Looking out the window of BIG BOATS world HQ this weekend you may not notice it at first.

See it? No not the new stage at summerfest that opened last night. Look past that!

Something missing? Uh… YEAH. DUH! WHERE THE HECK ARE ALL THE BIG BOATS?!

An incredible streak has come to an end here in Milwaukee. After 37 consecutive days of “salties” being in port, last week a BIG BOAT sailed away and there were no other BIG BOATS in its place. “Salties” are the BIG BOATS that sail across the ocean (and hence come into contact with salt water) not to be mistaken with the lake vessels that stay within the great lakes system.

Here is the official release from the Port of Milwaukee when the number got to 30.

Busy Time for International Cargo at Port Milwaukee

For thirty consecutive days, ships carrying cargo to and from Europe have been docked at Port Milwaukee. This is an unusually long stretch of consecutive days to have “salties,” ships that come through the St. Lawrence Seaway, at the docks in Milwaukee.

Currently, there are three such vessels at Port Milwaukee, the Polsteam Mamry at Terminal 2, the Federal Barents at the heavy lift dock, and the Polsteam Lubie at the Cofco grain silos.

The ships have been arriving with steel and departing with Wisconsin-grown grain.

Here is a list of the non-Canadian, foreign flagged vessels at Port Milwaukee over the past month:

Arr. Vessel Company Visit

5/13 Federal Mayumi Fednav FALLine cargo

5/18 Reggeborg Wagenborg Inbound cargo

5/19 Solina Polsteam Inbound cargo

5/24 Federal Kivalina Fednav Export grain

5/27 Lubie Polsteam Inbound cargo

6/04 Federal Satsuki Fednav Export grain

6/09 Federal Barents Fednav FALLine cargo

6/11 Lubie Polsteam Export grain

6/13 Mamry Polsteam Inbound cargo

Port officials gave me the heads up on Thursday the streak ended Wednesday night. Have no fear… more BIG BOATS are surely on their way like this one:

And this one!

So dry up those “salty” tears. Big boat season is still in full swing.