The Largest Non-Thousand Footer on the Great Lakes Making an Uncommon Duluth Appearance

When people say that the modern lakers are a lot smaller than ones built in the past, they’re definitely forgetting about this one! She’s a different looking one, but still a massive vessel!Entering service in late December, 2020, the 865ft long vessel dethroned the longtime 858ft non-thousand footer queen Roger Blough, which she sailed along side for just a couple of weeks before fire took the Blough out of service. The ships also have surprisingly similar carrying capacities despite the newer vessel being 20ft narrower. Michigan Trader with just under 40,000 ton capacity vs Blough’s 44,000 ton capacity. The ship may be odd looking, but she is a very significant vote of confidence in the future of the Great Lakes. She is however oddly slow, with a top speed of only 9.8 knots despite having 8,000hp engines, which is right about on par with other lakers compared to the size of the vessel.
The tug, Dirk S VanEnkevort, has a very interesting backstory. In 1991 the aging WW2 veteran laker Joseph H Thomson started having major issues, and was laid up, partially scrapped and the cargo hull converted into a barge. The remnants of the scrapped sections were saved and reforged, building the 146ft tug Joseph H Thomson Jr, which was then rejoined with her old hull with new engines and a reinforced bow for ice breaking. They would continue operating as a laker for the next 18 years until 2019 when her owners started having financial issues, and the pair was purchased by the VanEnkevort company. An older tug, Laura L VanEnkevort was configured to push the aging Thomson, which unfortunately proved to be a short lived arrangement as massive issues with the 80+ year old barge were revealed in an inspection 4 years later. Meanwhile the more powerful Thomson Jr was dry docked in Erie, PA, and extensively rebuilt and modified specially to push the all new Michigan Trader, which was under construction in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Entering service at the very end of the 2020 season, she quickly established and made a name for herself in the Lakes. Her career has been without incident since.
While she frequently visited Duluth in previous years, this year she’s mainly been going through the Superior entry and up to Silver Bay. She did come once in late July but I was out of town, so this was the first trip I’ve seen her this whole season. This video is sort of a part 2 of this Sunday’s video, which was taken from the hilltop. This video picks up where that leaves off, coming down the hill to catch the ship. Hope everyone enjoys!

[@carolyndavis7476]

Your introductory view of the city and ride to Park Point was great. I always like to see your trek on then to the Canal. I appreciate the sounds of those CAT engines in this tug, just pushing on through. Wonderful video, Jonathan. Thank you.

[@donwuest3364]

Great cityscape to open this video Thanks ! Don from Vancouver Island Canada

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Yeah figured I’d try something different! Have the camera mount but hadn’t used it in awhile. Show off the city a bit!

[@MachineryMastery-b1o]

Watching this colossal machine handle enormous tasks with ease is a true spectacle. Its raw power and efficiency are nothing short of extraordinary.

[@CathyLahr]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Looks like it was a beautiful day in Duluth.❤

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Very beautiful! Unseasonably warm as well

[@TOTALCAMARO]

I’ve stood in front of her in Marquette. It’s just amazing how huge she is. The Lee Tregutha was on one side of the ore dock and she came quietly gliding in onto the other side of the dock. Fascinating to see. 😊

[@tomuchfunwithgas846]

Great video and story. thanks. Denny.

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gregmctevia5087]

You know I loved the drive up and the ship was the cherry 🍒 on the sundae. Great piece.

[@Mikeb55024]

As always another great video. THANKS

[@jonathanellsworth21]

No problem 😃

[@geoffreywallace9432]

Hey, the lift bridge sings🎵🎶

[@jonathanellsworth21]

Edit- you mean the cars driving on the bridge or the horn?

[@Boatnerd22]

0:00 It would be so cool living in that neighborhood

[@jonathanellsworth21]

One of the things I love about Duluth is you can live in a location with a million dollar view for cheaper than dirt! Assuming you can survive those hills in the winter lol

[@hbuzzell]

I got her coming in the other day!!

[@jonathanellsworth21]

I saw her then too! Was debating which video to put out now lol. Decided on this one since it matched up with a different video, but it was a tough choice, that sunset was very pretty as well