PRESQUE ISLE Arrives for Repairs; BUFFALO Due

After spending last night unloading approximately 50,000 tons of taconite pellets in Conneaut, the PRESQUE ISLE departed at approximately 0500 and headed east, rather than the normal westbound course for the head of the lakes. At 0736 this morning, PRESQUE ISLE gave a 30-minute security call inbound Erie to the Mountfort Terminal. Entering the entrance channel at 0815, the integrated tug-barge unit slowly entered the harbor and docked at the Mountfort Terminal, coming alongside and securing at 0915.

Later today, the cofferdam built last winter by Erie Shipbuilding and used for repair work on the port propeller and rudder last winter, will be flooded and inserted underneath the tug to facilitate repairs for the ever-troublesome engines on the tug.

As the unit is expected, at this time, in Duluth to unload limestone from Cedarville at DM&IR at approximately 1500 on Thursday, August 23, it is likely that they will depart sometime Sunday or early Monday.


PRESQUE ISLE underway in Lake Erie, approaching the entrance buoys.


Turning into the channel.


Bow on.


Passing the lighthouse.


Inbound.


Despite the early hour, there were many onlookers on the pier watching the PRESQUE ISLE enter. Many of those had camera phones.


The tug.


Capt. Bellmore of the PRESQUE ISLE watches the unit's progress in the channel.


Passing the Coast Guard Station and beginning her turn toward the dock.


The cofferdam awaits the PRESQUE ISLE's arrival at the Mountfort Terminal.


Approaching the dock.


With a line out, the unit will begin winching toward dock.


Manouevering toward dock.


Winching in.


Pouring on the power.


Getting close.


Alongside.

In other news, American Steamship Company's BUFFALO, with stone from Calcite, is due in port at 0620 tomorrow morning to unload at the Old Ore Dock.