Tug John Purves at the dock at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, December 11, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — History was on the move in Sturgeon Bay, as the Tug John Purves was towed less than a mile away.
The vessel will get some much-needed maintenance at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding across the channel.
A small crowd of workers and volunteers gathered on the West Waterfront Promenade of the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay.
“We’ve been waiting since we found out this was going to happen, since the summertime. It was really exciting to be part of it, and watch it,” said Dave Normann, Door County Maritime Museum Tugboat Tour Guide.
On Monday morning, the big boat was getting ready to depart.
“We had Roen Salvage tugs, and their staff. Bay Ship personnel who were here to disconnect all of the lines, cut off shore power, remove the gangway,” said Paul Graf, Door County Maritime Museum Tugboat Assistant Chief.
After the rope lines were secured inside, the Purves was on its way.
“They’re seeing a 1919 tug. Our crew is very knowledgeable in giving the background, the history,” he said.
“It served up in the Aleutian Islands off of Alaska in World War Two. It once had a crew of 32,” said Normann.
With tugboat escorts on the bow and stern, the John Purves needed to pass through the Michigan Street Bridge nearby.
“I was a little nervous. I’ve got anxiety anyway, but to watch the tug that I love to work on, go through the bridge, was just phenomenal,” said Normann.
The trio of tugs headed across the Sturgeon Bay Shipping Channel to Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.
“They’ll do some steel reconstruction in the stern. And we’re also hoping they’ll be able to scrape, prime, paint the hull, and the superstructure. So we’re hoping to get a good paint job, all over,” said Graf.
“All the work they’re doing on it this winter over in drydock, it’s going to make it so it can sit here for another hundred years,” said Normann.
Work is expected to be completed in April. Tugboat tours are scheduled to resume in May.
The cost of the maintenance and repairs is about $350,000.
Donations and grants are being used to support the restoration work.
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