Re: Tug/barge swapping

From: Tom Hynes
Location: Grand Ledge
email: hynestatcomcastdotnet
Remote Name: 24.11.147.72
Date: 11.30.06
Time: 07:38:11 PM

Comments

When the State of Michigan decided to replace the former Ann Arbor Railroad carferries with barges in the late 1970's the plan was for one articulated tug to mate with four barges. While one barge was being loaded in Elberta, the tug would take a second across the lake to Kewaunee and immediately pick up a third that was already loaded and waiting. I assume the fourth was intended as a spare or to service Manitowac. The scandal-prone UPSCO shipyard in Ontonagon hadn't even finished the first barge and tug when the plan was scubbed. Those two eventually would up on the oceans as the US flagged Thunder and Lightning and the three additional sister barges were never built. ********************* Norfolk Western/Norfolk Southern used to routinely switch barges on their Detroit to Windsor carfloat run but those were towboats with tow knees and face wires for connecting to the barges, not articulated units. *****************Does Hannah Marine ever switch out their tugs? I know a few are articulated.