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Tug Founders...

Being from Michigan and Boating for years on Superior I can attest to the fact that this body of water can change in a heartbeat. Granted I have never been in a storm as described in the article but have made several crossings (Marquette to Isle Royal to the North shore) on Superior and seen the weather change several times in one crossing. I have been forced to wait several days for the weather to lay down even in the summer months when the storms are not as severe.

Chris
Superior Nights
53C
 
Hey Chris-- Isnt Gran Blanc near Flint? If so, where do you run out of on Superior? Mite need a great lakes hatteras rendezvous somewhere up here next summer! ws
 
Grand Blanc is just south of Flint (Or as we call it the armpit of the world). I keep the boat at Bay Harbour in Bay City. I think a rendezvous would be great, I have always wondered how many people on this forum boat on the Great Lakes. It would be great to meet them in person to share "stories". Don't want to hijack the thread but maybe we can start a list of "Local" boaters and put together a rendezvous.

Chris Piazza
Bay Habour Marina
Bay city, mi
Superior Nights
53C
 
Lets do a demographic dinner this winter--Mexico is out. Gotta Hatt to support this year.
Here is the SENECA in her prime--gnawin' ice in Duluth. Notice no copper tubing in MY engine room!! LOL ws
 
I thought there was another thread on this somewhere, indicating that the owner had received a massive bill from the USCG for their efforts, his loss. But I have forgotten where I saw that. Anyone seen that thread?
 
It started out on the bah bah black sheep thread... :) ws
 
Heres a little update from Franz at Zenith from boatnerd.com-- ws

Rob, When we left the tug, she was sitting there in sand in perfect condition with no damage. We could not get it right away due to weather and then the CG took over and federlized the salvage. The tug SHOULD have been pulled out right away without wasting time removing the fuel which was in no risk of spilling. But that was the choice, so during this time, the weather beat her pretty good and flooded her engine room up to the fiddley. Her machinery is all underwater. The only oil spill was a few gallons of bilge scum that seeped out of her at that point of flooding creating that sheen shown in the CG photos from the chopper (they have been providing wonderful images). Her hull is perfect. The tug in general was near perfect. BUT here's the catch - she's all original 1939 including an electric propulsion system. Much of this is hard to replace. My guys are confident we can dry it all out, change the oils and get it going again. BUT we still need to dig it out of there and the clock is ticking and the costs are adding up fast. We're taking it one day at a time. I would do anything to see that she's not destroyed but if we leave her there until spring, there'd be nothing left of her - waves would beat it to death. And in a desperate attempt to get it out NOW, most likely it would be hired to salvors who would just scrap it. If anyone has questions, go ahead and post and if I can give a public answer, I will. I am very appreciative of the countless emails I've received from all of you sending positive thoughts about our loss... This is a real heartbreaker, so I really do appreciate it - THANK YOU everyone. Those letters have motivated me to think harder about just how we could really save the tug for re-use and not scrap. Lets just hope the old girls gets to sail once again someday under her own power and go back to work. She's far too nice a tug to let go for scrap. I will go send in some photos tonight to the news page of her in her working days. Zenith Tug owns 11 tugs right now - 4 on the Lakes. We were planning on taking the SENECA off-Lakes come spring (replaced her with our new ANNA MARIE ALTMAN) but if the SENECA receives a total-rebuild out of this, she'll probably stick around in fresh water. Then again, at the end of the week she could be sitting at the scrapyard or scuttled as a dive attraction, so right now it's all up in the air. Bottom line - we'll keep you posted if ya'll are interested and once again, thank you everyone for your kind thoughts. Franz
 
Seneca update

This was in todays boatnerd.com Kinda creepy, no?? And how about the line to secure it; I wonder how much the USCG charged for that POS
 
Oh yeah good thing they put that line on no one would know where it is, when it drifts away again :D :rolleyes:
 
kinda makes ya feel all warm and fuzzy dont it?? --a flannel shirt and a cup of coffee in front of the radiator in the pilot house... ws
 
Well folks, ADOBE failed me and wouldnt print the right JPG . BOATNERD.COM and whats new-tug gallery for the right one. ws
 
Thats better... now back to that cup o' coffee... ws
 
My buddy in the slip next to mine spends 5 months a year in Bayfield, Ws and the rest of the time here in Jacksonville so I printed out the info on the tug for him .
He makes the trip each way with just Sammie (his dog) . I can't imagine making that trip alone.....Heck, just all the locks he has to go thru!!!
Keep the updates coming as he (along with most of us) would like to be kept informed.
 
Nothing new as of yesterday. Franz told me that the entire salvage job is now under the auspices (sp) of the USCG. Still waiting for weather, SENECA will be towed to Sault Ste. MARIE for drydock / certs.
As for now, we have 2 tugs to clean and strip in Charleston S.C. for a reefing job in January. Tug VICTOR ALTMAN in Savannah will get new towing bollards and some bulwark prior to the tows. Anyone there have a small mobile crane for sale or rent to pull generators and equipment with??
Ultimately, this stuff will go to Ashland Wi. for the museum at the ore dock there. Should be about 6-8 diesel and steam tugs on display with fishtugs too. I heard the US Navy is looking for a home for the Daisy Mae-- retired heavy cruiser Des Moines.
What an addition that would be. She is lying Norfolk awaiting final disposition. We would need a REAL grant for that one. I offered to be the liveaboard curator
with a free summer slip for the Hatt. YIKES ! The aircraft retrieval hoist ought to be able to make the lift to put her on deck for the winter. Must be time for some wackytabacky :D
Stay tuned, and happy holidays!! ws
 
No details for right now, but the SENECA is at the SOO ! According to boatnerd and Franz, 4 tugs and a salvage barge were in attendance. --Film at 11 :D ws
 
Sorry about the delay / timing-- this was from 12-18 boatnerd. ws
Coast Guard Suspends Work on Grounded Tug

12/18 - Grand Marais, MI – Operations for the tug Seneca were suspended Saturday night due to high winds and heavy sea states that were experienced on scene. Responders arrived safely in the Sault early Sunday morning.

With the limited time available on scene, responders were able to remove additional waste oil from the vessel, prior to departing for the Sault.

The Coast Guard has not given up on its attempt to free the tug Seneca; however, operations are limited to 24 hours of favorable weather conditions.

The Coast Guard will continue to assess the best possible strategy for removing the tug from the beach and will resume operations as soon as favorable weather conditions permit.

The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the situation and adjust actions accordingly.

USCG News Release
 
Press Release

Date: December 14, 2006

Contact: Lt. j.g. William White
(906)-635-3310

UPDATE 4 TO TUG SENECA GROUNDING

GRAND MARAIS, Mich. - The Coast Guard and environmental response contractors continue pollution response operations for the Tug Seneca.

Weather conditions, earlier this week, forced the Coast Guard and environmental response contractors to suspend pollution response operations for the Tug Seneca. During that period, pollution responders assessed the effectiveness of past actions and made preparations for future response operations.

Future operations will encompass four stages of action. The first stage calls for responders to access the interior of the vessel to safely remove as much product as possible. The second stage will assess the vessel's watertight integrity and ability to float. During the third stage, a trench will be dug from the vessel to a water depth safe for re-floating. The fourth stage calls for the tug to be towed from its current location back to Sault Ste. Marie. Once the vessel arrives in the Sault, the vessel will be returned to the owner.

The current operational plan takes into consideration personnel safety and environmental concerns. The plan will reduce the amount of time personnel and equipment will operate in an exposed portion of Lake Superior. In addition, the removal of the tug will prevent further environmental concerns.

The Coast Guard and contractors will continue to monitor the situation and adjust actions accordingly.

Further inquiries can be made by phone to Lt. j.g. William White at (906) 635-3310 or via email at william.white@uscg.mil
 
DHS USCG Banner
Press Release

Date: December 11, 2006

Contact: Lt. j.g. William White
(906) 635-3310

UPDATE 3 TO TUG SENECA GROUNDING

GRAND MARAIS, Mich - Today, the Coast Guard and environmental response contractors, were able to safely remove an additional 15% of the environmental hazards from the TUG SENECA.

Pollution response efforts, thus far, have resulted in the removal of approximately 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel oil, 25 gallons of paint, and 30 gallons of lube oil. Approximately less than 70 gallons of lube oil remain onboard the TUG SENECA. Early afternoon weather conditions forced the Coast Guard and pollution responders to suspend operations. Current and forecasted weather conditions exceed the safe operating capabilities of the spud barge, which is utilized to transfer product from the tug to the proper storage containers. Any continued efforts to retrieve additional petroleum product, under the current and forecasted weather conditions, would be considered hazardous to work crews and the barge.

The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the tug's status by utilizing all available resources, which may include assets from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, CGC KATMAI BAY, or Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie. The Coast Guard and contractors will continue to assess the best course of action with regards to the vessel and the remaining petroleum product.
 
Press Release

Date: Dec. 10, 2006

Contact: Lt. j.g. William White
(906) 635-3310

UPDATE 2 TO TUG SENECA GROUNDING

GRAND MARAIS, Mich - Coast Guard and environmental response contractors, working in concert with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority have spent the last two days mitigating environmental concerns that may be associated with the TUG SENECA.

Marine Pollution Control (MPC) has been contracted by the U.S. Coast Guard to provide a pollution response to the grounding of the TUG SENECA. The Coast Guard will maintain oversight of on-scene operations utilizing personnel from Coast Guard Sector Sault, the Atlantic Area Strike Team, Traverse City aircraft and the cutter KATMAI BAY. Pollution responders are coordinating efforts to expedite the safe removal of approximately 1900 gallons of environmental hazards from the tug, including approximately 1800 gallons of diesel fuel, 50 gallons of lube oil, 25 gallons of waste oil, and 30 gallons of paint. As of 6 PM this evening more than 75% of the products have been successfully removed from the vessel and safely transferred to a near by barge. Weather has been favorable thus far, and has allowed pollution responders the opportunity to mount an effective response in the containment and removal of any pollutants in this remote area of Lake Superior. Responders will work until late tonight to remove as much product as possible, before commencing operations early tomorrow.

Monday's operations call for the removal of any remaining environmental hazards prior to the arrival of the next weather front which is forecast to arrive in the area Monday evening.
 
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