MOVING ON

Dredging and trucking crews with final spoils barge
to unload,  6 a.m. Tuesday Jan. 9th.    
L to R:
Roen crew Jeff Thoney, Greg Viste, Steve Ross, Jim Warrick; Hoyt Purinton (WIFL)
Roen crew Matt Goetz,; drivers Dave Hanlin, Pete Nehlsen, Tom Jordan,
Joel Gunnlaugsson (WIFL, behind); driver Tim Ervin; Rich Ellefson (WIFL);
Don Sarter, Roen Project Supervisor and tug captain.

Detroit Harbor, Washington Island -

The last Roen barge load of dredge spoils was off-loaded early Tuesday morning to complete several weeks' work near the Potato Dock.  Mike Kahr continued digging Tuesday in several hard-to-get spots, but the bulk of the project is complete as of Jan. 10.

Ferry Arni J. Richter brought around to new mooring,
shortly after Roen's barges moved out.

Mariners were greeted by a perfect Thursday morning today, January 10.  With light wind and temperatures already in the middle 30s by 8:30 am, the Roen crew moved their barges and tug to deeper water in preparation for the tow home to Sturgeon Bay.  Before they departed Washington Island, however, they were joined by a deeper draft tug operated by Selvick Towing.  The Jimmy L came to pick up the McMullen & Pitz construction barge that had been in Kap's Marina since early November, constructing a new dock for the Coast Guard station there.

The heavy work on the dock project had been finished.  Final details were being wrapped up, such as wiring and the grouting of gaps between the pre-cast walkway sections.  Workers launched a small boat from the McMullen barge in order to push it toward deeper water near the channel, where Roen's tug waited to take over.  Then, beyond the entrance light the tow was transferred to the Selvick tug.  The Jimmy L began towing toward Door Bluff and Marinette, where the barge would remain for the rest of the winter.

Using a fuel truck and a backhoe as ballast in the bow to lighten the stern, the Arni J. Richter's crew moved that ferry from the inner harbor to the Potato Dock in preparation for anticipated winter operations.  (Lately, we're beginning to wonder if we'll get winter back again!)

While the water near the dock is deep enough, caution must be used because the room to maneuver, especially to the east, will be limited.  The dock will be useable for landings, however, and that was the whole objective since this project began.

-  Dick Purinton