The Tug Stormont

 I think I've posted this one before.  In fact, I know I've posted it a couple of times.

This is the tug Stormont.  She is usually pushing a barge that is used to transport trucks over the Detroit River.  Those trucks are usually carrying hazardous materials because you can't transport those over the Ambassador Bridge.  I'm not what sure will happen to this after the Gordie Howe Bridge is built as you will be able to transport hazardous material over that.  I hope they keep it around because you never know.

The Stormont Tug Making an Appearance

 So I decided to head down to Belanger Park today.  I saw that I had a chance to catch a ship.  Given that ships are fairly sparse right now, I figured it would be a idea.

The Stormont was originally built in 1953 by the Canadian Dredge and Dock company.  She was given her current name and worked for the Ontario Ministry of Transport.  She moved around for a while before she landed at McKeil Marine in 2014.  She currently serves as the truck ferry with her current barge.

In 2014, the Michigan Department of Transportation would no longer allow hazardous material to get transported over the Ambassador Bridge.  Trucks were already banned from the tunnel.  If you hand hazardous material, you had to go up to the Blue Water Bridge.  This ferry service was set up to transport hazardous waste.  I have a feeling this will end when the Gordie Howe Bridge is built.

I apologize for the picture, it was 70 today and the water was not.  That made for heat haze, therefore not the greatest picture.

The Tug Stormont

I'm not sure if I've posted pictures of her before but this a perfect example of free enterprise in action.

 The tug Stormont is part of the Detroit River Ferry.  Actually, I think she is the Detroit River Ferry.  This came about because hazardous materials are not allowed on the Ambassador Bridge but you still have to get them over to Canada.

 So someone made a ferry barge and uses a tug to push it.  So you have the truck ferry.

There are rumors saying that they they may allow hazardous chemicals to be transported over the Ambassador Bridge.  This would probably be the end of the truck ferry.  Kind of a shame because everything I've read about him makes him sound like a pretty decent guy unlike the jack that owns the Ambassador Bridge.