Cargo ship brings power to the Upper Peninsula

The Palabora cargo ship completed its journey to L’Anse Bay all the way from Italy Thursday afternoon, May 31. The ship carried 10 reciprocating internal combustion engines for local power stations.

"Considering we don't have a big dock here, it is kind of neat when the big ships do come in like the one that was docked this winter during the big storms. Twice in one year is kind of neat," said Sarah Thompson, local resident and Baraga Telephone Company employee.

Seven engines will go on to the F. D. Kuester Generating Station in Negaunee. Three are for the A. J. Mihm Generating Station in Baraga. Preparation to accept the ship and its cargo have been underway for quite some time.

"We started looking at this in late 2016, so it has been over a year in planning. There has been multiple surveys of the bottom of the lake and also marine surveyors, many hours of engineering and project management and communication," said Sean Lipinski of Vic’s Crane and Heavy Haul.

Utility companies worked all spring to open roadways for the engines.

"Our outside plant guys have been raising all of the lines in order for the transportation of all of the engines coming in," said Thompson.

Each engine weighs 325 tons, is 46 feet long and 20 feet tall. Offloading the engines is expected to take two more days.

"The ship is actually offloading itself with its own crane and then we will be using our specialized Goldhofer trailer that has 14 axle lines to take it off the barge," said Lipinski.

Engines will be transported one at a time and at night. TV6, FOX UP and UpperMichigansSource.com will have more information about the final leg of transportation upcoming.