Ships Departing Duluth in Response to Michipicoten’s Distress Call (6/8/24)

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Given the nature of these events there’s a lot of rumors being played as fact and a lot of other stuff going around, plus new information comes out every hour. I tried to get everything as accurate to the known facts as I could upon putting the video out but that doesn’t mean there’s no screwups in here. Even the major news corporations are having to make major changes to their stories so yes something is probably wrong in here. Maybe even every single thing is wrong and we don’t know it. But this is the situation as I understand it today. Those errors are not intentional, so if anyone knows anything please comment and I’ll try to adjust the videos accordingly. This type of thing is a little outside my usual league but it is what it is lol, doing the best I can here 😂 To be honest I’d absolutely love being wrong about everything here because this situation sucks :( love the Michipicoten

[@tc1uscg65]

Depending on the weather, most Coast Guard cutters that are moored are in a "Bravo" status. B24 (means the ships needs to be capable of getting u/w in 24 hours upon notification. There are B12, B6, B2 and of course, ZERO. You normally didn't see the B6 or 2 unless it was during a massive storm or a ship THINKS they might be in trouble and just wants people to know. When I was on the Mobile Bay, we were in B6 and 12 most of the time. The thing to remember is, for B6 status for example, you really could not be no more then 3 hours away from the ship (3 outs out, 3 hours to return). You would recall the crew and those living on board not on duty, were now on duty and prepping the ship to get underway. Of the year I was on board, we only got recalled 3 times. The Amico Wisconsin becoming disabled in Grand Traverse Bay, The Acacia lost an engine and was stuck in a big ice field that was being pushed to shore and a possible fire on another laker but don't recall the name. We all carried beepers back then (1980). One you didn't want is as a crew member was to miss movement. You could loose rank for that, get fined and restricted to the ship. Walking the plank was no longer allowed :-0

[@TheEarthHistorysConfusing]

Hope you both had a happy anniversery!. New sub from oz!.

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

I use to live near mobile bay and rember seeing uscg all the time​@tc1uscg65

[@johnhelms8226]

Thank you for the explanation in the description. Yes, in cases of maritime distress calls, everyone in range who is capable responds immediately. You don’t ask why you should have to go or argue that you have nothing to add. You just go. And you are proud to do your duty for fellow mariners in distress.

[@GWNorth-db8vn]

It's the law for small boats, probably ships too. You have to respond to a vessel in distress, by contacting the rescue pros or going yourself if you think they'll take too long. Unless it puts your own vessel in danger, of course.

[@hirisk761]

navel history is full of stories like this. Carpathia's mad dash thru an ice field responding to Titanic's SOS and IL De France's U-turn after the Andrea Doria/Stockholm collision probably the most famous ones

[@wrecker1861]

@@GWNorth-db8vnpolice don’t even have a legal obligation to protect us in the face of peril per the Supreme Court. That means your statement is nonsense…

[@nikh9080]

Seeing the Presque Isle steaming out at that speed is crazy. Crazy that a 1000' ship coming to your aid. Pretty awesome.

[@jivepatrol6833]

Great video and thank goodness the Edwin Gott and crew arrived on the scene. I like that the Mariners of the Great Lakes watch out for each other - truly refreshing in today's society!

[@FYMASMD]

All mariners do this of course. Excepting in Asia. They are the worst.

[@deecawford]

Thank you for sharing. So grateful for all the changes that have been made over the years to keep these sailors safe.

[@davidkirkham6929]

Latest news is she didn't strike anything, she unfortunately suffered hull failure, diver's found a 13ft crack along the hull .

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Yep I have that in there. Worst case scenario for the ship :(

[@GWNorth-db8vn]

And like a worn-out car, fix this and two more problems will pop up.

[@davidkirkham6929]

@@jonathanellsworth21 hi Jonathan will be ashame to see another bite the dust after the last one caught fire, don't know if they are going to repair it or scrap it!!

[@ryanthompson2893]

@@davidkirkham6929just scrap it, they’ll have to replace way more of the ship than it’s worth.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

@@manitoba-op4jxPeople have thought like that throughout history. The sad thing is, time always wins in the end.

[@annec781]

The good news is that the Michipicoten did make it safely to dry dock in Duluth.

[@Stargazzer811]

I'm surprised USCGS Spar wasn't going faster coming out of that channel. Seemed like the Presque Isle was pushing her top speed there, for as big as she is.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

@@Stargazzer811 Spar’s dock sits immediately next to the lift bridge and is an extremely tight turn to get out from that spot. Presque Isle was further back in the harbor and had a more space and a straighter shot at the bridge. Plus the canal has a speed limit and is really tight for the larger vessels

[@Stargazzer811]

@@jonathanellsworth21 Oh well aware of the speed limit. But it wouldn't be the first time the Coastie's broke their own rules! Lol!

[@jonathanellsworth21]

@ true that lol. Same with police I suppose!

[@Stargazzer811]

@@jonathanellsworth21 Sometimes yes. I work as a first responder on the fire side and had a LEO I know explain it this way (I'm paraphrasing): Sometimes we get a call that we have to coast into, that we have to approach quietly and quickly or risk someone losing their life. We'd rather bend a few rules to save someone than have the red tape tie our hands. He was explaining that to a citizen who asked why the police sometimes whip around at an intersection and speed off without lights or siren, or accelerate hard down a street. As a normal person you don't know what was just said over their radio. Sometimes an officer has someone at gunpoint who may run, or may try to harm a hostage. The only way to ensure that doesn't happen is to ask for backup to come in quickly and quietly. I count myself fortunate that its a bit easier for me; I just put the wet stuff on the red stuff.

[@Wagonman5900]

Interesting how even though they are racing to save a ship might plunge to the bottom at any second, both the Coast Guard and Presque Isle remembered their manners and saluted the bridge on the way out.

[@jeffreyduus5440]

They are professionals and know better. Good comment, I was thinking the same thing.

[@coolbear6441]

Sorry, saluting the bridge?

[@Wagonman5900]

@@coolbear6441 A great lakes captain's salute is one long horn blast and two short blasts. The ships coming under the aerial lift bridge will blow a salute as they pass. The the bridge will return the salute with its own horns.

[@coolbear6441]

@@Wagonman5900 thank you , didn’t know that👍👍

[@ConrailQuality775]

That’s not at all what they were doing, with the possible exception of the Spar.

[@ih82r8]

Really loved this, ESPECIALLY the close up of seeing the bridge work!!! Haven't seen it from this angle before. FANTASTIC!

[@jspo3446]

Bless u for the update. Thank you for the info. Thankful all crew r safe. Happy anniversary to u and your gf. Please keep sending updates

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Will do! And thank you!

[@laurenolson8492]

Thanks for the explanation Jonathan! And happy anniversary to you both!

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Thank you!

[@ddanelle4729]

Thank you so very much for this update. I never realized this had happened until I came across it while scrolling through youtube. Thankfully, the crew of the Michipicoten are safe.

[@MrsAEO]

Glad everything turned out well for all concerned. It was very interesting to see the view from a different perspective. Thank you so much for sharing 🙏

[@aaronneumeyer5572]

Great coverage and more views I've never seen of the bridge. Thank you!

[@poowg2657]

I still maintain the Fitz. was done in by the same problem that plagued the Michipicoten. Cool video, thanks much!

[@mattm2687]

But whats different is this ship is 70 plus years old. She is more prone to metal fatigue given she is well past her expected service life vs the fitz only being 15-18 years at the time of her sinking

[@CQCQPurgatory]

That is one of the speculations. There were other ships that cracked after being lengthened back then.

[@papabits5721]

The old girl got a stress crack, 77 years is a good run

[@aisle9]

Thanks for posting this. Very unusual indeed. Sounds like the Michipicoten may be in very bad shape, which would be a shame. She's a beautiful old lady and I'm happy I got to see her while I was up that way...even if I had to slightly play hookie from work to make it happen...

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Worth it lol. Yeah hopefully they can repair her, fingers crossed. That would be a terrible loss, especially for the steel mill in the Soo area which basically completely depends on her. We’ll have to see what happens

[@BobEllis79]

She has looked really beat up this season when I've caught sight of her in the Twin Ports or Two Harbors. I wonder how much more they'll keep patching the 70 year old hull back together.

[@dianebeier8379]

Wonderful video, gorgeous day, respectful for the MICHIPICOTON, THANKS!!!😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Mel-fu9hg]

Wow sir! Thank you for recording this!!

[@KathyJennings-e4x]

Kudos to all the ships who sailed out to help.

[@reginaevans7969]

Thank you so much for the video!!!!!! ❤

[@janh5199]

Thank you. This was very interesting.

[@KenHartman152]

Thank you to all the ships that went to aid the Michipicoten, especially the Edwin H Gott & the Canadian Coast Guard vessel! Sad to think they are considering bringing the beautiful Michipicotens journeys to an end. 🥲

[@alancirra3057]

wow, that bridge is awesome how it lifts the road straight up.

[@CavemanCBB]

Thank you for the video. It's great that you happened to be in the right spot at the right time... The Great Lakes Fleet is getting old. I worry that if we don't think about the future that it could even become financial / security risk to the U.S. We still ship a lot of stuff through the lakes. I wonder if somehow some of these ships should be replaced slowly. (Sorry if I didn't explain this very well)

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Thank you! There are a lot of old ships yes, but also a lot of new ones. They’re building again, especially on the Canadian side

[@CavemanCBB]

@@jonathanellsworth21 That is good to know. Thank you for your reply.

[@hammrnharv]

​@jonathanellsworth21 The Canucks primarily let the Chinese build their new ships. They sold out a long time ago.

[@kevinduveneck1504]

The Mark Barker is only two years old and American built

[@jonathanellsworth21]

@@hammrnharv recently there’s been a few European ones built as well so they seem to be moving away from Chinese built vessels, but yeah they’re not still built in the lakes :/ The US ones are usually built in Wisconsin though!

[@ninaza6806]

Thank you for sharing this great footage, different view of the bridge and canal, and interesting explanations!!

[@bettygilmore611]

Glad the ship and the sailors are safe whatever the issues were and are

[@RailFanRob]

Wow what a scary situation! I hope everything turned out ok. This ship is very old and I'm sure it's nearing the end of its life I'm guessing.... Aside from that thanks for the unique footage as I have never saw footage from some of the vantage points you have shown in this video....

[@seawolf4846]

Honestly probably the funniest part of the video was how after the Cutter departed but before the 1,000-footer was watching the dinky little Yacht departing at what was probably full throttle.

[@detroit8v715]

I like the brotherhood the maritime ships still have compared to the none that truckers have, which is what I do.

[@h2o7306]

Me respondam onde fica esse lugar que pais e esse eu adoro esses vídeos

[@bettyziska8932]

Duluth Minnesota. USA

[@maryanneveite5096]

Thank you for this Information 😊

[@JordanVegBike]

Child: "Does it cost money to go on that ship" "No... the workers they make money" So wholesome.

[@drteletubby]

Incredible view, thanks!

[@StevesVideoExperience]

I'll be going to Duluth soon. Can't wait to see the ships.

[@chancewebster7953]

Great video

[@JesMcdld-nb6pg]

That ship has been even in Thunder Bay port loading grain for at least 50 years between Thunder Bay port and Duluth the trips that old ship made unreal

[@miapdx503]

That salute is everything! 🌹⚓

[@bluewhaleadventures152]

What an awesome response from our coast guard and merchant marine. 💪💪💪❤❤❤

[@poowg2657]

Here, here!

[@EVAUnit4A]

2:51 _Spaceballs One_ theme plays

[@BonnieDragonKat]

Brings back memories of 1975, but without the storm. I am glad Michi is still floating. It could have been a whole lot worse.

[@dmmchugh3714]

What is the lawn area and building around the bridge (such as at 05:03) ? I'm not from the area, but have always wanted to travel there to watch the ships transit through the canal. Looks like a popular activity. Good that the crew of Michipicoten are safe as well.

[@eddieafterburner]

That’s pretty cool that your grandma lives right next to the bridge. What does a long and two short toots on the horn mean?

[@SuzieNerds]

Grandma’s is a restaurant right by the Lift Bridge, and I read in another thread that a long and two shorts is a salute to the bridge (the ship does it first and the bridge responds) so the bridge knows the ship is clear.

[@anthonygiglio9860]

Fantastic Video I have enjoyed It 😊

[@tuxedotservo]

Obviously it didn't apply here, but if the weather is bad, a ship's master can determine that conditions are unsafe for his ship to participate in a search. The Coast Guard had to ask Captain Cooper of the Arthur M. Anderson to go back out onto Lake Superior to look for the Edmund Fitzgerald - Cooper wasn't overly enthusiastic if you listen to the recording of the radio conversation, but he also knew his ship was really the best shot if any sailors got off Fitzgerald (they didn't). The Coast Guard had nothing online at Sault Ste. Marie that could help - they had to summon the Sundew from Duluth. Two (three?) salt water vessels refused to turn around, citing the wave conditions on the lake.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Makes sense, if you start requiring ships that can’t handle conditions to respond, the only thing you’ll end up accomplishing are more ships in distress

[@randylivengood3112]

Did they ever figure out what it hit?

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Well that’s the plot twist, their initial survey shows no signs of a collision at all. Just a 13ft long gash or crack in the hull. That’s a diver’s survey though, they’ll need to empty the ship and get her out of the water to say for certain what happened

[@Skidderoperator]

Old rust bucket CRACKED open. Its ready to fall apart. All hands lost scenario. For $$$$ Should have been scrapped decades ago.

[@Alcochaser]

@@jonathanellsworth21 Its pretty much hull failure. Lower Lakes does run some of the oldest vessels on the lakes. This is the second they have lost use of this year. The Cuyahoga burnt twice, the second time worse.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

@@Alcochaser yeah, still waiting to hear on that one as well. They’ve had a rough few years, hopefully they get their act together. No reason for all this, they’re certainly making money but I don’t think they can afford to loose more ships

[@Alcochaser]

@@jonathanellsworth21 They have one spare good hull. American Valor (VALO), but it needs diesel conversion. Knowing Lower Lakes they will yank the machinery from this busted hull to put in the Valo.

[@JesMcdld-nb6pg]

She was patched in Thunder Bay port and off loaded to another ship to be empty coming to dry dock

[@lindaj5492]

Those horn blasts: “looong, short, short” - are those signalling they’re responding to an SOS?

[@steverogers6717]

No, they are saluting the bridge master for raising the bridge. The bridge master then responds in kind to say thanks.

[@MyGospelExperience]

What do the horn blasts mean?

[@ConrailQuality775]

Ok, no. Presque Isle fueled and went to Two Harbors to take the Gott’s spot. Gott, when finishing with Michipicoten, came to Superior to backfill the PI’s spot at BN. Spar was deployed and then returned a short time later once Michipicoten reached Canadian waters. Presque Isle did not depart Duluth to respond to the distress call, nor did the ASC boat.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

I’ve heard both stories :/ Before posting this I checked with several people who were keeping track of the situation at the time who all told me she went in response to the situation with Michipicoten. Since then I’ve had a couple people tell me otherwise and I wish I knew what to believe lol. Are there any communications available from that day to confirm one way or another? Otherwise this has been a massive he said/she said game where confirming anything is rather difficult and I can adjust the video accordingly if it proves my initial information wrong.

[@capehorn171]

I was confused by the title. I don't believe either of the two boats in the video responded to the Michipicoten.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

I did my best to try and verify all this, watching reports and asking a few people in the know who were keeping close tabs on the ships that morning. Can never be 100% certain though, like I’ve said a few times I’m just a guy on the pier doing my best to keep track of all the information. If you know for certain I did indeed screw that up I’ll change things around. Trying to keep things accurate here, but it’s a harder job than you’d think lol

[@Xsiondu]

That's amazing to see

[@gregmctevia5087]

Beautiful spotting location. This just became one of my favorite JE productions. How was lunch?

[@maxruggiero4338]

That second ship just kept coming😂 1000ft fr

[@bobjohnston5527]

The cargo ship didn't hit bottom. The bow split open

[@mikeklinger1712]

Wow those ships were hauling ass !

[@louielouiepks]

Semper Paratus ! !

[@allencupsie6560]

When was the last time the ship was in Dry Dock nobody saying nothing

[@markvogel5872]

These pot holes in the midwest are really getting out of hand...now they are even taking out boats.

[@lynne6417]

These responding ships were boogie-ing to get out there and help out

[@anthonymaddison9588]

It could be mr. No law necessary.

[@chrishylton3080]

Go Coasties!!!!

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

77 year old boat still working it's about time to let her rest

[@jonathanellsworth21]

72! And believe it or not that actually isn’t all that old for a lake freighter. The oldest still sailing is 118 years old (granted as a barge)

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

@@jonathanellsworth21 no kidding boy that's great very cool stats

[@douglashurd8652]

Epic lakes vessel insanity..

[@jimjoe9945]

She had a long life, but it's over.

[@leftseat30]

Have Gumby suit....will travel

[@jbreezy101]

👏

[@BartonSebastiane-p8p]

Brown Karen Thompson Kenneth Hall Mark

[@paulletsos6938]

What is this ? 1975? Isn't there a helicopter on the Kewenaw Peninsula? It was good that ships went out in support of the Michipicoten, but they were what 6 or 8 hours from a rendezvous? These carriers are playing dangerous games with the lives of these crews, corporate "Oh that's good enough"? These carriers need to be held responsible for their lack of not knowing what they don't want to know!!

[@jonathanellsworth21]

They did have choppers and ships closer and were able to respond very quickly. I explained the reasoning in the description, it is the law

[@galewinds7696]

Simmer down Karen, they don't need an armchair director.

[@Tipp_Of_The_Mitt]

They dispatched a CG Helicopter out of Traverse City that would have gotten there in about 2 hours.

[@martinsundland7614]

Thanks to Canada for helping out. Don't see much love coming from America on that basis. What's really new?

[@jonathanellsworth21]

It’s a Canadian ship and most of the response force was US lol

[@martinsundland7614]

@@jonathanellsworth21 Thanks lol.

[@Afriqueleblanq]

Cannot anyone ever teach these folks how to write dates!! August 6th or June 8th? Build schools. 😢

[@mainesail3097]

THIS IS TOTAL CRAP FOOTAGE

[@jonathanellsworth21]

That’s why you have to read lol

[@BindySmith]

jonathan i read your description and i like your videos but this is CLICK BAIT sir!

[@jonathanellsworth21]

How so? I did as much research as I could before putting it out, put a couple days into asking around and looking stuff on news reports up to avoid that, so a little confused lol. Always the chance I got something wrong, you can never confirm anything 100% unless you’re in charge of one of the shipping companies but it’s certainly not intended as click bait. If I did screw up, let me know

[@TheRm65]

So broadcast your own video. Give it a break.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

@@TheRm65 lol for a second I thought you were responding to my comment, I was so confused 😂😂

[@realityjunky]

jonathanellsworth21 can take a long walk off a short pier. Jonathan, thanks for the cool views of the boats heading out. Much appreciated by some of us inlanders.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

@@realityjunky lol I can’t tell if you’re trying to thank me or kill me here 😂

[@Robbie1075]

Two questions: Is this taken from Grannies restaurant and aren't you a Boat Friend? Awesome video, by the way. The Presque Isle is my favorite self unloading articulated tug & barge and she has my favorite sounding fog horn.