Milwaukee, WI: Articulated Tug MICHIGAN Takes on Water

(Satellite, on the west side of Jones Island)

Butch Jorgenson posted two photos with the comment: "The pusher tug MICHIGAN was found sinking or sunk at Port Milwaukee earlier this week. Monday maybe."

Michael Meredith: Someone on Boatnerd says it hasn't sailed since at least April.

Travis Mueller: Butch Jorgenson I heard from US Oil the boat had a electrical fire.

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BoatNerd News, Jan 5, 2023
"The U.S. Coast Guard said tug Michigan started to sink in the Port of Milwaukee on Monday [Jan 2, 2023] this week" It is sinking in 26' of water.
The article says the Coast Guard says there is no pollution from the 40,000 gallon fuel tank, yet you can see an oil slick in the photo. They said they deployed booms and absorbents as a precaution.
UrbanMilwaukee, Jan 3 [Tue], 2023
"The tugboat Michigan began to take on water Monday morning, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The 112-foot towing vessel was sitting in 26 feet of water, at its mooring, when it partially sank. The Michigan was last active in April 2022, when its crew sailed her down from the deep water seaport of Cheboygan, Michigan on Lake Huron, through the straits of Mackinac and down to Milwaukee."
It is estimated that the 40,000 fuel tank was holding 14,000 gallons when it sank. The barge is Great Lakes, and it carries liquid cargo.
jsonline [unknown paycount], Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan
This is one of the articles that says it sunk 26'. I believe the correct statement is that it took on water in a 26' deep dock.
[The articulated hinge kept some of the bow out of the water.]

1:10 video @ 0:26

jsonline [unknown paycount], Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan
A boom has been deployed.
[This photo was of interest to me because I recognized the COFCO grain elevator in the background. That helped me to determine the satellite location.]

The vessel is associated with US Oil, but the above screenshot indicates that it is docked down by Cargill Salt where the barges and towboats are in this image.

3D Satellite

Andrie-michigan
Length: 115'; Width 34'; Power: 3900hp, twin screw

Andrie-great-lakes
Length: 414'; Width 60'; Capacity: 64,000 bbls.

What is the relationship between this Margaret barge and the Great Lakes barge that is near their terminal dock?

US Oil

Posted 5:30pm on Jan 5, 2023:

Btch Jorgenson posted
The MICHIGAN has been refloated. The ALBERT got here late yesterday afternoon. Both owned by the same company I believe.