McCARTHY JR, W.N. TWOLAN Update

Sunrise on a beautiful Friday morning found the coal-laden WALTER J. McCARTHY JR. still anchored off of Harborcreek, awaiting the ALGOMARINE's departure from the Ontario Power Generation plant in Nanticoke, Ontario. Normally ships waiting for the dock at Nanticoke anchor behind Long Point; however due to the Greenpeace protests on the ALGOMARINE the McCARTHY's captain found it better to wait on the American side of the lake before heading across to unload the ship's 62,000-ton cargo. The McCARTHY JR. got underway at around 1030 hours Friday and headed across Lake Erie.

In today's W. N. TWOLAN update, the pair is due in Erie at approximately 0800 Saturday.

1000-Footer McCARTHY Anchors off Erie

Thousand-footer WALTER J. McCARTHY JR. of American Steamship Company, laden with 62,000 tons of coal from Superior bound for the Ontario Power Generation plant in Nanticoke, Ontario, is at anchor off of Erie tonight, awaiting the departure of ALGOMARINE from Nanticoke. Apparently today, five activists from Greenpeace boarded the ALGOMARINE in an attempt to keep her from unloading her cargo of coal from Superior. The vessel, thanks to the activists, now bears the slogan "No coal, no nuclear--clean energy." More information on this story can be found here.

W.N. TWOLAN Update

W.N.TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132 have yet to call in downbound at Harbor Beach, Michigan, meaning they will likely be arriving sometime Friday.

At around 1545 yesterday Lakeshore Towing's tug FLATTOP towed BIG TONY back to its dock in the East Canal Basin.

AGAWA CANYON Arrives Late; W.N. TWOLAN Update

AGAWA CANYON arrived at 0645 this morning, three hours later than scheduled, with a split load of stone from Bruce Mines and Thessalon, Ontario. The CANYON backed into Erie harbor to the Mountfort Terminal, where they unloaded most of the cargo this morning. At 1230 this afternoon the CANYON shifted forward to finish unloading the rest of the cargo.


Backing in the channel.


Passing the lighthouse.


Closer view.


Bow profile.


Passing Coast Guard Station Erie.


In Presque Isle Bay.


Using the bow thruster to align with the Mountfort Terminal.


Turning.


Landing a crewman on the dock.


Securing to winch to the dock.


Alongside.


Unloading boom out.

Watch for photos from this afternoon later tonight.

W.N. TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132 passed downbound at Isle Parisienne, above Sault Ste. Marie, at 0730 this morning bound for Erie with 4,907 tons of lumber from Thunder Bay. The unit should have passed through the Soo Locks sometime shortly after noon. This is about 3.5 hours behind schedule, and at this rate they should arrive in Erie sometime after daylight on Thursday morning, rather than in the middle of the night.

This will be the first non-bulk cargo shipped through the port this season.

GRANDE MARINER Featured on Action News 24

The GRANDE MARINER's visit to Erie was the focus of a story on Action News 24 at 6 this evening. According to a Port Authority official, the Port Authority "is currently in talks with people about marketing the cruise terminal" for cruise ships. In other words, it's a very safe assumption that the terminal will probably not host a cruise ship until 2009 at the very earliest. Since all of the schedules for the larger cruise ships on the Lakes are already set through 2009, it will probably be 2010 before one docks there. Otherwise, the Cruise Boat Terminal may be the most expensive U.S. Customs & Border Patrol office ever, all funded via our Port Authority.

GRANDE MARINER in Port

GRANDE MARINER, widely expected to open the five-year-old Cruise Boat Terminal on Erie's bayfront, arrived in port today at 1200, an hour before schedule, and docked at West Dobbin's Landing. At this time it is unknown why the MARINER did not dock at the Cruise Boat Terminal. But remember that you heard it here first.

AGAWA CANYON is due in Erie at 0330 in the morning with a split load of stone from Bruce Mines and Thessalon, Ontario. She should still be here after sunrise.

W.N.TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132, with 4,907 metric tons of lumber from Thunder Bay, Ontario, are currently due in Erie at 0030 on Thursday morning. As they will be unloaded by crane, their unloads at other ports usually take a day or more, giving plenty of opportunity for photos.


Approaching Dobbin's Landing


Coming alongside


A line is thrown to the dock


Overhead view as the gangway is lowered into position


Securing the gangway into position


Fishing vessel FIRST HOPE I, of Astoria, Oregon, approaches Wolverine Marina.


Stern view of the vessel, a long way from home, in Presque Isle Bay

BREAKING: GRANDE MARINER DOES NOT OPEN CRUISE TERMINAL

GRANDE MARINER arrived in Erie earlier than expected today, arriving at 1200 and docking at West Dobbin's Landing and not the Cruise Boat Terminal, as was expected. Alas, for another season the five year old Cruise Boat Terminal goes unused.

Photos and more details later this afternoon.

W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 Cargo

According to Tom Stewart of Thunder Bay, the W.N.TWOLAN and her barge McALLISTER 132 have a cargo of Lumber and paper products for the Mountfort Terminal. This will be the first inbound shipment of lumber since September, 1995, when the tug AVENGER IV and barge CHIEF WAWATAM brought in a load for Hammermill, docking at the Mountfort Terminal.

GRANDE MARINER, AGAWA CANYON, W.N. TWOLAN Due

Cruise ship GRANDE MARINER will finally open the five-year old cruise boat terminal at the foot of Holland Street at 1300 tomorrow. The terminal was built with the intention of landing visits from the largest of the Great Lakes cruise ships, such as the c. COLUMBUS; however to date that has not happened and the c. COLUMBUS will not be returning to the Great Lakes in the forseeable future, due to low water levels. Therefore, the GRANDE MARINER's four stops here in 2008 will likely be the only four vessel calls on this terminal in 2008. Makes you wonder why they built that place to begin with.

Algoma's AGAWA CANYON, with a split load of stone from Bruce Mines and Thessalon, Ontario, will be arriving in Erie at 0300 Tuesday.

W. N. TWOLAN, and barge McALLISTER 132, departed Thunder Bay, Ontario at 2000 tonight bound for Erie, where they're scheduled to arrive shortly after midnight on Thursday. At this time I'm not sure what the pair is carrying.

ERIKA KOBASIC in port, briefly

Basic Towing's Escanaba, Michigan-based tug ERIKA KOBASIC, after leaving Buffalo light tug this morning, stopped in Erie at around 1530 this afternoon, sailed into the West Slip, backed out and departed Erie for Escanaba.

At this time I'm not sure of the reason the KOBASIC was in Erie.

PRESQUE ISLE Departs

After more than two days in port, PRESQUE ISLE departed Erie at around 1845 today, backing away from the Mountfort Terminal, through the channel and departing upbound for Duluth, Minnesota.

At around 1900 today Lakeshore Towing finished pumping the cofferdam dry and in the rain tug FLATTOP and towboat DON HENRY moved it to Erie Shipbuilding, where it will be lifted from the water on Monday morning.


At dock at 1450 this afternoon.


Cofferdam being lowered to the bottom of the bay.


On the bottom.


Floating free of the PRESQUE ISLE.


PRESQUE ISLE prepares to depart.


Starting to move from the dock.


Stern on


Cofferdam being pumped out.


Backing.


Another view.


Close up of the tug.


Bow view.


Backing through the channel.


Passing the lighthouse.


In the channel.

PRESQUE ISLE Due to Depart

PRESQUE ISLE is due to finish repairs and depart the Mountfort Terminal at approximately 1500 today.

BUFFALO Departs; BOLAND Arrives; PRESQUE ISLE Due for Departure Sunday

The BUFFALO finished unloading and departed Erie at 1500 today bound for the Norfolk Southern Coal Dock in Ashtabula, where she will take on approximately 15,000 tons of coal for Alpena.

At around 1900 this evening the JOHN J. BOLAND arrived in port amid a flurry of small boat activity in the harbor and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Calcite. She should be outbound sometime during the night.

The latest word on the PRESQUE ISLE is that her departure is set for late-morning Sunday. According to her owners, Great Lakes Fleet, she has had a change of orders and will head straight to Duluth DM&IR to load taconite pellets, due there on the 22nd.

PRESQUE ISLE is the second vessel to use the port of Erie for repairs this year; the first was the JOSEPH H. THOMPSON/THOMPSON JR. in April, which unloaded at the Old Ore Dock before shifting to Erie Shipbuilding.

These two are a good sign for Erie, which, due to the placement of skilled technicians of Great Lakes Electrical Services, Erie Shipbuilding, Lakeshore Towing and ON Minerals: Erie Operation, has rebounded from being almost dead as a layup and repair port; it was once regarded that due to the lack of an ore-loading dock at this end of the Great Lakes that shipping companies would no longer use the port for winter layup or general repairs. However, this is obviously no longer the case.


PRESQUE ISLE undergoing work this evening.


BOLAND inbound.


In the channel.


A closer look at the BOLAND.


BOLAND passes USCG 47241.


Stern view.


Approaching the PRESQUE ISLE.


BOLAND passes by the PRESQUE ISLE.


Passing in the busy harbor


Turning.


BOLAND's stern passes the PRESQUE ISLE.

BUFFALO Arrives in Erie; BOLAND Due, PRESQUE ISLE Due out on Sunday

BUFFALO, delayed slightly by rough weather on Lake Erie, arrived in Erie at 0930 this morning, docking at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Calcite. After she is finished unloading she will depart Erie for the nearby port of Ashtabula, Ohio to load coal for Alpena, Michigan.

JOHN J. BOLAND, also with stone from Calcite, is due in Erie at around 1830 tonight.

PRESQUE ISLE is expecting to depart Erie sometime Sunday once repairs on the stern tube are complete, according to officials at the Mountfort Terminal.


PRESQUE ISLE at dock this morning.


Buffalo inbound.


Close up.


Workers begin pumping water from the cofferdam inserted under the PRESQUE ISLE.


Marine Services of Erie's tug LOW BIDDER inbound Erie, overtaking the BUFFALO.


Stern view of the BUFFALO.


Passing the PRESQUE ISLE.


Approaching the dock


Landing a crewman with the landing boom.


At dock with the J.S.St. JOHN.

Historical arrivals for August 18:
2006- DAVID Z. NORTON arrives with stone from Calcite for the Old Ore Dock.

BOLAND Due

JOHN J. BOLAND, also with stone from Calcite, is due in Erie at 1800 Saturday. She'll likely follow the BUFFALO to the Old Ore Dock. BUFFALO is currently due at 0630.

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.

PRESQUE ISLE--Updated ETA

PRESQUE ISLE is now due at 0900 Friday morning. The vessel will be docking at the Mountfort Terminal, where the cofferdam used this past winter will be inserted underneath the stern of the vessel to facilitate repairs. Lakeshore Towing's tug FLATTOP and towboat DON HENRY moved the cofferdam from Erie Shipbuilding to the Mountfort Terminal at 3:45 p.m. Thursday after the structure was lifted into the water earlier this afternoon.

Traffic Even with 2006, but Stone and Salt are up

As of August 14, ship traffic through the port of Erie is even with this point last year, as 29 visits to the port have been logged thus far this season; this number is equal to the same point at last year, but up four visits from 2005. However, the overall numbers do not tell the entire story, as no sand cargoes have been shipped to Erie yet this season. Thus far, all 29 visitors to the port this year have delivered stone (27 loads) or salt (2 loads), as compared to 2006, when only 23 stone and 2 salt loads were delivered here, and 2005, when 19 loads of stone and 3 salt had been delivered to the port at this point in the season.

The other four loads in 2006 were comprised of 3 sand shipments, and one export cargo of GE locomotives. At this point in 2005, the port had received two sand loads and 1 load of slag.

Therefore, comparing only stone and salt, traffic through the port of Erie is up by four vessels when compared to this point in 2006, and seven vessels compared to 2005.

However, as Olgebay Norton does not release tonnage information, it is impossible to know if tonnage is up, although it likely is. However, low water levels may have necessitated the higher number of vessel visits this year; ships loading to shallower drafts carry less cargo that has to be shipped somehow.

PRESQUE ISLE Due in for Repairs

1000-footer PRESQUE ISLE, the tug/barge unit whose barge was built mostly by Litton Industries in Erie in 1973, is due in Erie at 0800 Friday for engine repairs. I'm not sure at this time whether she's headed for the Mountfort Terminal or Erie Shipbuilding.

Erie Historical Arrivals: August 11

August 11, 1980: Panamian-flagged saltie GEORG KURZ departs Erie, only to be towed back to port after an engine failure.
August 11, 1991: RICHARD REISS arrives at the Sassafras Street Dock with stone.
August 11, 1998: RICHARD REISS arrives at the Old Ore Dock with stone.
August 11, 2001: RICHARD REISS arrives at the Old Ore Dock with stone.

COURAGE Departs

AMERICAN COURAGE departed Erie at 2345 Friday night, meeting the J.S.St. JOHN on one whistle (port-side to port-side passing) off of Gull Point.

AMERICAN COURAGE in Port

AMERICAN COURAGE arrived in Erie at 1815 this afternoon, turned in the harbor and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to unload stone from Calcite. This is the fourth visit to Erie by the COURAGE for the 2007 season.

AMERICAN COURAGE Due; 2nd Visit this week

AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Calcite, makes her second visit of the week to the port when she arrives at 1730 tomorrow. The COURAGE visited on Monday, departing at 0800. After that she arrived in Ashtabula at 1230 that day and loaded coal for Alpena, then proceeded to Calcite to load.

Miscellaneous Boats in Port

Tuesday afternoon/evening brought several smaller vessels to the port of Erie. Spending the day at Wolverine Marina was the IRENE DON, a Nanticoke, Ontario flagged, 1999-built 56.36 foot yacht designed to look somewhat like a fishing tug. A sign in the window indicated that the vessel, currently owned, according to Transport Canada, by Michael Mummery of Simcoe, Ontario, is for sale. More information on the vessel can be had by calling 519-426-2920, according to the window sign.

Buffalo-based Coast Guard vessel 49413 was in Erie this evening as electricians worked on Light 7, on the South Pier. The vessel was backed right up to the South Pier.

AMERICAN COURAGE in Port

AMERICAN COURAGE finished unloading her Cedarville-loaded cargo of stone this morning at 0800 and departed the Old Ore Dock outbound.

Bright and early this morning Coast Guard Station Erie lifted their 47-foot motor lifeboat 47241 from the water for some unknown repairs.

AMERICAN COURAGE Due

AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Cedarville, is due in Erie at 0230 Monday morning.

McKEE SONS in port

McKEE SONS and tug INVINCIBLE arrived in port at 1800 this afternoon, docking at the Mountfort Terminal to unload stone from Meldrum Bay. By 2030 the unit was shifting along the dock to continue unloading after starting the unload onto an existing pile.

INVINCIBLE/McKEE SONS Due

Articulated tug/barge unit INVINCIBLE/McKEE SONS, with stone from Meldrum Bay, is due in Erie at 1430 Thursday.