Onaway company selected to build new Lake Michigan research vessel for DNR

ONAWAY — A new research vessel will be hitting Lake Michigan's waters in the coming years, and it's being built right here in Northern Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that Onaway's Moran Iron Works was selected to serve as the construction contractor for the new research vessel, which will be replacing the 56-year-old active survey vessel the Steelhead.

The new vessel, called the R/V Steelhead II, will offer advanced technology, improved crew safety, solar energy and more precise fisheries data.

“We at Moran Iron Works are proud to be a part of another turnkey vessel for the Great Lakes Region,” Victor Rupert, vice president of operations for Moran Iron Works, said in a press release. “Projects like the R/V Steelhead II fabricated for the Michigan DNR complement our niche and resources by utilizing our high-quality welders, highwire corridor and deep-water port in Rogers City, Michigan.”

The DNR awarded the bid to the company after a competitive bid process, with a goal of selecting an established, Michigan-based company to do the work, which will be conducted over the next year. The project was designed by Boksa Marine Design of Lithia, Florida, whose company president, Nick Boksa, is from Michigan.

According to the Moran Iron Works website , the group specializes in custom boats, vessels and barges. MIW offers in-house design, machinery, welding, testing, finishing and delivery.

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R/V Steelhead II is expected to hit the waters by 2026 as a 66-foot, steel-hulled vessel. The ship will incorporate rooftop solar panels, reducing its carbon footprint, and will "be powered by two Environmental Protection Agency Tier III diesel engines that utilize high-efficiency emission control technology," according to the DNR.

The R/V Steelhead II will continue its predecessor's mission of surveying Lake Michigan to quantify the abundance of prey fish, while implementing modern scientific equipment.

The need for replacement stems from S/V Steelhead reaching the end of its safe life expectancy, with repairs costing more and parts becoming harder to find, the DNR said.

After the new vessel is delivered, S/V Steelhead will likely be sold at auction to recover funds for the DNR Fisheries Division.

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/FishResearch .

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN .

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Onaway company selected to build new Lake Michigan research vessel for DNR