Nels J (Heritage Marine)
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Nels J was built in 1958, is 103 feet long and flies the flag of USA |
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 The Nels J. was purchased by Mike Ojard, the owner, along with his two sons, Pat and Vince, of Heritage Marine of Knife River, in 2009. They brought her to Duluth in October, of that year. Built as the Ares in 1958, she is a 103-foot, 1,950-horsepower boat with a 16-cylinder diesel engine that once supplied oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. (Previously, Ojard had purchased the tug Forney, bringing her to Duluth in October, 2007 and renaming her the Edward H.) Ojard had the tug’s hull reinforced in New Orleans to increase her ice breaking capability up here and a bow thruster was also added to the vessel. She was then convoyed up the Mississippi River and into the Illinois River and up to Lemont, Illinois as a part of a tug barge combination. Ojard and a crew of eight took her from there, bringing her up Lake Michigan and across Lake Superior to Duluth. She joins the Edward H in doing ice breaking in the harbor beginning in about December of each year and working until the last boat has arrived for winter layup. She is back at it in March when the new season opens and ice has to be broken up. Both tugs are used in ship assist work during the other part of the year.
Picture above taken Tuesday, December 14, 2010 |
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| Above, the Nels J. moves behind the salt water vessel Medemborg to get into position to assist her when she nears her dock. |
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