2007 Photos:

Fleetmates - On Jan. 7, 2007 the Wilfred Sykes (foreground) and Joseph L. Block were at the ore loader (from across the bay)
Fleetmates - The Block (L) and Sykes (R) at the ore facility
Fleetmates - Another view of the Block and Sykes
Wilfred Sykes - Stern view at the south side of the ore loader
Joseph L. Block - Bows-on view of the ship at the north side of the ore loader

Joseph L. Block - Side view close-up of the ship
Victory - Close-up of the tug at the C. Reiss north dock(?)
Siscowet - Tug on the grounds of Basic Marine

Joseph H. Thompson - Still in lay-up on March 11 on the south side of the ore facility dock
Joseph H. Thompson - Close-up
Joseph L. Block - Arriving in the bay off Escanaba on a beautiful March 11 day
Joseph L. Block - Close-up of the bow pushing ice in front of it
Joseph L. Block - Close-up of the stern deckhouse

Joseph L. Block - Passing the channel marker
Joseph L. Block - Making the turn into the ore dock
Joseph L. Block - Close-up about halfway through the turn
Joseph L. Block - Bow-view close-up still coming around
Joseph L. Block - Just about straightened up for the ore dock approach

Joseph L. Block - Heading for the ore dock slip
Joseph L. Block - Just about there
Olive L. Moore - Stern view of the tug (with its new raised pilothouse) across the slip from the ore dock. This tug is mated with the barge, Lewis J. Kuber, which is wintering in Menominee, MI. The stern of the tug "Victory" partially obscures the stern of the Olive L. Moore.

Burns Harbor - Burns Harbor loading taconite pellets on Saturday March 24
Burns Harbor - Close-up with her somewhat new coat of black hull paint
Joseph H. Thompson - Still in lay-up, but the engines on the Joseph H. Thompson, Jr. (tug) were running {Great Lakes Trader in background}
Great Lakes Trader - In the background with the bow of the Thompson in left foreground
Olive L. Moore - Unobstructed view of the tug in lay-up across from the ore facility

Great Lakes Trader - Heading into the (south) C. Reiss Coal dock with a load of coal
Joyce L. VanEnkevort - Close-up of the tug that pushes the Great Lakes Trader as the fog rolls in
Great Lakes Trader - Another look at the Trader with the Burns Harbor in the background as the fog lifts again
Joseph L. Block - Starboard side view of the ship at the ship loader on Sept. 2
Joseph L. Block - A view from across the bay

Victory - The tug's pilothouse has been raised (Sept. 2 photo) in preparation for its eventual pairing with the Reserve, which is being cut down to a barge in Menominee, MI
Earl W - The ex-Earl W. Oglebay loads taconite on Oct. 23
Earl W - The loading begins
Earl W - Side view close-up of the ship
Sand Point Lighthouse - The lighthouse is now a museum (photo from Sept. 12)

Sand Point Lighthouse - Wide view of the lighthouse and grounds
Sand Point Lighthouse - Scenic view with the fountain in the foreground
Gazebo - In the park across from the marina in Escanaba
Fountain - Near the gazebo in Escanaba's beautiful park

2008 Photos:

Olive L. Moore - Out on "Sea Trials" near the ore facility on the afternoon of April 16
Olive L. Moore - Stern view close-up
Olive L. Moore - Heading into the ore dock for the night around 6 PM (EDT)
Olive L. Moore - Tying up for the night
Joseph L. Block - Arrived off Sand Point around 7 PM and headed to C. Reiss also on the evening of April 16

Joseph L. Block - Side view passing Sand Point
Canadian Prospector - Arrived out in the bay around 8 PM on April 16
Canadian Prospector - Approaching Sand Point as darkness sets in
Canadian Prospector - Side view passing Sand Point

Manitowoc - Arrived at the ore dock on July 29 (view from across the bay)
Manitowoc - View at the ore dock from the ore facility property
Manitowoc - Wide angle broadside view
Manitowoc - Close-up broadside view
Manitowoc - Close-up of the loader and the bow of the ship

Manitowoc - Bow view
Manitowoc - Close-up broadside view from the Vinette Boatworks Co. property next door to the ore facility

American Courage - Wide view from across the bay as the ship approaches the ore dock on Oct. 23
American Courage - Close-up from across the bay, the ship is the ex-Oglebay Norton ship, "Fred R. White, Jr."
American Courage - Bow view gliding into the dock
American Courage - Close-up bow/side view alongside the loader
American Courage - Close-up of the bow and the loader

American Courage - Wide view at the ore dock
American Courage - Wide view from Vinette Boatworks Co. property next to the ore facility

2009 Photos:

Great Lakes Trader - The Port of Escanaba officially opened for business on March 16 when the barge, pushed by the tug, Joyce L. VanEnkevort, loaded the first load of taconite pellets for 2009 at the ore dock.
Great Lakes Trader - Close-up of the tug/barge, which had spent Winter lay-Up at the ore facility
Joseph H. Thompson - The barge, along with its tug, Joseph H. Thompson, Jr., remains in lay-up at the C. Reiss (north) Dock near the power plant on March 16.

John J. Boland - Loading ore on July 1
John J. Boland - Stern view
John J. Boland - Wider stern view with the pilings from an old ore dock in the foreground

Joseph H. Thompson - Back in Temporary lay-up (vessel has been out for a few different runs this year) at C. Reiss North Dock on Aug. 2
Joseph H. Thompson - Stern close-up showing the stern of the barge and the tug in the notch
Joseph H. Thompson, Jr. - Close-up of the tug

Gladstone, MI: James L. Kuber/Victory drop off a load of coal at Upper Lakes Coal dock on Sept. 22

James L. Kuber - "Bows-on" view unloading in the late afternoon
James L. Kuber - Port-side bow view unloading
James L. Kuber - Close-up of the tug & barge combo
Victory - The tug in the notch of the barge as unloading continues

Escanaba, MI on Oct. 24:

American Spirit - A view from across Little Bay de Noc at anchor, waiting for dock space at the ore dock
Wilfred Sykes - A view from across the bay at the ore dock, once they depart the American Spirit will take their place at the dock
Both ships - Sykes under the loader with the American Spirit at anchor in the bay
Wilfred Sykes - Bow-view close-up loading at the ore dock
American Spirit - Close-up at anchor in Little Bay de Noc

Wilfred Sykes - Side view loading
Both ships - A different view of the two ore boats
Joseph H. Thompson - Back in temporary lay-up at the C. Reiss north dock

2 Ships - Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. loads on Dec. 16 while the Joseph L. Block waits its turn at the north side of the ore dock
Wilfred Sykes - At anchor out in Little Bay de Noc waiting for the McCarthy to depart
Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. - The 1000-ft.-long ship under the loader taking on a load of taconite pellets
Ore Dock - Bow views of the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. and Joseph L. Block at the dock
McCarthy & Block - A little different view of the pair at the ore dock

All 3 Ships - McCarthy and Block in foreground with Wilfred Sykes at anchor in background
McCarthy & Block - A starboard side view of the two vessels with the bow of the Sykes peeking from behind from Vinette Boatworks next door to the ore facility
Wilfred Sykes - Side profile of the ship from across the bay against an interesting sky backdrop
3 Ships - (L to R) Joseph H. Thompson (bow only), Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. and Joseph L. Block from across the bay
3 Ships - Stern/side wide view of the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr & Joseph L. Block at the ore dock with the Wilfred Sykes at anchor from across the bay

2010 Photos:

Herbert C. Jackson - Pouring on the steam shortly after finishing loading taconite pellets on their first trip of 2010 on March 14
Joseph H. Thompson/Joseph H. Thompson Jr. - Tug and barge still in winter lay-up at C. Reiss North Dock
Herbert C. Jackson - The newly painted ship approaches the green channel marker on its way out of the harbor
Herbert C. Jackson - Past the marker
Herbert C. Jackson - Wide view shows a lot of open water for the middle of March

Herbert C. Jackson - Side portrait looking sharp with a new coat of paint
Herbert C. Jackson - Bow close-up view shows the ship is definitely picking up speed as it passes Sand Point
Herbert C. Jackson - Side view close-up of the stern
Herbert C. Jackson - Starboard stern side-view after passing Sand Point
Herbert C. Jackson - Scenic stern view ... Bon Voyage!!

Joseph L. Block - Wide view loading at the ore dock on March 31
Joseph L. Block - Close-up view loading
Joseph L. Block - Side view of the bow of the ship under the loader
Joseph L. Block - Starboard side view at the ore dock
Joseph H. Thompson/Joseph H. Thompson, Jr. - Port-side view of the tug & barge at C. Reiss North Dock

Joseph H. Thompson, Jr. - Close-up of the tug in the stern notch of the barge, Joseph H. Thompson
Wilfred Sykes - Approaching Sand Point around 6:15 p.m. on March 31 coming from winter lay-up in Sturgeon Bay, WI
Wilfred Sykes - Broadside view of the newly re-painted ship
Wilfred Sykes - Close-up of the bow ... looking sharp!!
Wilfred Sykes - Close-up of the stern

Wilfred Sykes - Passing the green channel marker near Sand Point heading for the ore dock
Wilfred Sykes - Approaching the ore dock where the Joseph L. Block is still loading
Wilfred Sykes - Broadside view beyond the ore dock
Wilfred Sykes - Another view of the 2 ships and the ore dock
Wilfred Sykes - Close-up of the Joseph L. Block with the bow of the Sykes approaching

Wilfred Sykes - Passes the stern of the Block heading north past the ore dock
Wilfred Sykes - Same scenario from a different vantage point
Wilfred Sykes - At anchor out in Little Bay de Noc northeast of the Block and the ore dock (ships use the south side of the dock quite often. It is not known why the Sykes did not tie up there this time.)

Birchglen - May 15: A very rare visit for a Canada Stemship Lines (CSL) vessel - wide view of the ship and ore facility from across the bay
Birchglen - Closer view of the ship in its new red color (used to be black) from across the bay
Birchglen - Extreme close-up of the stern from across the bay (using full Optical and partial Digital Zoom, and then cropping)
Birchglen - Starboard bow/side view at the ore dock
Birchglen - Same location close-up view

Birchglen - Bow-on view of the ship and a good look at the conveyor that loads the ship
Birchglen - Scenic wide-view of the starboard/bow side
Birchglen - Close-up of the starboard side (notice the yellow half circle showing on the hatch cover just ahead of the partially closed hatch - it is part of a helicopter landing area
Birchglen - Another close-up look at the bow (notice that there is a slight dent in the bulbous bow)
Birchglen - Wide angle shot from Vinette Boatworks Co. north of the ore dock

North end of ore facility - Piles of taconite abound around the stacker/reclaimer and part of the huge conveyor system employed in the yard
USCG Biscayne Bay - In the dry-dock at Basic Marine
Basic Marine - Wide view of 4 tugs and the USCG Biscayne Bay in the dry-dock
Holly Anne - Close-up of Holly Marine's tug (last one on the right in the previous photo)

American Spirit - May 16: Wide view of the 1004-ft.-long x 105-ft. wide ship at the ore dock as seen from across the bay
American Spirit - Close-up from across the bay
American Spirit - Stern-view close-up at the ore dock
American Spirit - Stern-view close-up from a different spot
American Spirit - Dead-astern view with a good view of the ore loader

American Spirit - Stern port-side view
American Spirit - Close-up from a different vantage point
American Spirit - Wide view from the previous location
Ore Train - The ore train pushes a string of cars loaded with taconite into the building that hosts the rotary car-dumper
Ore Car - Note the "DM&IR" (Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range) markings on the hopper; CN (Canadian National, which runs the ore dock) acquired these cars late last year from DM&IR as upgrades to there older rolling stock. (Thank you, Gary, for the corrected information)

Ore Train - Wide view of the train (from Sheridan Road), which can be remote controlled
Ore Train - Close-up of the remote control unit (caboose) and locomotive
Ore Train - Close-up of the CN (Canadian National) locomotive
Ore Train - Close-up of the remote control car (an old caboose with "Algoma Central Railway" and "Wisconsin Central" logos)

St. Clair - This ship, which rarely visits Escanaba, arrived at the CN Ore Dock in the early morning hours of Sept. 17 (wide view)
St. Clair - Bow view close-up loading taconite pellets later that afternoon
St. Clair - A nearly bow-on view at the loader
St. Clair - Ground-level bow-view from where one of the old ore docks was located (note the rotted pilings)
St. Clair - Starboard side bow-view from the "walking path" (note the pilings from one of the old ore docks)

St. Clair - Close-up of the loader's conveyor belt as taconite is dropped into one of the ship's holds
St. Clair - Bow view of the ship and the loader
St. Clair - Wide view from Vinette Boatworks Co. north of the ore dock
St. Clair - Wide view from across Little Bay de Noc

American Spirit - Stern scenic view at the CN Ore Dock late in the afternoon on Sept. 29; the ship has just arrived
American Spirit - Stern/port-side view of the 1004-ft.-long ship at the taconite loading dock
American Spirit - Stern view from the remains of one of the old ore docks
Sunset - The photo doesn't do justice to the sunset scene looking west up Ludington Street from the House of Ludington
American Spirit - Dusk has set in for this last starboard-side wide-view photo from across the harbor