The Tug Ohio

Like I said in the last post, the Barker was getting a helping hand.

I think it was mostly because of how windy it was today.  I think the wind gusts were getting up to forty miles per hour.

This is a fairly new tug.  In fact, I think she might be the lead tug of the class.

She was built in 2019 and is stationed in Detroit.

The Kaye E. Barker on the Rouge River

I had today off and last night I saw that the Kaye E. Barker would be making her way up the Rouge River sometime around noon today.  So I decided I was going to catch her.

I was hoping to catch her at Jefferson Avenue but I ended up getting delayed by construction on I-94.  As I was heading down to street to get to Jefferson, there was train so I decided to turn around and start at Fort Street.

I brought my drone for the first time this year.  I was actually hoping to catch the tug barge on the right but it was pretty windy and I didn't really want to risk it with my drone.  So I was content with catching the Barker as she passed through the rail bridge.

The clouds looked pretty cool, but as I said it was pretty windy.  For the most part, my drone was able to handle it.

She was moving around 2 knots at this point which I think was just enough to maintain steerage.  She had a tug behind her.

I kind of like this shot and how I have some leading lines in it (sort of).

She starts to pass through the bridge.

I pulled the drone up.  I wasn't getting high wind warnings but this was as far as I was going to take it up.

One more shot with my drone before moving on to the next point.

Next I moved to the Dix Avenue Bridge.  I like the pictures from here.

I might have to come back with my telephoto sometime.  You can see a heron in this picture.

And a cormorant landing.

The Kaye E. Barker was coming down with a load of taconite from Marquette.

I've heard that the Dearborn mill was going to shut down and I was kind of surprised they would be getting loads of iron but maybe they aren't going to shut down.

She gets a little closer to the bridge.

A shot of her pilothouse.

And then I went to the other side to get my favorite shots on the lakes.

Her launch.

Her stack.  Each of the shipping companies have different colored stacks.  Interlake's are black with an orange band.

Old Glory flying proudly in the stiff wind.

She starts to make her turn for the basin.

The flag gives you an idea of how much wind there is.

She needs a little help from a friend.

It's amazing watching these little boats push around the ships.

She helps her get into her slip.

One more shot.

The Sam Laud Passes Riverside Park

So I got a bonus ship today.

I didn't think she was that close behind the Jackson, so I wasn't sure I would catch her.

She was coming over from Burns Harbor.

I think that means she was carrying iron fines because she was heading for the St. Marys Cement Plant on the Rouge River.

Iron fines are used in the cement process and they are mixed with the other materials to make a stronger cemement.

I do know that it is a long loading process.

 The trip is roughly 48 hours.

She passes Windsor.

A relatively clean shot.

She starts to pass under the Ambassador Bridge.

I love this shot.

She is approached by the M.S. Westcott.

She continues past the Bridge.

She starts to work her way towards the Rouge River.

If I had more time, I would have tried to catch this one at the Jefferson Bridge.

And she passes under the Gordie Howe Bridge.  Looks like it is getting closer.

The M.S. Westcott Makes an Appearance

 The other ship was going to be passing Riverside Park.  That gave me the opportunity to catch one of the Westcott boats.

It was the M.S. Westcott which also functions as a pilot boat.

Not sure what they were delivering, but it was pretty cool.

A Canadian Pacific Train in Del Ray.

As I was heading to catch another ship, I saw this train approaching.  I decided to get a picture of it, since I don't get many train pictures here.

I thought it was going to come right at me, but it ended up turning to go on the other tracks.  But I guess that's just as well.  This isn't too bad of a shot.  The addition of one of the most common signs in Michigan is a plus, I guess.

Another shot.

And she passes the crossing gate.

The Herbert C. Jackson on the Rouge River

I have a four day this weekened and I was hoping to get out each of the days.  I got up kind of late on Friday and the weather didn't look like it wanted to cooperate with me.  I ended up working on a model yesterday, so I didn't get out.  I decided that I would get out today come hell or high water.

The Herbert C. Jackson was making her way down from Marquette to deliver taconite to the steel mill in Dearborn.

It was both a nice day today and I like the look of ships on the Rouge River, so I ended up heading down there.

Sadly, I fiddled around for too long, so I didn't have a chance to get drone pictures.  But that was just as well, it was pretty windy today.

But the sun was shining and it sort of made for decent reflections.

Like I said, the Jackson was coming down from Marquette.

She was delivering taconite pellets which are refined iron pellets.

Most of the pure iron ore has been mined but there is enough of the less pure iron ore to mine and process.

The fact they come in pellets, makes loading and unloading easier.

I thought I read they were shutting down this plant for a while but I guess that's not the case.

Her lifeboats.

Her boat.

Old Glory flying proudly in the breeze.

Her stack.

She starts to make the turn for her slip.

I love this shot.

But this is probably my favorite.