U.S. Coast Guard photo shows sunken tug Ann-Marie last week in slip at Bay Aggregates.

---

After Coast Guard OK, Sunken Tug in Slip Raised, Beating Expected Timetable

Ann-Marie Awaits Inspection This Week to Determine Mysterious Sinking Cause

December 19, 2010       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

Printer Friendly Story View

The 81 ton, 65 foot long tug Ann-Marie has been raised from the icy depths of a Saginaw River slip at Bay Aggregates, 411 Tiernan Road, Bangor Township.

The 57-year-old tug, owned by Luedtke Engineering of Frankfort, was not expected to be resurrected until this week, but the Coast Guard plan cleared several bureaucratic hurdles several days early and a company crane hoisted the soggy vessel over the weekend.

Divers last week had been able to stop fuel oil leakage after about 800 gallons of the total tankage of 5,000 gallons had been lost. About 350 gallons reportedly were recovered from the slip by environmental crews using pumps.

Containment booms circled the ship to catch any remaining diesel fuel that threatened to leak from the vessel as MyBayCity.com reporters viewed and photographed the site about noon Sunday.

Ann-Marie riding high Sunday after hoisting from icy water by Derrick Boat 16 (Left.)
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)

Marine observers theorized that the tug's pet cocks must have been opened by vandals or perhaps pipes froze and burst, causing the mysterious sinking.

Lt. Justin Westmiller of the U.S. Coast Guard Detroit said the salvage plan earned quick approval from the Coast Guard in Detroit, the Ninth Coast Guard District in Cleveland and the Marine Center in Washington, D.C.

Tugs Kurt and Karl Luedtke and Derrick Boat 16 began raising the vessel on Friday afternoon and were soon able to pump it out and stabilize its flotation ability.

Paul Luedtke, company secretary-treasurer, told the news media that cause of the sinking won't be known until an inspection is held on the vessel this week.

The tug was built by Smith Basin & Drydock, Pensacola, Florida, in 1953. It is employed on a Saginaw River dredging project by the Army Corps of Engineers. The boat was tied up for the winter when it sank a week ago today, Westmiller said.

---

Printer Friendly Story View

	Prior Article February 10, 2020 by: Rachel Reh Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
	Next Article February 2, 2020 by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should

Agree? or Disagree? Leave a Comment!

---

Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com) More from Dave Rogers

---

Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View

---

--- Advertisments ---