SHIPBUILDING TRIUMPHANTLY RETURNS TO ERIE

After 34 years without building any ships, shipbuilding returned triumphantly to Erie at noon today with the christening of the 245-foot long dump scow WITTE 4003 and the 166-foot long deck barge SUE B. A christening ceremony began at noon today featuring speakers from Erie Shipbuilding, the Erie Western-Pennsylvania Port Authority and Donjon Marine, owner of the new barges. The WITTE 4003 and SUE B. were sponsored by Kathryn Raimy and Sue Bornt, respectively.

Erie Shipbuilding CEO Ned Smith and Chairman Allan Stevens both thanked Donjon for coming to the company in January and having faith in them as they started to build their reputation. Donjon President Paul Witte noted that like Erie Shipbuilding, his company had been a startup in 1964, when his father founded the company with a 300-horsepower tug, a 90'x30' barge and a small crane. "His office was a station wagon. Fortunately he had seven children so labor was cheap" Witte told the audience.

Lunch, New Orleans-style, was served in the south end of Erie Shipbuilding's fabrication shop when the ceremony concluded.

The drydock, in the process of being flooded on Wednesday, will be flooded completely after some tests are run on the barges, and then the barges will emerge from drydock. Tugs from Donjon Marine are expected during the first part of October to take the two barges to their new home in New Jersey. The remaining deck barges are currently under construction.


Erie Shipbuilding CEO Ned Smith makes his opening remarks, and introduces Ray Shreckengost, Chairman of the Port Authority.


Mr. Shreckengost addresses the crowd.


Mr. Smith introduces ESB Chairman Allan Stevens, the next speaker.


Mr. Stevens addresses the crowd.


Donjon President Paul Witte addresses the crowd.


Mr. Smith watches as Mr. Witte's remarks continue.


Monsignor Tom Snyderwine blesses the WITTE 4003 and SUE B.


Erie Shipbuilding CEO Ned Smith introduces Kathryn Raimy, sponsor of the WITTE 4003. In a moment she would release a line to allow the champagne bottle to break against the hull of the WITTE 4003. A bad omen to superstitious mariners, the bottle didn't break.


The champagne bottle for the SUE B. hangs suspended above the drydock.


Sue Bornt, sponsor and namesake of deck barge SUE B, approaches the platform to release the champagne bottle.


This one broke.


The unbroken champagne bottle hangs suspended against the WITTE 4003.


Erie Shipbuilding's General Manager and Ms. Raimy aboard the WITTE 4003 in a second attempt to break the champagne bottle.


It broke this time.


An elated Ms. Raimy turns to the crowd.


Freshly painted bow of the WITTE 4003.


Erie Shipbuilding Hull 101.


Work on flooding the drydock began when first shift arrived at the yard on Wednesday morning.


Water rushes into the drydock.


Another view of the WITTE 4003.


A close up view of the control room on the barge.


Deck barge SUE B.


Lunch was served, New Orleans-style, after the christening in the Fabrication Shop.


Lunch.


Stern view of the WITTE 4003.


WITTE 4003 and the SUE B.


The second deck barge is well on its way to completion.