of a statement!

[@robertbate5790]

Nice looking vessel. But one thing struck me quite forcefully. The bulk of accomodation being in the bow end, but the life boat is at the stern, long way to go if you are in trouble !! Great video, worth the extension, thanks 👍👍👍👍

[@1Long2Short]

I wondered that too. If the ship started to break in half, the lifeboat would be inaccessible. 😮

[@tuxedotservo]

I would guess that with that layout there has to be one or two self-inflating life rafts on the bow area - the kind you can close the crew into so they stay dry.

[@1Long2Short]

Yes, there definitely has to be some rafts in the bow area. Plus they all have survival suits too. But nothing beats being in an enclosed lifeboat… even if everyone is losing their lunch.

[@74Haddock]

@@1Long2Short You can see lifeboat canisters just below the bridgedeck

[@bas6983]

There will be rafts forward but a lifeboat is always preferred in case of emergency. In my opinion this is a hole in the regulations allowing a safety equipment layout like this. You can tick the boxes. Life boat. Yes, position aft

[@ianfiddes9871]

Cracking video, astounding vessel, superb boat handling

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you!

[@ralphaverill2001]

I watched the Wagenborg sister ship Nausauborg going up the Hudson River at Cheviot, NY, bound for Albany, on 7/11/23.

[@kaiyack]

Cool x-bow

[@mikepech6822]

He is almost a good as me putting my 40' in my slip. lol Beautiful vessel

[@JustDulci]

Beautiful ship and great camera work! I really enjoyed the radio communications! Thank you!

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you very much!

[@dianebeier8379]

Stunning video of a super vessel, and beautiful tug, impressed with this !😊

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks Diane!

[@seawench555]

Wow just take a bloody good Look at progress!!! What a ship.😲🌈

[@bradwiebelhaus7065]

Impressive.

[@williamphillips6247]

Very nice and unique little ship. Keep your wonderful videos coming!

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you! Plenty more videos to come. 🙂

[@suzannemarienau2760]

She's named for the Queen of the Netherlands, I believe? She's a lovely woman and this is a beautiful ship. 😊

[@wientz]

0:10 thought that might be the John D Leitch at first...haha

[@bianca6586]

A nice video

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks!

[@TxVet1027]

Awesome video of a beauty. That ship smells of pride.

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you!

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Cripes! I can't even back hubby's truck into a parking spot! Thank you for posting this video. I have never seen a large ship backing into a berth to take on cargo. She's a beauty.

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@alanquintus2069]

As you said "this is why I chase boats". This is why I watch boat videos. Nice job 👍👍👍👍👍

[@1Long2Short]

It’s always nice to capture something different to share with other! 🙂

[@bigmonmagoomba9634]

The most beautiful ship of the season.

[@cris_261]

Looks as though Wagenborg takes care of their ships. The only places where there's rust is by the anchors, which is to be expected.

[@1Long2Short]

Yeah, they always seem ship shape!

[@robbyk3249]

I dig that colour scheme ! Kinda reminds me of a LEGO design !

[@cris_261]

@@robbyk3249 wouldn't be a bad idea if Lego did a model of this ship.

[@samansardi3491]

nice

[@bradnutter41]

I remember when this girl took on a crazy list while at berth in Rotterdam back in 2021, I believe I read back then it was caused by water ingress that went unnoticed somehow, but she sure looked to be headed over, but Im not sure what degree list she can take. She sure is a looker though!

[@stephenpsalm274]

that's the coolest ship, the design of the front, the wheelhouse. Absolutely Amazing Photography 1 Long 2 Short!!!!

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you!

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

Seeing the crew member in the pilot house at 1:43 helped me realize just how tall this ship really is. Great view. Thank you.

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you!

[@geoffreywallace9432]

She looks like a European interpretation of a classic Great Lakes freighter. Fine looking ship 🚢.

[@jimjuvperez8190]

Beautiful❤❤❤

[@NearingLight]

I envy my family who actually lives in Duluth

[@1Long2Short]

I envy them too! 🙂

[@gusthesheltie154]

Awesome ship..cool to watch

[@Tony-1950]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@karlweinrauch8471]

I watched 3 times and saw the US flag on top denoting the country she was visiting which I believe is customary. Didn't see a Dutch flag at the stern, or anywhere else. Any Ideas?

[@1Long2Short]

Not sure. I’ll have to check my other Wagenborg ship videos to see if they fly the Dutch flag or not.

[@karlweinrauch8471]

@@1Long2Short Appreciate the reply. I guess my real question was why there was no flag at all at her stern. I remember as a wee lad going to Navy Pier here in Chicago (when it was an actual working pier instead of a tourist trap) and seeing any number of ships all displaying the US flag on a mast and the flag of their home country at the stern. To be sure that was quite a few years ago.

[@wimh3635]

Delfzijl is a Dutch homeport

[@karlweinrauch8471]

@@wimh3635 Thanks for jumping in, but if you read my question you'll find that I knew that. The question was why she wasn't flying the Dutch flag.

[@soreneehh]

I think there is a Dutch flag on the main mast, slighty above the US flag. You can see it pretty good at 3:55

[@samjennings2861]

Pretty cool to see a modern forward pilot house bull carrier.

[@bas6983]

And now think about safety. The lifeboat is positioned aft and is more or less not reachable in case of a cargo fire, bad weather or heavily listing vessel. Its a tiny accommodation for a tiny crew and very very underpowered.

[@samjennings2861]

@@bas6983 yeah?

[@bas6983]

@@samjennings2861 just a cheap ass design to save money. The only reason why its built like that.

[@samjennings2861]

@@bas6983 why are you mad about it

[@bas6983]

@@samjennings2861 because I’m working at sea since 1997 and only see vessels going back in standard and safety instead of ahead. At least looking from a European viewpoint. Looking lakers, she is brand new and perfect compared to the 60y old equipment used at the lakes.

[@northernbettygirl]

@chris_261: So, some of ours are rusty a little. But, look at the history they have. This ship is new, built in 2021. I'll take our ships any day, any age. This looks like our Classic style.

[@charleskirby6143]

Your channel is fantastic and Duluth harbor is so fascinating! This ship is so unique looking and beautiful. Very interesting to see her riding high and empty. Fully loaded I guess she's not quite so high.

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you very much!

[@edwardpate6128]

Such an unusual configuration for an ocean going vessel and one that Great Lakes ships have largely gone away from.

[@bas6983]

Just to cheap out on a decent accommodation. They will tell you to have the possibility for oversized cargo but just a reduction of height and still complying to the regulations. Safety and living conditions are secondary.

[@iansmartel5473]

At least with the pilot house up front you can see what you are going to hit. Having the pilot house 1000 ft from the bow on a foggy night you won’t see it.

[@1Long2Short]

Very true, though the 1000-footers have a lookout hut at the bow for those situations. 🙂

[@iansmartel5473]

@@1Long2Short I always thought that was a toilet upfront, so that they didn’t have to run to far.

[@MiguelLopes-gn9qj]

Coffee máxima

[@udo5479]

Wagenborg has a lot of these vessels.

[@1Long2Short]

They have lots of ships, but so far only two of these EasyMax vessels in service. The third one is under construction, likely to be completed at the end of 2023 or early 2024. The fourth one should be complete in summer 2024.

[@udo5479]

@@1Long2Short That is right. They have also a big fleet of mobile cranes

[@josephreilly6328]

Probably looks best when she's laden.

[@gjurczyc]

Needs to borrow the 1000 footer horn!

[@kearneybennett8379]

I will be looking for her heading down bound through the NY State side of the 1000 islands, maybe take the boat out for a closer look if in daylight.

[@1Long2Short]

Maxima is in Spain at the moment. 😉

[@conniedebruyn8045]

What a magnificent ship although I don’t know anything about this lovely lady. ❤❤❤I just read your description on this magnificent ship and thank you for sharing this information. I thought she looked pretty new as far as construction goes. She’s definitely unique and quite a beauty.

[@1Long2Short]

Details always in the video description! 🙂

[@conniedebruyn8045]

@@1Long2Short thank you. I need to find out a little bit more on this magnificent ship 🚢 😀😀

[@centexan]

I guess it's because she is empty and riding high. But she looks so much taller than other ships.

[@counterfit5]

Got a bit of Carolina squat going on, too

[@Wagonman5900]

I like this boat. Do they make a 650 ft. version with a self unloading option?

[@1Long2Short]

They have a few horses in the cargo hold to do the unloading. 🐴 😁

[@oceansoul3694]

What a beautiful video of a beautiful ship~ it looks like the ship is floating waaaay above normal, as though she'd tip over in a big wind. She's amazing and very beautifully maintained. Now about those horses in the hold????? hahahahahah ~ Happy 4th and thanks for this amazing piece of your life up there, you've got such a great eye! (well, both are great hahahahaha!)

[@1Long2Short]

They are some very hungry horses in the hold! Hope you had a great 4th and thanks as always for your nice words. 🙂

[@oceansoul3694]

@@1Long2Short 🤣

[@RLTtizME]

Feeble whistle. The crew must sleep in the pilot house.

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Darn Canadian Goose. Don't look up!

[@thomasmiller2284]

I'm curious, who pays for the tug boat services, is it the individual ship that is using the tug or is it the harbor that offers the service?

[@1Long2Short]

I believe it’s the ship. There are a couple of different tug operators in the Twin Ports. Some shipping companies seem to prefer one service over another.

[@sydmichel]

If Dr Frankenstein made ships...

[@fivepin55]

For an ocean-going vessel, It looks like it has a very small crew and crew quarters.

[@stevemino142]

When was the maxima built looks like a newer vessel good video 👍

[@1Long2Short]

Details in the video description 🙂

[@christianbastian1667]

The only time I've seen this ship was when it was at anchor last year

[@1Long2Short]

I saw her at anchor last year too. So near, but so far away!

[@gettingold59]

cool ship Does shipper also carry containers?

[@1Long2Short]

I think it can if needed, but it mostly does dry bulk if I’m not mistaken.

[@peterjansen7854]

Engineer have to be Olimpic runner athlete

[@Chuck59ish]

I don't know, that lifeboat is a long way from the bridge if she goes down. Nice catch though.

[@cris_261]

Since it's a Borg ship, at first sign of trouble, the crew is automatically assimilated into the lifeboat. 😜

[@Chuck59ish]

@@cris_261 Hahaha!

[@1Long2Short]

Make it so! 👽

[@tuxedotservo]

Probably self-inflating life raft on the forward section. I can't imagine it would be regulation ot make the crew have to go all the way back there if things go sideways.

[@jenswetter251]

They got golf carts (maybe), bicycles (possibly), quads (that'd be fun), pogo sticks (just a childhood memory), kites (might be windy though), skates (in icy conditions), congress-type underground train (probably on deck though), gondola cable car, cable railway (more stable than the gondola, actually a reasonable solution) - oops, running out of ideas for the moments 😂

[@Local-Of-The-Mitten-State]

I like this boat. Is there an option with self-unloading equipment

[@1Long2Short]

It appears very few saltwater ships have self unloading equipment, most likely because they make less stops to unload than the lake freighters do. Lake ships might unload 4-8 times a month, while salties might unload twice a month. Also, salties tend to carry a wider range of cargo, both bulk cargo and package cargo. An unloading system works well for bulk cargo, but limits the ability to carry package cargo… due to the V-shaped bottom of the cargo hold of most self-unloaders.

[@Local-Of-The-Mitten-State]

@@1Long2Short I have seen salties (that’s what I call them) with self unloading equipment, I think they just are on the other side of the country/world 🤷‍♂️

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Can she dump mussels from buoyant tanks in haba?

[@iansmartel5473]

Off Spain as of today 6July.

[@1Long2Short]

She gets around! 🙂

[@jimjuvperez8190]

Wow, Amazing ships. Very big. Beautiful❤❤❤.

[@john5321]

So when do the pilots arrive and depart on the salties? I understand the Captains of the lakers already have their pilotage for the Great Lakes..I live at the entrance of the Chesapeake bay and the pilots embark/disembark at the entrance buoy (CBJ)...Thanks for your video!

[@1Long2Short]

Pilots are already on the ships when they approach Duluth. If the ship anchors first, the pilot boat will pick up the pilot… and then bring them back to the ship when it’s time to enter the harbor. I think the Soo Locks is a popular place for pilots to switch, but I don’t know how often that happens.

[@john5321]

@@1Long2Short Thanks for the reply! lol love the duluth videos, just never seen the pilot boat go out..

[@bryanb6553]

What is it haul grain?

[@1Long2Short]

Details are provided in the video description. 🙂

[@mca1960]

What is this ship for ?

[@1Long2Short]

General purpose cargo ship

[@mca1960]

@@1Long2Short I've never seen a ship like this.

[@pencilwaniya5317]

Which purpose this ship use...

[@1Long2Short]

Details in the video description 🙂