Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The barge Innovation is not with. It's tied up in Milwaukee at the LaFarge plant.

Is the barge included in the tow? If not, does anyone know where it is?

Tug Missouri and Samueal D Champion northbound off Belgium at 0930

G-Tug Missouri arrived at Port Washington, during the overnight hours. I assume they will be pulling the Samuel de Champlain in for repairs.

no chance the Iglehart or Townsend take over. Both vessels need a five-year survey to operate and the Champlain could easily be fixed in that time for less money.

If the tug is out of commission for a while I think it would be far more likely to see another tug towing the barge than a long laid up fleet mate coming out, especially this late in the season.

And with the A-390 just going into drydock last week Andrie currently has a spare tug (unless the Barbara Andrie is getting worked on as well.) None of the Andrie tugs have the horsepower or Bludworth connection that the Samuel de Champlain has, but much of that horsepower just goes to increasing speed anyway.

I could see the Barbara Andrie taking over an oil barge and the Rebecca Lynn towing the Innovation until the Samuel de Champlain is back in service or the ice starts getting bad.

I agree with Paul A. If you look closely you can see algae just forward of the bumper

From what I see, the black streak is the side bearing pads for contact with the barge and the dirt around it is residue from the wear pads. Just my humble opinion.

First off does anyone know if there were any injuries to the crew? Hope not and if so here's wishing for a speedy recovery.

2nd, the Champlain isn't powered by GE diesels is it? The photo (thanks for posting!) with the black streak down the side reminds me of lots of GE locomotives that I have seen pictures of-for some reason GE engines seem prone to burning from time to time. Amtrak had all sort of troubles a few years back. A number of their engines went up in flames. apparently what was happening was a high pressure fuel line into the injectors was failing causing a leak and ensuing fire.

3rd, I see, on the boatnerd AIS that the GLT tug Missouri is in the door county area. Is it headed down to fetch the Champlain or is it headed to Bay Shipbuilding for some reason?

Missouri is on the way from the Soo to tow the Champ to Sturgeon Bay.

It is currently sitting in the Port Washington, WI Harbor tied up to the former WE-Energies coal dock. It is being towed by the tug Wisconsin. There is a dark streak down the one side. Otherwise no real fire damage noted from the outside.

Jim Bartelt

Let's not forget also that the J.A.W. Iglehart is also laid-up as a storage vessel up in Superior. I don't know if they need a spare boat to bring out, if the Iglehart would be the one they would go to first and how much work would be needed before she could sail again? The Townsend last sailed in 2005, the Iglehart in 2006 so anything is possible.

Anyword on how bad the fire was and how much damage was done? Is she being repaired in Milwakkee or is she going to be towed to the shipyard for the repairs? Any chance the Paul H. Townsand could come out of her long term layup and take on the cargoes till the tug is fixed? Thanks for any information.
Dan

Champlain I think you mean

the champion had a engine room fire off of Milwaukee &had to be towed back to Milwaukee.