Podcast will focus on seaway, Great Lakes

A new podcast focusing on shipping along the St. Lawrence Seaway system launches Monday.

Also known as The Ship Watcher, Clayton, N.Y.-based Michael Folsom said the “Downbound Discussions” podcast features a unique perspective on the many aspects of the seaway system and lower Great Lakes, the region’s countless assets and events, as well as the people in and around the shipping industry.

“The idea is to bring ship enthusiasts another step closer to the mesmerizing vessels so often seen along the St. Lawrence, while also highlighting what the seaway has to offer — from beautiful landscapes to exciting community events and, most importantly, making connections with the people that play a role in it all so that it can be a little more real than just a name or photo on social media,” said Folsom in a release.

He said he wants to provide listeners with behind-thescene looks they may not get otherwise.

Episode 1, set to be released today will feature Port of Oswego executive director Bill Scriber and shipmate-turned-cookbook author Catherine Schmuck.

The port is on the eastern end of the American side of Lake Ontario. Folsom said Scriber, a military veteran, took the helm of the facility in December 2017.

“In addition, he has been integral in securing funding for new projects at the port, including grain storage, windmill offloading and aluminum ingots for nearby Novelis,” the release said.

Schmuck is known for archiving her journeys aboard ships on Facebook — facebook.com/ShipToShoreChef — while serving as a relief cook. She has sold 4,000 copies of her cookbook “Ship to Shore Chef.”

Episode 2 of the podcast brings things closer to the Niagara region with a discussion on the Welland Canal collision involving McKeil Marine’s Florence Spirit and ship Carriers’ M/V Alanis July 11, 2020. Talking about the incident is an investigator from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and Roger LeLievre, editor of the ship-watching guide “Know Your Ships.”

Episode three 3 will be dedicated solely to the Wolfe Island ferry, which operates between Kingston and Wolfe Island.

Information on the podcast can be found on “Downbound Discussions” Facebook page and St. Lawrence Seaway Ship Watchers Facebook page.

It’s available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible and Amazon Music.