Federal Nakagawa Opens Toledo Season; River Ice Delays Downbound Fleet

The Federal Nakagawa, an ocean-going vessel, arrived in Toledo Monday and claimed the distinction of being the season's first saltwater caller to the port. She is currently loading grain at the ADM terminal under the command of Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, a sign that Toledo's grain export business is ramping up as spring navigation opens. The arrival marks a milestone for the port and signals that winter layup is officially behind us—at least for some operators. Upriver, however, conditions remain tight. The St. Marys River continues to challenge downbound traffic, with ice and narrow channels creating a log jam between Lakes Huron and Erie. The Coast Guard—both U.S. and Canadian assets—is working overtime to manage vessel flow. As of Monday noon, Burns Harbor and Edwin H. Gott had cleared the Rock Cut, while American Mariner, Wilfred Sykes, and three Algoma Corporation vessels (Equinox, Discovery, and Niagara) were waiting upbound. Six additional downbounders remain delayed by ice conditions. The Herbert C. Jackson, which left winter layup at Ecorse near Detroit on March 25, encountered her own troubles. After tying up at Monroe on the same day—escorted by Great Lakes Towing tugs—she returned to Ecorse late Thursday. Waterfront reports suggest the Jackson may have suffered steering issues and possible hull damage while navigating the tight Livingstone Channel downbound. Repairs have since been completed, and she departed Ecorse the evening of March 29. Water levels across the system remain above the Low Water Datum: Lake Erie sits at 2.04 feet above, Lake Ontario at 1.94 feet, and Lake Michigan at 1.06 feet. Lake Superior, meanwhile, faces a gale watch from Thursday morning through late Thursday night as a low-pressure system moves eastward across the upper lakes. With ice lingering in critical channels and spring storms on the horizon, captains moving through the narrows should expect slow going for the next few days.