Joseph L. Block Bayship Pre-Arrival Panorama

The Joseph L. Block carves its way through the ice-choked Sturgeon Bay Canal, arriving for its winter layup in January 2025. The frozen surface fractures beneath its bow, sending jagged shards skittering aside as the freighter makes its slow, determined passage. A veteran of the Great Lakes shipping fleet, the Block has spent the season hauling iron ore and limestone, vital raw materials for steel production. Now, as the cold tightens its grip, it joins the procession of ships seeking refuge in Sturgeon Bay, a city whose working waterfront has long been a cornerstone of maritime industry.

Built in 1976 by Bay Shipbuilding, the Joseph L. Block was among the last bulk carriers constructed in Sturgeon Bay before the shipyard shifted focus to ship repair. Named for a former president of Inland Steel, the 728-foot freighter continues to serve the Great Lakes under Central Marine Logistics, making regular runs between ports like Indiana Harbor, Escanaba, and Burns Harbor. Each winter, the ship returns to Sturgeon Bay for maintenance, ensuring its readiness for the next season’s demands.

Sturgeon Bay’s ship canal, completed in 1881, transformed the city into a vital passageway, allowing vessels to bypass the dangerous waters of Death’s Door at the northern tip of the peninsula. Over time, it became more than just a transit route—it became a winter sanctuary for ships, thanks to the presence of Bay Shipbuilding. Today, the yard is one of the largest ship repair facilities on the Great Lakes, providing winter maintenance, repowering, and structural work on freighters like the Block.

As the Joseph L. Block pushes forward, its hull crushing through thick ice, it moves through a landscape defined by its maritime past and present. The frozen canal, the cold steel of the freighter, and the shipyard beyond tell the story of a city shaped by the rhythm of the Great Lakes shipping industry. Soon, the Block will come to rest for the season, its engines silent against the deep winter, until the ice breaks once more and the cycle begins again.

All prints are of museum quality and printed in The USA. Canvas Prints are wrapped around a hardwood frame to prevent long-term wrapping and utilize a 0.75" thick wrap. Metal Prints are glossy, vibrant, and of course are ready to hang.  These prints make a statement and bring Door County home to your wall.