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The Emerald Isle's Maiden Voyage from East Booth Bay, Maine to Beaver Island was truly an historic and interesting event. It was shared with many in near ``real time" with a series of Email Updates by Rich Gillespie. For those of you who haven't yet had the chance to share the adventure, and for those of you who will be curious about our new Ferry in the spring, we think that you'll enjoy this collection of reports on the voyage:
Construction on the ship began Nov. 5, 1996. She was launched June 6, 1997 and went out for sea trials late August 1997. Vibration problems plagued the ship for weeks and weeks. Finally, Washburn and Doughty decided to take the ferry to Rockland Maine and have it hauled out on a marine railway. After much checking it was discovered that the port propeller shaft was warped and had to be replaced. This was no easy task since the shaft was 27' long and 6" in diameter. Weighing in at 2268 lbs. At that point the hunt was on, it is not easy to find shaft stock of that size and diameter. A piece was located in Louisiana but the shipyard would not give it up. Finally it was decided to make a 2 piece shaft since shorter stock was available. This was no cheap way to go. Just the coupling to join the two pieces was $6,000. not to mention machining and assembly. This was all done at no cost to the Beaver Island Transportation Authority. There was much additional framing and technical adjustments made to correct the vibration problems at the same time.
11/11
The Emerald Isle left Rockland Maine yesterday at 2:30 pm and as you read this she is 60 miles South heading Northeasterly off Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are making 12 knots @1300 rpm and burning 35 gallons of fuel per hour per engine. To give you an example of fuel burn; if they were under full design power they would be making 14.1 knots at 1600 rpm and burning nearly twice the amount of fuel. Since they are not trying to meet a specific schedule they can go a lot further under check. Tomorrow morning at 3 a.m. they expect to enter the Straits of Canso which will allow them "shortcut" by locking through the tip of Nova Scotia. There are 50 mph winds scheduled for tomorrow which could stop them but they figure they can steam on the leeward side of Prince Edward Island which will add five hours to their trip but allow them to continue on. Once around Prince Edward Island they will be in the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and head for Cape Gaspe' which leads to the entrance to the St. Lawrence Seaway. They have calculated that they have enough fuel to sail to Ramoosky before fueling.
The crew has raved about the quality of the ship and the machinery and equipment package. She is very stable and comfortable and everyone has enjoyed the ride so far. The "Emerald Isle" is 130' L. 38' W and 8' draft. She has 3 decks and weighs in at 500 tons. Two-1500 hp. Cat diesels power her with a 225 hp. bow thruster. She also has two 100kw 3ph Cat generator sets. Capacity is 300 passengers and 22 cars. She is also capable of handling 2 semi trailers. (Specifications)
11/12
The Emerald Isle has made good progress through the night and into the morning. At 3;30 am this morning she locked through the Straits of Cansoe and, as reported yesterday, they did sail behind Prince Edward Island to avoid heavy winds and sea. They do most of the sailing under autopilot which has performed very well. Since this is a passenger vessel there are no real accommodations for sleeping so they took a number of seats out of the forward passenger cabin and have put air mattresses in there to sleep on. The crew has split into three groups who do 4 hours on watch and 8 hours off. This allows them plenty of chance to rest especially if it has been rough and they have been unable to sleep part of the time they have been off.
At 10:30 this morning Captain Kevin McDonough called. The Emerald Isle was 2/3 of the way up the West side of Prince Edward Island in the Northumberland Strait. They were running in the "lee" of Prince Edward but expected to continue on from there and if all went well they would stop (if the weather caused them to) at Cape Gaspe' which has a nice inlet to stop in. Even running under shelter they were encountering seas to 10'. McDonough reported they were taking spray over the bow every third sea (it is 35' from the waterline to the top of the pilot house!). Since the boat had just been built and never out in rough seas they have had some trouble with fuel filters and have had to change once and were looking to do so again before they come out from behind Prince Edward Island. They have also had to "purge" the water lines which were picking up particulate from the construction of the water system. All this though is good to work the bugs out of the ship. As of the time they went through the Straits of Cansoe they had burned 2900 gallons of fuel and were very happy with so little fuel being burned to that point. By the way, we do expect the journey to take as much as two weeks and as little as 9 days depending on weather.
11/13
Received a call from Capt. Kevin McDonough at 9:05 am. They sailed through the night arriving at Cape Gaspe' at 6:30 am this morning. He said they encountered seas to 12 feet in height during their journey from Prince Edward Island to Cape Gaspe'. They were clocking steady winds of 40 mph with gusts to 58 mph. He said the seas were on the beam (side) and the bow most of the night. Capt. McDonough reports that the ship handled very very well throughout the night. Everyone continues to express great appreciation for the way the Emerald Isle performs. They did slow down to 10 knots to slow the spray conditions since they were making some ice through the night. The large radar went out on them early yesterday and they found (when they had a chance) that it had been underfused when installed so all they had to do was put in a new fuse.
They have had to change fuel filters 3 times and will do so again today. They are taking on fuel as this is being written. They have burned an approximate total of 5000 gallons so far. The weather at Cape Gaspe' right now is snow squalls with intermittent sun. Winds are 40 to 50 mph. Capt. McDonough reports that it is a very beautiful place to stop although they have not been off the dock yet. They will be staying there for the night since the wind and sea has been building and is now too rough to continue. They will be there until daylight tomorrow morning when the wind is expected to be Northwest 10 to 25 knots.
I asked about general conditions and Capt. McDonough said that everything was going very well. They have a good crew and have had no shortage of meals prepared by Sara Carter. When they get about 90 miles West of Rimouski (finally the right spelling!) at the 66th parallel they will have to stop and pick up a Canadian pilot (you have to have a Canadian pilot for a ship in Canadian waters. Most of the St. Lawrence Seaway is in Canadian water.)
11/14
They could not fuel at Cape Gaspe' yesterday because it was so rough (even in the 'protected' harbor) that they could not lay at the dock. They put away from the dock and steamed all night long in the bay sailing to the far side then drifting back over and over. They finally left the harbor at 5:30 this morning and plan to steam down to Rimouski where they intend to fuel.
When they did order fuel yesterday (although they could not accept it) they were happy to discover that they only needed 4400 gallons to top off. That would leave them with nearly 5500 gallons on board and plenty to make it to the next stop. We will give you an idea of how many miles they went without refueling when they give us the info. They couldn't even anchor at Cape Gaspe' because the bottom was so stony the anchor would set.
They expect to get to Rimouski at 2:30 a.m. on the 15th. They will take on fuel and proceed from there. The next planned stop (other than the locks) will be at Windsor Canada where they will fuel again. From there it shouldn't be more than 24 hours to Mackinac City where they will start the final leg to Beaver Island. It still looks like it will be 9 or 10 days from now. Under perfect conditions they could make it in 8 days. Mother Nature is certainly in charge at this point.
11/15
The Emerald Isle will go through Quebec tonight! They arrived in Rimouski, Canada this morning at 1:00 where they took on 6000 gallons of fuel. If you are following their progress on a map that is a tremendous distance they have traveled on that amount of fuel. They left Rimouski at 5:00 am this morning. Capt. Kevin McDonough called at 9:00 am this morning and reported that they were just off Sikoma (somewhere on the seaway). They picked up a Canadian pilot at Escomane. He will be with them (or another) through the balance of their journey in Canadian waters.
Plans are starting to be made for their arrival. The boat will stop in Mackinac City possibly as early as next Friday and arrive at Beaver Island the following Saturday. Keep in mind that this all depends on timing. A number of dignitaries and officials will be picked up there to join the ride into Beaver Island for the first time. The ferry will lay at Beaver Island for a few hours and then steam to Charlevoix (which is where the contract calls for its delivery. It would then come back to Beaver Island the next day. We will keep you apprised of developments.
11/16
The Emerald Isle has locked through at Montreal today and is working her way to Lake Ontario. They expect to enter Lake Ontario at 2:am tomorrow morning (the 17th). When they called this morning they were just going through the third of seven Montreal area locks. When they finish locking through the vertical change in elevation between Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence river would be 200 feet!! Some difference! As they approached Montreal, Bill McDonough called Bob and Alana Anderson who own the Isle Haven Tourist Court but live in Montreal at 3:00 am this morning and asked them if they would bring down some supplies. They were very happy to do so and brought far more than was requested. They even brought them a Truffle cake with a shamrock and "bon voyage" on it. When asked how much they were owed, they responded that they could all consider that the Andersons were taking them out to dinner but they had to cook it themselves!
At the time that Bill McDonough called the pilot (Canadian) estimated that it would take 20 hours from the time they reached Lake Ontario until they were clear of the Welland Canal at Port Colburne (I believe that this is where they complete their need for a Canadian Pilot. Just before Montreal they were sailing on the St. Lawrence River with the incoming tide and were making 18.3 knots! We certainly couldn't hope that she'll make that time all year long but the crew were all quite surprised.
Capt. Kevin McDonough called at about 8:30 this morning and reported that everything was going very well with the ship and that his satisfaction with the ship improves with each day.
It appears that they will make Mackinac City no later than Friday (and possibly earlier). As reported previously, the plan will be to meet the boat there and ride it back to Beaver Island on Saturday morning. The plan is still to stop in Windsor Canada to pick up fuel and some supplies. We will try to give you a specific time so our Detroit area friends can get down and see the ship.
11/17
Kevin McDonough called this morning and reported that they arrived between 2:30 and 3:00 am to find fierce wind and 10 to 12' seas out of the West. If they didn't stop there they would not have too many places to lay in for weather since the wind was out of the West and hitting most ports at the East end of the lake. It is possible that they will leave mid afternoon. Capt. McDonough said he would call if he is able and let me know when they do depart the dock. The wind is expected to slow and come out of the Southwest. They are tied to a pier with a number of other ships all waiting for weather about them. Based on their amazing progress we do not as yet expect this to impede their arrival this weekend. If anything it should help put them right on track.
Had a late afternoon call from Bill McDonough on the bridge of the Emerald Isle. They did put away from Cape Vincent and are underway in very heavy wind and seas. Capt. Kevin McDonough had wanted to rinse the salt water off the ship and from what I am told they are doing a fine job. The forecast was for winds to 30 mph and as I was talking to Bill McDonough he reported that the wind meter had just tagged wind gusts to 68 mph. He reported that they were in very heavy seas but doing well.
Very wet but very comfortable. They were about 40 miles from Cape Vincent (incidentally where they finished with Canadian pilots) and were about 92 miles from the Niagra River where they will enter the Wellan Canal. They estimate that they will get there at 3:00 am. They are gaining 1 mile per 1/2 hour on a steamboat and want to get ahead of them or they will have to wait for them to transit the lock. As it stands they will be looking at about 8 hours to lock through. Their estimated time out onto Lake Erie will be 3 PM tomorrow (the 18th). That is if they get in the right position.
11/18
The Emerald Isle has just cleared the 2nd lock (Southbound) in the Welland Canal. It is starting to look like they will get here to Beaver Island as early as Friday. This of course requires no stops for weather. There are five locks remaining to pass through with a 20 mile separation between the 2nd and 3rd locks. They should clear all the locks by 3:00 PM this afternoon.
11/19
Well, I've been telling you right along that things were going too good. That has changed! During the night of the 17th while crossing Lake Ontario in seas as high as 15' (for 11 hours) something happened to the keel cooler for the bow thruster engine. Anyway, the bottom line is that the Emerald Isle is abreast of Harsens Island in the St. Claire River at this time and has set a new course for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She has to be hauled out!! She will be hauled a Twin Cities Drydock at the "Soo" Friday morning and hopefully repairs will be made quickly to get her back underway for Beaver Island before the weekend is out.
They were considering going back to Toledo to the yard there but it didn't make sense to go backwards. In a positive spin (oh, us reporters) at least the shipyard that will be hauling the ferry for a good number of years will get set up in making this haul! We will keep you apprised of developments. Obviously we will not be holding to the
schedule we set up for this weekend. Everyone is disappointed but we are very proud (once again) of Washburn and Doughty for not taking any shortcuts to complete their task.
11/20
The Emerald Isle will be placed into the floating dry-dock starting at 8:00 am tomorrow. It should take 5-6 hours just to haul her out. If you really want to see something neat this would be the time. The shipyard is right along the St. Marys River just South of the Soo Locks. Washburn and Doughty president Bruce Doughty is driving the repair parts out to the Soo Shipyard himself from Boothbay Maine (By the way, I have been misspelling Boothbay *Booth Bay* (sic). It was brought to my attention by a very nice retired school teacher and I thank her!
If everything goes well the ship should be back in the water sometime Saturday and back underway forthwith. I will be traveling to the yard tomorrow to check things out on behalf of BITA and will give you a report (if my laptop works) right from the yard.
11/23
Things have changed so dramatically since a week ago that we are down to a simple arrival at Beaver Island at 4:00 PM this afternoon. With all of the extra time spent hauling the boat out at Sault Ste. Marie and weather it was decided that the most prudent thing to do would be to bring the boat directly to Beaver Island from the shipyard and, at the very least, have a concurrent celebration with the annual community Christmas Bazaar. So, at approximately 4:00 PM she will make her first of many trips into Beaver Island to a community of happy people.
As suspected, the bow keel cooler was damaged and had to be repaired. It was discovered that, since the cooler was located so far forward, they should have added extra saddles to "carry" the cooler tubes. The two extra "saddles" gave them a total of 5 to carry the tubes in a 10' span and should make for a good fix.
We will send out an announcement or two as to when the Emerald Isle will sail to Charlevoix next but the Coast Guard crewing and certification for fire drills, etc. We will keep you posted.
11/24
The "EMERALD ISLE" has arrived. At precisely 5:00 PM she steamed into Beaver Harbor to a crowd of 200 people standing on the dock with all the youngsters waving Irish and American flags. The tug American Girl sailed out to greet the Emerald Isle with both exchanging "captains salutes". After the Emerald Isle sailed past the American Girl there was no contest. John Gillespie later said that he was running "under check so as not to steal their thunder". Yeah right. Several bunches of green and white balloons were released right before the Emerald Isle made the pier. There were tours given of the ship after a brief dedication ceremony by Rich Gillespie honoring those involved in the project. Gillespie (vice-chairman) was acting in the absence of Beaver Island Transportation Authority chairman Lawrence Malloy who was regretfully out of town. A blessing of the ship was given by Minister Kurt Petrak followed by a champagne toast by Beaver Island Boat Company chairman Bill McDonough. It is fair to say that all present were awed by the size and quality of the ship.
There will be a formal dedication ceremony next Memorial Day when a majority of the dock improvements will be complete. We will keep you posted on those developments.
12/2
Following the emotional home port welcome on Nov. 23, 1997, the EMERALD ISLE and Beaver Island Boat Company crew have been approved and certified to begin operation of the new 130 foot car ferry today Dec. 2, 1997. Several hundred Island residents greeted Captain Kevin McDonough and the crew of EMERALD ISLE including Bill McDonough, CEO of the Beaver Island Boat Company. Kevin and Bill McDonough made the entire 14 day trip from Maine. Kevin is the 2nd generation to bring a new ferry in to
Beaver Island. His father, Lawrence McDonough brought the current ferry BEAVER ISLANDER, to the island from the shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin in 1962. Boat and crew were greeted with Irish and American flags and green and white balloons released into the darkening sky by local children. After a champagne toast people were allowed to wander about the ship and were given tours of the engine room.
On Thursday, 4 December 1997 EMERALD ISLE will make its maiden voyage into Charlevoix. It will leave Beaver Island at 9:00 am and arrive at the new facilities that were designed and built last year to accommodate the ship in Charlevoix at approximately 11:00 am.
12/5
It was quite an eventful and memorable day in the history of Beaver Island and Charlevoix yesterday as 190 Island people and crew made the first trip into Charlevoix's Pine River Channel. We were greeted at the pierhead (despite a wicked snow squall) by dozens along the channel and as we went under the bridge, a chorus of cheers from those standing along the channel. Captain Kevin McDonough returned the warm welcome with a thunderous salute from the Emerald Isle's powerful Kahlenberg horns. As the Emerald Isle passed under the bridge she was greeted by water cannons from the City of Charlevoix Fire department. A very emotional reception indeed. Rounding the pier there were approximately 200 people including the students from Northwest Academy in Charlevoix.Captain McDonough maneuvered the powerful ship in a circle and after transferring to the stern docking controls made his first ever link up to the new dock facilities in Charlevoix. A very skillful job for his first time at that port with the Emerald Isle and only 500 witnesses! |
