IN THIS EPISODE:
In the 50 years since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, there hasn’t been another major shipwreck on the Great Lakes. We explore what changed after the Fitzgerald went down. Plus, climb aboard the oldest working tugboat on the lakes.
When to Watch?
Check your local station for when Great Lakes Now is on in your area.
How the Edmund Fitzgerald changed Great Lakes shipping
SEGMENT 1 | GREAT LAKES BASIN
50 years after the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald, she remains the Great Lakes’ last major shipwreck. Before the Fitzgerald, shipwrecks were a tragic but regular occurrence on the lakes. The last major wreck before the Fitzgerald occurred 9 years prior, and many believed that those disasters were finally a thing of the past.
The loss of the Fitzgerald left people stunned. The tragedy spurred new safety measures and change among shipping companies, government agencies, and weather forecasters. Over time, advances in weather radar, communications, and culture among shipping crews have made freighters better equipped against the strong storms of the Great Lakes.
How tugboats keep the Great Lakes moving
SEGMENT 2 | MONROE, MICHIGAN
It seems impossible that a 100-foot tugboat could push around a 1000-foot freighter, but tugboats do it every day. Tugboats are the workhorse of the marine industry as they perform a variety of vital roles from towing vessels to breaking ice.
Assisting ships is the main task tugboats perform in the Great Lakes – whether a vessel has run aground, is having engine trouble, has lost a bow thruster or just wants a little help navigating a challenging passageway, tugboats are on speed dial in most pilot houses.
“When you need a tug, you really need one, and there’s nothing else that will meet that need from a horsepower standpoint and a maneuverability standpoint,” said Paul LaMarre III captain of tug America.
With Captain LaMarre at the helm, Great Lakes Now contributor Kathy Johnson set out to discover firsthand what makes these vessels indispensable, what it takes to work on a tugboat today and get a peek inside a 1,250 horsepower engine.
The Fitzgerald’s Legacy and the Power of Tugs
Learn why shipwrecks stopped after the Edmund Fitzgerald and board a century-old tugboat.
Lost Ships and Newsworthy Trees
Explore shipwreck sanctuaries and a forest that fueled a media empire.
Casting Lines and Listening In
Researchers eavesdrop on forests, fishing for lake trout and the rights of nature.
Rescuing Freighters and Busting Swamps
A freighter takes on water in Lake Superior and a lawsuit over farming on wetlands.
Sturgeon Streams and Plastic Pollution
Restoring a threatened fish species and a look at microplastics in the Great Lakes.
Battling Invaders and Exploring Hidden Habitats
Fighting phragmites, lakebed mapping and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Killer Trees and Sacred Waters
How trees are fighting back against the emerald ash borer and restoring a sacred lake.
Too Many Geese and Not Enough Mussels
Managing Canada geese, saving freshwater mussels, and an Ojibwe lens on the fur trade.
Oil Spills and Buried Rivers
Preparing for a Great Lakes oil spill and a look at buried rivers beneath our feet.
Freighters on the Move
Freighter food, mail delivery, and the life of a Great Lakes freighter pilot.
Deep Dives and Rising Waters
The future of rising lake levels, Great Lakes shipwrecks, and the secret lives of fish.
Old Boats and New Adventures
Heritage sailing on Lake Huron and a historic passenger ship returns to its former glory.
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