Did You Know This Symbol On Great Lakes Ships Is Actually A Warning?

Every time I watch one of Vibe With Mike's videos of ships on the Great Lakes, I learn something new. Mike just did a video of the Michigan Trader sailing into Duluth under the Aerial Lift Bridge at sunset. How much more Duluth can you get than that?

This Actually Isn't A 'Ship'

The Michigan trader isn't actually a ship, it's an articulated tug barge, but everyone calls it a ship anyway. It's an impressive vessel, and it has a huge tower for the bridge. Can you imagine being up that high in rough waters?

The ship is so tall, that the lift bridge had to go all the way up to 135 feet for it to clear.

What Does The Strange Symbol On The Ships Mean?

Anyway, back to the question. Have you noticed this symbol on big ships?

Mike explains in this video that it's actually a warning sign for tugboats. It indicates there is a thruster below the water line. In this case, it's a bow thruster. It shows tugboat captains to stay clear of those areas when assisting ships.

Read More: Take A Rare Tour Aboard A 1,000 Footer

Check out Vibe With Mike's YouTube page. He does a tremendous job with his videos and has vast knowledge of these Great Lakes ships. People travel from around the world to visit Duluth thanks to videos like Mike's.