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Lewis J. Kuber/Olive L. Moore Depart Winter Lay-Up on April 5 "Maiden Voyage"

The barge, Lewis J. Kuber, pushed by the tug, Olive L. Moore, departed KK Integrated Logistics dock just as it has in past years; only, this time, they sail not for KK Integrated Shipping, but for its new owners, Lower Lakes Transportation. Over the past week, the stack of the tug, Olive L. Moore, was painted in Lower Lakes colors, but the trademark Native American logo of Lower Lakes was missing. The duo spent all day preparing for their "Maiden Voyage" for Lower Lakes Transportation, something which fleetmates, James L. Kuber/Victory, will soon also do.

Meanwhile, the Basic Marine tug, Erika Kobasic, came down the bay of Green Bay from Escanaba, MI during the afternoon hours. They were following the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking buoy tender, Hollyhock, until both were just north of Menominee, at which time the Hollyhock continued down the bay to Green Bay, WI, while the Erika Kobasic turned and headed for Menominee, breaking ice as they headed in. A narrow gap in the ice out near Menominee North Pier Lighthouse continued to open up during the day, as strong west winds pushed the ice offshore. By the time the tug arrived, there was a patch of open water out past the inner channel marker buoys. The tug entered the Menominee River, but, finding no ice in the harbor, promptly turned around and headed back out into the bay to await the Lewis J. Kuber/Olive L. Moore, which they would then escort up the bay of Green Bay to Lake Michigan. They were destined to wait for almost three hours as the tug & barge continued to prepare for their departure, which did not take place until nearly 8 p.m. At 11:30 p.m., the vessels were only abreast of Chambers Island in the bay of Green Bay (about one hour sailing time on a good day for most ships); the ice must be troublesome out there, which is not surprising due to the day's offshore winds pushing the ice out that way.

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Lewis J. Kuber on the morning of departure day	Olive L. Moore astern of fleetmate barge, James L. Kuber	Tug from a slightly different angle
The "KK" has been painted over on the stack	Bow view in the early afternoon	Stern of the barge the Olive L. Moore will push
Erika Kobasic broke ice coming down the bay of Green Bay	Close-up as they come in to take a look at the harbor ice	Finding no ice in the harbor they go back to the bay
Early evening, and the Olive L. Moore is ready to depart	Kicking the stern away from the dock	Passing fleetmate, James L. Kuber
Near broadside	Heading for the "notch" of the Lewis J. Kuber	Straightening out
Heading into the notch	In the notch	Wider angle
Locked in place	Checking out the boom before departing	Broadside view as the sun sets
A view of the Lewis J. Kuber from above	... and the James L. Kuber	As night sets in, the Lewis J. Kuber heads past Viking I
The bow of the barge through the Ogden Street Bridge	Tug & barge through the bridge on their maiden voyage