Onaway Contractor to build new DNR Fisheries Vessel
By Garret Ellison | gellison@mlive.com
ONAWAY, MI — A Presque Isle County steel fabricator has won a contract to build a new fisheries research boat for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Moran Iron Works of Onaway will build the R/V Steelhead II at a cost of $5.85 million, the DNR announced Wednesday, Aug. 28.
The 66-foot, steel-hulled vessel will replace the venerable S/V Steelhead, a 56-year-old survey vessel the agency uses to gather Great Lakes fishery management data.
The Legislature approved funding for the new DNR vessel in its fiscal 2023 and 2025 budgets.
The boat will conduct surveys to quantify the abundance of prey fish that sustain Lake Michigan trout and salmon fisheries.
The R/V Steelhead II should be on the water in 2026, the DNR said. Like its predecessor, it will be home-ported at the agency’s Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station.
The new vessel has a 50-year lifespan and will be powered by two EPA Tier 3 emissions-controlled diesel engines coupled with rooftop solar panels.
The boat will feature modern navigational systems, a watertight compartmental hull design and gyro stabilizer to minimize roll in rough seas. A mechanical platform will facilitate diving and equipment maintenance by lowering to water level.
Crew safety features and accommodations are being upgraded.
“Advanced, modern hydroacoustic technology will be adopted on the R/V Steelhead II — technology that will support improved data collection from a more reliable, modernized platform,” said Ben Turschak, DNR research biologist in Charlevoix.
The boat was designed by Boksa Marine Design of Lithia, Fla.
The original Steelhead will likely be sold at auction.
Other Michigan vessels built by Moran Iron Works include the Shepler’s “Miss Margy” and “William Richard” Mackinac Island ferries, the “Kayak Express” Pictured Rocks tour boat and the sixth Lowell Showboat.
National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion
Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.
The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.
“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.
“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,
The National Museum of the Great Lakes
Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public
Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.
Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
