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Mary E. Hannah Arrives To Pick Up Final Rock Barge From KK Integrated Logistics on Jan. 31

The tug, Mary E. Hannah, which is currently based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, arrived in Menominee around mid-morning today. The tug was escorted up Lake Michigan by the icebreaker/buoy tender, USCG Mobile Bay, which is also based in Sturgeon Bay. The duo passed through Death's Door (off the tip of Wisconsin's Door County peninsula) into the bay of Green Bay before the icebreaker stopped out in the bay off Menominee North Pier Lighthouse and let the tug proceed into the Menominee River by itself. The ice on the Menominee River was quite thin due to our abnormally warm winter weather. As the tug approached KK Integrated Logistics to pick up the loaded rock barge which the tug, Donald C, had left here earlier in the month, the crew got on a loudspeaker to warn fishermen (in the turning basin on the Marinette side of the river) that they were about to break up about 400-ft. of ice on the Menominee side and to please move off the ice. Well, as usual, that didn't work. After hailing the fishermen (one in particular who was well out into the river) a second time (with the same results), the tug began breaking ice. After they had broken up a good-sized channel, they backed into the KK integrated Logistics West Dock to retrieve the barge. After passing a towline to the barge, the tug began to work the barge around through a 180-degree turn to head down the river. Leaving the fisherman safely (surprisingly) on the ice behind them, the tug and barge headed for the Ogden Street (Menekaunee) Bridge. They then proceeded out through Menominee North Pier Lighthouse pier and Government Pier to the bay of Green Bay. Once past the lighthouse, the tug paid out a long towline for the trip back through Death's Door and out into Lake Michigan on their way to Chicago with the final barge-load of rocks for the "31st Street Marina" project. The USCG Mobile Bay escorted the tug and barge back from Menominee through Death's Door and out into a mostly ice-free Lake Michigan.

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Return to 2012 Menominee & Marinette Ships

Mary E. Hannah waits for the Ogden Street Bridge to open	A view from the Marinette side of the Menominee River	Heading through the Ogden Street (Menekaunee) Bridge
Approaching the rock barge, which it will take to Chicago	Stern/broadside view of the tug	The tug used a loudspeaker to warn the fisherman to move
This guy just doesn't get it: ice cracks in strange ways	The tug breaks ice in the area in front of the fishermen	A towline is passed from the tug to the barge
A view from the stern of the barge	The tug prepares to move the barge off the dock	Yup! Our fisherman is still there; I surely wouldn't be!!
The barge comes away from the dock wall	The tug begins to turn the barge to head down-river	Our fisherman is still there, close to the edge of the ice
The tug has the barge halfway around	All turned around and heading for the bridge	A view from the Ogden Street (Menekaunee) Bridge
Usually the tug would push the barge through the bridge	Coming through the bridge	The USCG Mobile Bay escorted the tug from Sturgeon Bay
Broadside view of the tug from the lighthouse boat ramp	Wide view of the tug and barge	The icebreaker waits out beyond the lighthouse
USCG Mobile Bay waits to lead the tug & barge into the bay	Stern view of the tow	In between the lighthouse pier and Government Pier (right)
The barge wanders as the tug pays out a longer towline	I just liked this shot!	The tug and barge head out into the bay of Green Bay