THOMPSON/JR. leaves, then returns; Tug VICTORY to Lakes, Erie Shipbuilding Update

At 0200 on the 11th of November the tug JOSEPH H. THOMPSON JR., pushing the barge JOSEPH H. THOMPSON, departed Erie after spending all season undergoing an engine and propulsion system replacement. The THOMPSON had previously been powered by four used GE locomotive engines, and is now powered by two MAK 6 M 32 C heavy-oil engines.

After departing, the THOMPSON/THOMPSON JR. arrived in Marblehead, Ohio at around 10:00 a.m. that day to load stone for Marine City, Michigan. On Monday the duo arrived at Stoneport, Michigan to load a cargo of stone, and departed for Erie, where they arrived to unload at around 10:00 a.m. on the 15th. After that, it was to Detroit Harrison Marine to load salt for Duluth, arriving Duluth late on the 19th, and then the quick trip over to Superior Burlington Northern Dock 5 to load taconite pellets for Lorain, and then returning to Stoneport to load stone. I will continue to follow her short season closely and hopefully can provide for my readers an entire logbook of her season.

Arriving in Escanaba on the 19th was the former Penn Maritime tug VICTORY, now owned by Reserve Holdings LLC. What I am told is that after undergoing some modification work she'll probably be used to push the RESERVE. So much for K&K/VanEnkevort's plan to build new tugs to push three of the steamers they plan on converting to barges, I guess. They had planned on building four tugs and one new barge at Erie Shipbuilding, and using an existing tug (OLIVE L. MOORE) to push only one of the barges, the KUBER. I guess they must have sat down and decided it was cheaper to buy and modify existing tugs than to build new ones. I understand how that goes. I just wish they'd modify the tugs here in Erie; they added the raised pilothouse to the MOORE in Escanaba and they're modifying the VICTORY there too.

I've heard from Erie Shipbuilding employees that they expect a yard overflowing with work this winter, especially after the shutdown of Port Weller Drydocks. No one yet can tell me what ships exactly they're expecting, but I'm about 99% certain the RESERVE is due for her five year survey and possible barge conversion. I'll keep you posted.