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The North Shore was hit with a blast of arctic air this week. The shipping season was technically over but the John G. Munson was still on the east end of Lake Superior. The 768 foot ore carrier built in 1952 was on its way to the Fraser Ship Yard in Duluth for winter layup. On the coldest day this winter the Munson started its 36 hour journey across Lake Superior. Before making it to the Keweenaw Peninsula it encountered heavy seas so it turned back and anchored on the east end of Lake Superior to ride out the storm. After the winds subsided the Munson again ventured out into the cold. The temperatures were still around 20 degrees below zero when it arrived in Duluth. Surrounded by sea smoke it looked like a ghost ship.

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The Munson spent the night anchored off shore.

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Coast Guard Cutter Alder

The Coast Guard Cutter Alder broke up the ice in the harbor so that the Munson could get through.

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Nels J Tugboat

Two Duluth based tugs assisted. The Nels J. shown here is 103 ft long and has a 16 cylinder diesel engine capable of 1,950 horsepower. The sounds of the huge ice chunks hitting the bottom of the tugs were pretty impressive.

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After dark I took this 30 second exposure of the Munson anchored off the Duluth lift bridge.

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Duluth Harbor

There were hundreds of Golden Eyes taking advantage of the open water after the Alder had gone through.

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As soon as paths were made in the ice the Munson headed for port. The refracted light caused by the warmer Lake Superior water evaporating into the cold morning air made the ice covered Munson look exceptionally tall.

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There weren’t very many people braving the cold temps to watch the Munson pass under the Duluth lift bridge but the ones that did were able to experience a seldom seen winter event.

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