Welcome To The Great Lakes Ships Site!
ALL About Great Lakes Ships
The Great Lakes Ships Website was built by a Great Lakes Pilot. It was first created to give those interested in Great Lakes Shipping a bird's eye view of life on a Great Lakes Freighter.
The man who created this website, Doug LaLonde, was a Marine Pilot who retired from the American Steamship Company in 2014.


35 Years On Great Lakes Ships
Doug LaLonde retired "from" The M/V Indiana Harbor (pictured above). During his career on the Great Lakes he worked his way up thru the "hawsepipe" to 1st Mate/Pilot. 2013 was Doug's last season as a Great Lakes Mariner.
As strange as it may seem, (really not so strange), Doug's Dad - Ted LaLonde also retired from the M/V Indiana Harbor.
The "New" Great Lakes Ships Website

Great Lakes Ships T-Shirts
The "New" Great Lakes Ships Website will not JUST be a place where Doug talks about life as a Great Lakes Mariner...
It will also be a place where Doug can shine a light on his awesome Merchant Marine Custom T-Shirt Collection!


Since his retirement in 2014, Doug, aka DIAMONDDUG, has spent a good share of his time designing shirts for Merchant Mariners.
Hundreds of Mariners have bought his DIAMONDDUG-SHIRTS™.
Doug took it upon himself to learn how to proficiently use the amazing software programs, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, so he could successfully create beautiful T-Shirt designs for Merchant Mariners AND others!
Read Doug's Articles About Great Lakes Ships
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You Call, We Haul, That's All
Great Lakes Shipping Business That is what we do. Bottom line; We're in the business of moving
In The Face Of A Hurricane West Wind
The Gales Of November Here it is the 2nd of November, 2013... Another Great Lakes Shipping Season
Crossing Lake Superior On The North Shore
Every now and then it makes good sense to chart a course across Lake Superior near the North shoreli
M/V Indiana Harbor Stops For Fuel In Canada
During our recent trip, (Cargo #7 for 2013), after unloading half our coal load in St. Clair, Mich
The Great Lakes Wheelsman
In this post I’m going to talk on a subject that truly needs to be discussed. That is the subj
My Name Is Marlin Spike
When I was 18 years old, back in about June of 1972, I joined the Seafarer’s International Union a
What Is A Great Lakes Pilot?
My Dad was a Pilot on the Great Lakes and I am one too. But you might be asking; What does a Gre
April 12 On The M/V Indiana Harbor: A Great Lakes Ore Carrie
When you have a “Blog” you need to post to it as much as practical. At times “Posting” to
Boat Nerds Love Ships On The Great Lakes
Great Lakes Ships And Boat-Nerds Great Lakes Ships are of interest to a great many people in Canada