One really cool visitor

In mid July, while eating brunch one fine Saturday morning a surprising visitor came into the harbour...

It doesn't look that impressive from here, but the boat that came around St. Patricks Island is called the Kiyi, it is a USGS (United States Geological Service) research vessel that travels on Lake Superior taking part in a variety of research projects, mostly on the American shore.

The ship came within about 50 feet from our swimming rock, and blew a loud horn as the kids waved.  It spent about an hour in the bay, making a few circular passes before heading out towards the Slate Islands.

This is a relatively new ship, built in 1999 costing over three million dollars.  It sleeps nine, and is approximately 107 feet long; one of the larger non-freight vessels on Superior.  More information about the Kiyi can be found at http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/mdc/fs12.htm

I discovered later that this American boat has a reserach contract through the Lake Superior Binational Forum to travel to all remedial action plan sites on Lake Superior every two years.  There is an "area in recovery" site at the far northwestern end of Jackfish Bay, that was delisted from an "area of concern" in 2011.

Photo:  US army corp of engineers

As well, another research vessel, the Everett H, passed through Jackfish the day before, travelling along the west coast of the bay.  The Everett H is owned and operated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.  It is commonly docked out of Keefer Terminal in Thunder Bay.  I'm assuming both vessels were taking creel samples of Lake Trout.

Photo: Great Lakes Association of Science Ships

For more information about the Everett H, you can go to:  http://www.canamglass.org/online/shipdetails.php?intShipId=102