🎥 Watch the arrivals:
Quick facts
- Where: Duluth Ship Canal & Aerial Lift Bridge (Duluth–Superior Harbor)
- Date: November 5, 2025
- Ships: John G. Munson and Edwin H. Gott
- Soundtrack: A classic Ambassador Salute (3 long, 2 short) exchanged between bridge and laker—twice
- Gott highlights (from harbor narration):
- Built 1979 (Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, WI)
- 1,004 ft length × 105 ft beam × 56 ft depth
- Twin Caterpillar diesels; ~19,400 hp combined
- Twin controllable-pitch props + bow thruster for tight maneuvers
- 20 hatches, 5 holds, max cargo ~74,100 tons
- 280-ft self-unloading boom (up to ~10,000 TPH)
- Great Lakes Fleet (CN) / operated by Key Lakes, Inc.
- Today’s plan: Fuel, then load iron ore pellets at Burlington Northern (Superior)
What you’ll see in the video
- Bridge rise & canal approach: Both the Munson and the Gott frame up beautifully under the Aerial Lift Bridge with textbook line-ups through the canal.
- Horn exchanges: You’ll hear the Ambassador Salute—three long blasts, two short—returned by the bridge. It’s the Great Lakes’ friendliest “hello.”
- Spec rundown: The pier announcer reads the Gott’s dimensions, power, cargo capacity, and self-unloader details while she eases in.
- Crew moments: Keep an eye out for waves from the deck and a few deckhouse cameos as they enter harbor.
Why this arrival is special
- Two icons, one afternoon: The John G. Munson and the Edwin H. Gott don’t often stack up this neatly for fans on the North Pier—great day for screenshots.
- Sound on: The salutes plus engine note and prop wash against the canal walls deliver the full Duluth experience.
- Self-unloader flex: The 280-ft boom on the Gott is a Great Lakes legend—watch for it on future load/unload shots this season.
What is an “Ambassador Salute”?
It’s a traditional greeting between ship and bridge on the Lakes: the vessel gives 3 long, 2 short horn blasts; the bridge replies in kind. You’ll hear the full exchange in this clip.
FAQs
Where is the Gott headed today?
Per the harbor narration: fueling, then iron ore pellets at Burlington Northern (Superior).
How fast can the Gott go?
Top speed is about 14 knots (~16 mph) in open water.
What makes the Gott stand out?
Her power (~19,400 hp), twin CPPs, and that 280-ft self-unloading boom—among the largest on the Lakes.
