Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Thank you all for the story what explain the picture.

Regards,

John van der Doe

That was a very cold winter. Hearing of ice all the way to the bottom we were wondering if the Blough would be stuck until spring. At that time I was on the former Adam E Cornelius (sarah spencer) sitting in ice in the Detroit River for the night.

The tug at the stern is either the Mary E. or James A. Hannah. The other is a 110 class like the Arundel or Kaw. Most likely at the Hole in the Wall in the Livingstone Channel, where the cross currents can be troublesome.

I remember this incident, I was the CO of the Kaw at the time. If I remember correctly, the Westwind was at the lower end of the cut, and as the Blough made it to that location The Westwind ended up with her starboard quarter up against the west side of the channel, and ice piled up along her port side. We towed the stern of the Westwind upstream so she could get straightened out and proceed downbound ahead of the Blough

Thank you both for the answer about the "Roger Blough"

Regards,

John van der Doe.

I believe the photo was taken January 11, 1979 in the Livingstone Channel, Detroit river. There had been an ice jam in the Detroit river and the USCG had tried to use the Roger Blough to break the jam. Instead she was nearly pushed ashore due to the ice that reportedly was anchored to the river bottom. Kaw and Westwind later broke the jam.

I believe she was at the lower end of the Rock Cut, and there was brash ice from bottom to top of channel.

Th "Roger Blough" in a not so best situation.

Does any one remember this picture.

Regards,

John van der Doe