Presque Isle - Iced Like a Giant Birthday Cake!

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Here is the tug-barge combination of the Presque Isle arriving in Duluth, Minnesota on the afternoon of January 6, 2025. She was coming in empty to take on fuel at the Cenovus dock in Duluth, after which she would depart Duluth and go to anchor just outside the harbor. The following day she would arrive in through the Superior side to load taconite pellets at the Burlington Northern dock. The taconite was scheduled for delivery to Toledo, Ohio.

On her way in through the shipping canal, the Presque Isle's captain treated us to three captain's salutes, the Aerial Lift Bridge responding to the first salute. The Presque Isle's horn wasn't quite as loud as usual on this visit, no doubt thanks to the cold weather. So you may have to listen closely to hear the second and third salutes!

The ice on the Presque Isle's bow was perhaps the most impressive part of this visit. Ice lined the lip of her bow, reminding me of frosting (icing) on a giant birthday cake. It makes me hungry just looking at it!

The 1000-foot Presque Isle entered service in 1973. The tug section contains the engines, pilot house, and living quarters for the crew. Two 16-cylinder Mirrlees Blackstone KVMR-16 diesel engines power the tug, giving her a total of 14,840bhp. Both sections are named Presque Isle, as both were built to only operate with each other, despite their ability to separate. Separating allows the tug section to get fueled or serviced on its own, without the need to bring along the cargo section. In practice, however, it appears they rarely separate except under rare circumstances. All remaining 1000-footers built after the Presque Isle are self-contained ships, with the engines, living quarters, bridge, and cargo section contained within one hull.