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.

W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 Update

The tug W.N. TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132 finally arrived back in Thunder Bay, Ontario on Tuesday. They will be reloading for Erie.

Charter fishing boat EDWARD JOHN suffers breakdown; returned to dock by Lakeshore Towing

While attempting to return to port this afternoon after the morning fishing expedition, charter fishing boat EDWARD JOHN suffered a mechanical breakdown, necessitating a tow from Lakeshore Towing's towboat DON HENRY. The tow passed through the channel at 1545 hours this afternoon and proceeded into the harbor, where DON HENRY turned EDWARD JOHN, taking her "on the hip," or alongside into the East Canal Basin, securing the EDWARD JOHN alongside the dock by 1615.

Lakeshore Towing is a multipurpose marine services company that performs a great deal of work around Erie harbor. In addition to tows such as this they do diving, marine contracting, salvage work, and run Wolverine Marina and the Presque Isle Fuel Dock. The company also is used by Erie Shipbuilding to move vessels around the yard. More information can be found on their website.


DON HENRY moves EDWARD JOHN into the East Canal Basin and toward dock.


Close up of DON HENRY.


Backing toward the dock.


DON HENRY on the hip.


Workers from Lakeshore Towing and the crew of the EDWARD JOHN work to secure the vessel as DON HENRY backs away.


Another job well done, DON HENRY departs.

ERIE SHIPBUILDING COMPLETES SCOW

12 News is reporting tonight that Erie Shipbuilding Hull 101 was completed today. WITTE 4003 will be launched next Wednesday and tugged through the St. Lawrence Seaway to its new home in Hillside, New Jersey. Owner of the scow is Donjon Marine, who already have two similar scows named WITTE 4001 and WITTE 4002. Donjon owns eight tugs, four dredges, two dump scows, 12 hopper scows, three deck barges (in addition to six on order at Erie Shipbuilding) and several other vessels. For more information on the story, click here.

SAND LOAD (Finally) ARRIVES

Carrying 16,000 tons of long-awaited sand for beach replenishment from Thessalon, Ontario, the CUYAHOGA arrived in port at 1100 today, turned in the bay and proceeded through the channel to dock at the North Pier to unload. By 1625 this afternoon the sand was unloaded and CUYAHOGA was outbound for Toledo to load corn.

The pretty, 1943-built CUYAHOGA made its first visit to Erie since October 22, 2006, when she also unloaded sand at the North Pier.


Equipment to move the sand arrived as the CUYAHOGA did.


CUYAHOGA inbound.


Passing the lighthouse.


Close up.


CUYAHOGA is a near-sister to the MANISTEE and MISSISSAGI.


"Don't give up the ship" has been the owner's motto since the company inception in 1995.


Boaters take pictures of the CUYAHOGA.


Crew members on deck.


Stern view.


Into the bay.


Turning in Erie harbor.


Another view.


Passing the Mountfort Terminal bound for the North Pier.


Another view.


BIG TONY attempts to go between the North Pier and the CUYAHOGA.


Approaching the pier.


Raising the boom.


Coming alongside.


Turning to land a crewman on the pier.


Moving the boom out.


At dock.


Starting to unload.

CUYAHOGA Arrives

CUYAHOGA arrived in port today at around 1100, turning in the harbor and docking at the North Pier to unload 16,000 tons of sand from Thessalon.

Photos to follow later this afternoon.

MAUMEE in port, Sand Load due

Grand River Navigation's MAUMEE arrived in Erie at 0845 this morning and proceeded inbound the channel to the Mountfort Terminal. The classic, 1929-built former CALCITE II and WILLIAM G. CLYDE was laden with about 12,000 tons of salt from Fairport Harbor, Ohio.

This is the first visit by the MAUMEE to the port since April 24, 2006, when she arrived with salt from Fairport Harbor.

The Grand River Navigation vessel's Canadian fleetmate, Lower Lakes Towing's CUYAHOGA, is due to deliver sand for the beach replenishment when she arrives at 1000 hours Tuesday from Thessalon, Ontario.

MAUMEE in port; CUYAHOGA due with sand

MAUMEE arrived in Erie at 0830 this morning with salt from Fairport Harbor for the Mountfort Terminal. She should be departing around 1500 today.

CUYAHOGA, with sand from Thessalon, is due in Erie tomorrow at 0950.

AMERICAN REPUBLIC Arrives

AMERICAN REPUBLIC arrived in Erie at 1345 this afternoon, proceeding slowly through the channel to the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Cedarville. This is the REPUBLIC's first visit to Erie this season, and it comes 366 days after her last visit on September 15, 2006. On that visit the REPUBLIC delivered stone from Calcite to the Mountfort Terminal.

The AMERICAN REPUBLIC's visit means that 11 vessels from the 18 vessel American Steamship fleet have visited Erie. Excluding the five 1000-foot members of the fleet, and the 770-foot ST. CLAIR, none of which ever carry stone, the only vessel to not visit Erie this year from the American Steamship fleet is the AMERICAN MARINER. With three months left in the season, it is very possible the the MARINER will make a visit yet this season.


AMERICAN REPUBLIC inbound.


Passing the lighthouse.


In the channel.


REPUBLIC passes through the channel.


Into the bay.


Lining up for the Ore Dock.


Approaching the dock.


Stirring up the seagulls as the REPUBLIC comes alongside.

AMERICAN REPUBLIC Due

AMERICAN REPUBLIC, with stone from Cedarville, is due in Erie at 1215 tomorrow.

Sand load expected Tuesday

Today's Erie Times News reports that the Lower Lakes Towing vessel carrying 16,000 tons of sand will be arriving on Tuesday.

This is a month later than the original estimate which had the first load arriving in mid-August. I will update when I learn a better ETA for the vessel.

TWOLAN due in Thunder Bay for another load; Lumber and paper shipping out via rail; No word on sand vessel

The W.N. TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132 are due in Thunder Bay tomorrow to load again for Erie. They should depart sometime this weekend and be back in Erie around a week later judging by their last load's timing. Meanwhile, the first load is already being shipped out. Monday afternoon five rail cars-four centerbeam cars for loading lumber and one boxcar for paper, were delivered by CSX local Y120 to load at the Mountfort Terminal. At least two of the cars are bound for Idaho Timber Company in Henderson, NC. These cars will be picked up by Y120 tomorrow and moved to the CSX yard at Downing Avenue, where they will leave Thursday for Buffalo, and then on to Cumberland, Maryland and finally arriving in North Carolina next week. Five centerbeam cars remain on the siding along the Bayfront Parkway.

Also yesterday an 18-car ballast train was moved into the Mountfort Terminal by CSX and loaded.

There is still no ETA for the vessel carrying the first load of sand for Presque Isle State Park.

SAM LAUD in port; Sand load due over weekend

The SAM LAUD arrived in port at 0200 this morning with stone from Cedarville. The vessel unloaded throughout the early morning hours and departed at 0800 for the NS Coal Dock in Ashtabula to load coal for Alpena.

Unloading continues on the McALLISTER 132; however, as of this afternoon they have yet to finish unloading the paper part of the cargo.


Unloading resumes on the McALLISTER 132.


LAUD unloading this morning.


Overhead view.


Ninety seconds after I took the last photo, unloading is complete.


Backing fron the Old Ore Dock. Thanks to the kind staff at O-N Minerals for allowing me to take this photograph.


Rounding the Mountfort Terminal.


Passing the TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132 at the Mountfort Terminal.


Close up of the LAUD.


In the channel.


Stern view.


Outbound for Ashtabula.


Another view of the McALLISTER 132 at dock.

According to the Erie Times-News today, the first shipment of sand will be arriving from Thessalon on Sunday or Monday. Traffic is extremely busy this year and is expected to get busier; the lumber being brought in by the McALLISTER 132 is being shipped to Florida and the Carolinas via CSX and with sand, and possibly biodiesel being shipped through the port this year, Erie could handle six different commodities this year. This is two more than last year, when the port handled stone, sand, salt and a single load of locomotives.

Biodiesel to be shipped

I've received information that the biodiesel shipments through the port of Erie are definitely going to happen. This is great news for the port and will mark the first time in close to forty years that a foreign tanker has been in port.

There's a possibility that it could be this season when the shipments begin; however, my guess would be 2008. At this time it's unknown how the shipments will be handled as to whether they'll be transfered from truck or rail cars to the ship; this is likely to be a long operation that will keep these tankers in port for a day or more, depending on the load size.

FORTITUDE in port; LAUD due

AMERICAN FORTITUDE arrived in Erie at 0600 this morning and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Calcite. The vessel finished unloading and departed at 1230 hours this afternoon.

On Wednesday the SAM LAUD is due in at 0300 with stone from Cedarville.

Unloading continues on the W.N. TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132.


McALLISTER 132 at dock this morning.


Unloading.


FORTITUDE unloading at 0830.


Overhead view.


Finished unloading at 1230 hours.


Swinging in the boom.


Dock boss releases the lines.


Backing away from the Old Ore Dock.


Turning into the harbor.


Rounding the Mountfort Terminal, passing W.N. TWOLAN and J.S. St. JOHN.


Close up.


AMERICAN FORTITUDE lines up for the channel.


Passing the Mountfort Terminal.


Between the piers.


Close up of the FORTITUDE's bow.


Stern view.


Outbound into Lake Erie.

Erie Times-News article elaborates on TWOLAN's visit

According to an article in today's Erie Times-News, the W.N. TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132 are new business for the port of Erie, and should be arriving every two weeks. The article mentions that Ray Shreckengost, speaking at the State Transportation Commission meeting in Hermitage last week, noted that Lake Erie Biofuels, like Great Lakes Feeder Lines an Erie Management Group company, has approached the port about shipping 1.5 million gallons of biodiesel per month to Europe through the port. Seeing as how there are no existing facilities to load a tanker here, I'm not holding my breath on the biodiesel being shipped out. Also of note is that at one time Great Lakes Feeder Lines had desired to ship containers through the port of Erie, yet has to date not debuted its service on the Great Lakes.

The article, however, fails to mention the new Cruise Boat Terminal that won't see any cruise ships until 2010 at the earliest, and that the port is asking for money for a new terminal for the proposed fast-freight ferry and more money for a high-speed ferry to replace the small, passenger-only ferry they have under construction.

AMERICAN FORTITUDE Due

AMERICAN FORITUDE, the former COURTNEY BURTON, pays her first visit as such to Erie when she arrives tomorrow at 0530 with stone from Calcite.

Unloading on the McALLISTER 132 appears to have not gotten far on Sunday and is stopped for Labor Day. The barge, pushed by W.N. TWOLAN, will be in port for several more days unloading.

Unloading begins on McALLISTER 132

Unloading begnan this morning on the barge McALLISTER 132 at the Mountfort Terminal to lighter her 4,907 tons of lumber and paper products. This morning the paper products were being unloaded. If the unloading goes well the W.N. TWOLAN will push the barge out of port sometime on Monday.


McALLISTER 132 at dock this morning.


Jitney unloads part of the paper cargo.


At the dock.

Unloading.


Overhead view.

W.N. TWOLAN Arrives

W.N. TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132 finally arrived in Erie at 1900 this afternoon, turning in the basin and docking at the Mountfort Terminal to unload 4,907 metric tons of lumber from Thunder Bay, Ontario. The duo should be in port for a couple of days unloading.

This is the first non-bulk cargo handled by the port of Erie this year.


Inbound.


Another view.


Close up of the bow. Note that barely visible is a jitney used to unload the lumber.


Close up of some of the cargo.


W.N. TWOLAN pushes the barge.


Stern view.


Stern view of the unit.


Into Erie harbor.


In Erie harbor.


Turning. The duo was farther west into the bay before turning than most vessels are.


Straight on.


Turned and ready to head for the dock.