• Wednesday-What'sUP July 6 - 11:11 pm

Rod Burdick made a trek to Munising to capture a few shots of the Integrated Tug/Barge (ITB) Invincible/McKee Sons, as it unloaded coal for the Neenah Paper Mill. Rod says that Munising only receives three to four coal shipments each shipping season, so this is a treat for the "boat nerds" among us, to be able to get a glimpse of one of those shipments being off-loaded. I'm not certain what an "integrated tug/barge" is, but after viewing the stern of this vessel, it looks like a tug that sits within the barge and is joined to it. So, all you knowledgeable boat enthusiasts... how did I do? :->

I'm sure someone can give an explanation of this type of boat and how it works. Thanks in advance!

I used to love things like that when I was a kid and the boats would come to $ Bay. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!

This type of ship was "invented" to cut the crew size from 30 down to a dozen and still get the Coast Guard and rich stockholders approval. You are right the "aft" of the ship is removed and a tug capable of powering the ship is attached. I believe on a few of these the pilot house can still be used for steering with proper cables installed. Looking at one of these proves that in this country abortions are legal.

omigosh, Eddyfitz, what an analogy!

A modern adaptation to the "PushMePullYou" I'm guessing....

Rod sent in a couple additional photos this morning, so I thought I'd add them here:

This is the USCG Mackinaw, which was at the Lower Harbor in Marquette for the 4th of July weekend. She was secured at Mattson Park during food fest and made a colorful addition to the festivities for the weekend.

Those are pictures of the 'New Mac" WLBB 30. Old Mackinaw (WAGB 83) was freshly painted for the decommissioning ceremony in Cheboygan
River on June 10, 2006. On June 21, a skeleton Coast Guard crew sailed the Mackinaw to her final mooring at the former Chief Wawatam railroad dock in downtown Mackinaw City, Michigan. I rode the Old Mac quite a few times. My Father was never skipper of it, but being the child of a Coast Guard Commander does have it's perks.

A Great Lakes Freighter + a Coast Guard vessel. Can't get nautically better than that.

I agree with Eddyfitz, that was probably a nice boat before the bean counters ordered her mutilation.