Wilfred Sykes - A Very Rare Sight in the Duluth Piers

After entering through the piers and giving us a great master salute with her dual horns, the Sykes crossed over to the Superior side, by which time the Baie Comeau had vacated the BN5 dock. I followed her as she made her way across the harbor, stopping at Connor's Point to get some views of her starboard side as it was nicely lit by the late afternoon sun. I then went to Wisconsin Point to watch her approach and dock at BN5. Note the two crew members riding the Bosun's chair from the Sykes to the dock to help tie up the ship. Keen viewers will also notice several puffs of black smoke coming from the Sykes bow section, as her diesel-powered bow thruster is used to help her maneuver up to the dock. The use of these thrusters helps the Sykes dock without the need of tug assistance.

The 678-foot Wilfred Sykes was built in 1949 by the American Shipbuilding Company of Lorain, Ohio. She was the first American lake carrier built after World War II and was in many ways she signaled a new age in Great Lakes shipping. Her two steam turbine engines produce a combined 7,700 horsepower, burning "bunker C" heavy fuel oil instead of coal, making her the first laker to do so. (Several lakers would later be retrofitted to burn fuel oil, but the Sykes was the first laker designed to do so from her conception.) She has 18 hatch covers that access six cargo holds capable of holding 21,500 tons of cargo. The Sykes was converted to a self-unloader in 1975 and given a 250-foot self-unloading boom. She is one of five steam-powered lake carriers still in service, with the others being the Alpena, Arthur M. Anderson, Cason J. Callaway, and Philip R. Clarke. All five have now been documented on this channel.

The Sykes is normally involved in hauling stone between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, but on rare occasions she has made iron ore runs to Lake Superior at the beginning or end of the season when she isn't needed for hauling stone. She made a couple of visits to Superior in 2018 and 2019, which I wasn't able to capture... as most visits were at night or during poor weather. After having spent much of 2020 in layup due to the economy, she did make an earlier visit to Two Harbors in March 2021, but again I wasn't able to capture her (other than a brief glimpse of her sitting at anchor). It was ultimately worth the wait to watch her come through the Duluth piers. It may be a long time before we ever see her in Duluth again, so hopefully my footage of this rare visitor does her justice!

[josephbordelon]

I live in Texas and have never seen this canal in person . But through Utube I just enjoyed a beautiful salute as I have worked on boats in Gulf of Mexico for a short while as a younger man . Thanks for sharing. That ia a very impressive vessel.

[carolyndavis]

The Sykes...a real lady..
A beautiful and regal vessel...
A class act no doubt . ..
She cuts through the water..
..so smooth....
Fantastic shots of her...
Excellent video...thank you!

[RobynMM]

Absolutely wonderful!!! Thank you SO much!!

[markjessurun]

WOW, nice big old ship very good shot I like it Thanks !!

[AZ-phil]

She is such a beautiful sight as she comes in off the lake. Those colors in the afternoon sun, and the beautiful sky, gorgeous! According to my records, I have an old black and white picture of her on the Detroit River back in the early 50's. Now 86, and having downsized, don't think I'll ever find the darn thing! She's an incredible sight, gliding through the harbor to her mooring. A great catch of a rare old lady.

[johnschueler]

The Sykes and I have two things in were both born on June 28, 1949! Very happy to watch her sail again after a long layup!

[oldrustycars]

I saw her arrive in Duluth on 5/24/21 and leave the next evening. Someone on deck talked to us on the pier. First boat I saw on my first trip to Duluth.

[chuckg]

What a fantastic video! Appreciate your fine efforts to get so many vantage points. Also I greatly enjoy all the detail you put into the video descriptions. All in all, just awesome stuff. My sincere thanks.

[therago-xmlg]

Yes you Finally caught her and by far this is one of my favorite videos of ships arriving in the canal and it's always nice to hear Capt Treece's nice salutes. To me, the Sykes is just smaller and less streamlined Ryerson which according to my sources she is. Too bad they gutted her steam whistle in 2012 but at least we got the dual horns.

[BL-jtqt]

Three long and two an odd Salute? For a large ship, she just glides so smoothly through the water without a ripple other than the prop wash. As always, an excellent description and info along with your great views... and an excellent catch of them lowering two crewmen to the dock to help tie her up, that was interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[Kathleensailorgirl]

Omg she is quite the beautiful ship.love her design . Thanks for sharing 😊

[judyscheiber]

Wonderful. Lakers should never be laid up or idle. They do best when out on the lakes. Glad to know she is appreciated AND busy. I love her paint! Pretty ship. BTW - your narrative about her and her captain are just great.

[blusnuby]

Well Done ! This video "made my month." Thank You !

[wyomingadventures]

Now that's a different Horn! Great video love how close you got.👍❤🚢

[mwolfer]

Great shots, fantastic light! Thank you. Mast- und Stengenbruch! 😉

[turtleonahottinroof]

Welcome to the Sykes and her crew! Safe journeys to Captain Treece! 🖖🐢

[Unclesmokey]

Love that forward pilot house business on these ships

[janethedberg]

She’s in exceptional condition for an old girl like her !

[billmarquet]

The Wilfred Sykes was the first commercial lake carrier built at American Ship Building in Lorain, Ohio after WW2..She was built between 1948 & 1949 and comissioned in 1950..She was later converted to a self-unloader...

[Tipp_Of_The_Mitt]

OH Hell ya, great footage and editing.