A once-retired Great Lakes tugboat, the Forney, soon will return to service in a new home: the Twin Ports. The vessel has been purchased by a Knife River family with a deep ship-handling heritage.
Mike Ojard and his sons, Pat and Vince, together purchased the Forney, which last saw service in Manitowoc, Wis., where it has been moored since 2004.
The Ojard name is synonymous with tugboats. Mike's uncle, Adolph Ojard, served as skipper of the Edna G. Mike's father, Edward "Harvey" Ojard, served as the vessel's chief engineer. The two brothers worked side by side for 20-plus years, until the Edna G. was retired in 1981. The tug is now a Two Harbors museum boat. (Adolph Ojard was the father of Adolph N. Ojard, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.)
Mike Ojard, 61, went on to build his own business, London Auto Body, before retiring and handing it over to his sons five years ago. But he never completely turned his back on the marine service industry.
"Tugboats have always been one of Dad's passions since he was 4 years old, and now he's doing what he always wanted to do," Vince Ojard said.
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The Ojards had attempted to purchase the 64-year-old tug Lake Superior earlier this year from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, but they were outbid by Bob Billington of Billington Construction Co. Vince Ojard declined to say what his family paid for the Forney but said it was significantly more than the $56,000 for which the Lake Superior sold.
Mike Ojard plans to rename the Forney the Edward H., in honor of his father and in the style of the Edna G.
Vince Ojard said his 19-year-old son, Vince, plans to join the crew of the Edward H. when it begins service in the Twin Ports early next year. If he does, he will become the fourth generation of the Ojard family to work aboard a Great Lakes tug.
On Wednesday evening, the Forney had taken shelter behind a breakwater at Whitefish Point and was waiting out poor weather. Paul Von Goertz, a friend of Mike Ojard's and member of his crew, said the tug set out Sunday morning and encountered rough conditions on Lake Michigan. The National Weather Service reported12-foot seas at the time.
"We're still learning this tug, and we made a few mistakes. There were a few anxious moments," said Von Goertz, recalling how the boat's engine briefly conked out in treacherous waters. But Von Goertz said the Forney's experienced crew responded adeptly and soon had the vessel restarted and back on course.
The tug is powered by its original engine -- an 850-horsepower Enterprise diesel. The 86-foot vessel was built in 1944 by a New Orleans shipyard. It served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' fleet for many years until its retirement three years ago.
Von Goertz said he hoped to leave Whitefish Point this morning, assuming the weather improves. If so, the Forney, with a maximum speed of about 10 mph, probably will reach Duluth on Friday.
PETER PASSI covers business and development. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 279-5526 or by e-mail at ppassi@duluthnews.com .
