Sand replenishment to begin at last, at least one ship load due

Sand replenishment at Presque Isle State Park is FINALLY set to begin next week. The first phase of the project involves moving 16,800 tons of sand already built-up between the breakwalls and the beach, and placing it on other beaches.

The second phase involves receiving 31,400 tons of sand by ship from Thessalon, Ontario, with 6,000 tons remaining at the North Pier to be put down on the beaches later. According to the article Lafarge North America will be hauling the sand. However, as Lafarge owns no lake vessels and contracts most of their hauling out to Lower Lakes Towing, likely the MISSISSAGI, CUYAHOGA, MANISTEE or SAGINAW will be hauling this sand to Erie. Last year the MISSISSAGI made two trips, the CUYAHOGA and MANISTEE one each into Erie with sand.

However, none of these vessels carry more than 20,000 tons per trip, meaning at least two vessel loads are necessary. With low water levels, however, three trips may be necessary to haul 31,400 tons of sand into Erie harbor if all of the sand is deposited on the North Pier. Last year, however, the MISSISSAGI lightered her two loads at the Mountfort Terminal before shifting to unload most of the cargo at the North Pier, so two vessel loads is likely what Erie will see during this project.

Due to the placement of storage area at the North Pier, a ship with a forward-mounted unloading boom is necessary to reach the storage area. A vessel with an aft-mounted boom will not be able to reach the pile easily. I'm sure it's possible but it's not likely.

If by some chance another shipping company hauls the sand into Erie, it will more than likely be another Canadian operator. But, as Lower Lakes has always hauled this sand into Erie, they are the most likely to be delivering this sand.