BRAKE Departs, COURAGE Arrives

Port Albany Ventures' tug HERBERT P. BRAKE departed Erie at 0200 today with PAV 102 in tow bound for Albany, New York. This is the second of six deck barges being constructed at Erie Shipbuilding.

AMERICAN COURAGE, loaded with stone from Cedarville, arrived in Erie at 1030 today, docking at the Old Ore Dock to unload. The COURAGE departed today at around 1615 hours.

Unloading on the McALLISTER 132 continues at the Mountfort Terminal. The J.S. St. JOHN unloaded at the Mountfort Terminal today as well, due to the COURAGE unloading at the Old Ore Dock.


McALLISTER 132 unloading


AMERICAN COURAGE inbound.


Closer view.


Stern view.


Another view.


Passing the TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132.


Around the TWOLAN and beginning to turn.


1245 hours finds the St. JOHN and the McALLISTER 132 at the Mountfort Terminal.


COURAGE unloads at 1300.


A break in the unloading at 1445.


Unloading resumes.

BRAKE Arrives; COURAGE Due

The HERBERT P. BRAKE arrived in port early on Monday morning, a week after departing for Albany with the PAV 101. The vessel docked at the West Slip, and moved over to the west side of Dobbin's Landing at around 0945.

The BRAKE should be departing tomorrow or Wednesday with the PAV 102 in tow.

Unloading continues on the McALLISTER 132 at the Mountfort Terminal. Tomorrow, the AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Cedarville, is expected to arrive in port at 1045. The COURAGE will dock at the Old Ore Dock.


McALLISTER 132 unloading.


Another view.


HERBERT P. BRAKE at dock this morning.


BRAKE backs away from the dock.


Turning.


BRAKE throttles up and turns toward the harbor.


Approaching Dobbin's Landing.


Straight-on.


BRAKE approaching Dobbin's Landing.


The deckhand on the BRAKE throws the line toward the dock.


He missed the first time, so he reeled the line in and threw it again.


All secured.


J.S. St. JOHN inbound the Old Ore Dock at 1000.


St. JOHN ties up..

TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 Arrive

Tug/barge unit W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 arrived in Erie at 0930 this morning, turned in Erie harbor and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to unload 5,500 tons of Kraft paper loaded in Thunder Bay. The unit will likely begin unloading on Sunday morning.


W.N.TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 inbound.


A closer view.


W.N. TWOLAN.


Side view.


Stern view.


TWOLAN pushes the barge into Erie harbor.


Another view.


Into Erie harbor and beginning to turn.


Turning.


Turn completed, the TWOLAN powers the barge toward the Mountfort Terminal.


Note how the barge appears lightly loaded due to the lack of lumber in this load.


The tug W.N. TWOLAN.


Another view of the TWOLAN as the unit approaches the dock.

SECOND DECK BARGE EMERGES FROM SHIPYARD

The second of six deck barges being built at Erie Shipbuilding, the PAV 102, was towed out of drydock by Lakeshore Towing's tug FLATTOP and towboat DON HENRY at around 4:30 this afternoon. FLATTOP and DON HENRY moved the barge to the West Slip and secured it in the same position that PAV 101 had been moored in until it departed under tow of HERBERT P. BRAKE earlier this week.


FLATTOP tows the PAV 102.


Turning the barge and lining up for the West Slip.


In the harbor, aligning with the West Slip.


DON HENRY stands by to assist.


Approaching the West Slip.


Lining up.


DON HENRY pushes on the barge.


FLATTOP pulls the barge into the West Slip.


PAV 102.


FLATTOP comes around to push on the PAV 102.


DON HENRY pushes on the barge.


FLATTOP, DON HENRY and PAV 102 in the West Slip.


FLATTOP works the barge up the dock.


Another job well done, FLATTOP departs for home.

TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 DUE

W.N. TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132, which last week loaded 5,500 tons of kraft paper in Thunder Bay for Erie, had been waiting weather in Toledo since Wednesday. However, they are now underway and due in Erie at around 0500 tomorrow.

PAV 101 DEPARTS

This morning the tug HERBERT P. BRAKE moved from her dock at East Dobbin's Landing and tied up alongside the deck barge PAV 101. At 7:30 the tug's crew released the lines securing the PAV 101 to Erie Shipbuilding, and about 10 minutes later departed the West Slip outbound for Lake Erie. The barge was towed on the hip stern first from the harbor bound for the old Erie Canal, and eventually, Albany.

The 165-foot long deck barge was registered with the American Bureau of Shipping as being delivered on October 16. The ABS lists her registered owner as Donjon Marine.


HERBERT P. BRAKE tied up alongside the barge this morning.


Close up of the BRAKE, her pilothouse up.


In Erie harbor, outbound.


Another view of the barge PAV 101.


In the channel.


Side view.


Close up of the pilothouse of the BRAKE.


Stern view of the unit.


Note in this shot the angle with which the tug and barge are together.


PAV 101 departs Erie for the first, and probably final time.

FIRST BARGE DUE TO DEPART MONDAY MORNING

The first of the six deck barges being built as a joint venture between Donjon Marine and Port Albany Ventures is scheduled to depart Erie under tow of Port Albany Ventures tug HERBERT P. BRAKE on Monday morning.

Saturday morning, ahead of the high winds that have plagued Erie harbor for the past two days, the BRAKE shifted to East Dobbins Landing and is moored behind the VICTORIAN PRINCESS. Sunday afternoon, the WITTE 4003 and one of the deck barges were moved out of Erie Shipbuilding and tied up alongside the shipyard's pier at the West Slip. However, the deck barge moved out was not the SUE B., which was christened in the dual christening ceremony with the WITTE 4003 on September 26.

The barge brought out of the drydock today was named PAV 101, and is owned by Port Albany Ventures. The barge, when it leaves, is bound under tow of the BRAKE for Albany, New York, via the New York State Barge Canal.


HERBERT P. BRAKE at Dobbin's Landing today.


Stern view.


Overhead stern view.


Another overhead view.


Stern view of the WITTE 4003.


PAV 101.


Bow view of the WITTE 4003.


Another view of the WITTE 4003.

HERBERT P. BRAKE Arrives for Tow

Port Albany Ventures' tug HERBERT P. BRAKE arrived in Erie this morning to tow one of the newly constructed deck barges, the SUE B., from Erie Shipbuilding. The tug BRAKE, at 60 feet length, came up the New York State Barge Canal, and the Erie Canal to Lockport, through Buffalo harbor and across the lake to Erie. There is no word yet on when she'll leave, and with the windy weather conditions she may be in port a while.


HERBERT P. BRAKE tied up in the West Slip this afternoon.


Another view of the BRAKE..


Local harbor patrol/tour boat LADY KATE, high and dry near Liberty Park. Owner Tom Macalauso's LADY KATE and business Presque Isle Boat Tours are for sale, as he is retiring. The radio waves in Erie harbor will never be the same.


Charter fishing boat EDWARD JOHN high and dry near LADY KATE.

BUFFALO Arrives

BUFFALO paid her second visit to the port of Erie this season, arriving in Erie this afternoon at 1630 to unload stone from Cedarville. The BUFFALO docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload. The vessel is bound for Cedarville when she departs tonight.


BUFFALO inbound.


Passing the lighthouse.


Stern view.


Approaching the Ore Dock.


Landing a crewmember on the dock, BUFFALO comes alongside.


The boom starts up. In a moment the first tons of stone will be off the boom.

EL PRESIDENTE departs; BUFFALO due

This morning at around 0730 EL PRESIDENTE departed Wolverine Marina, backing away from her overnight mooring, turning and proceeding outbound. EL PRESIDENTE was clear of Erie harbor by 0755.

American Steamship Company's BUFFALO, with stone from Cedarville, makes her second visit of the year tomorrow when she arrives at 1615 hours tomorrow. Two visits in a season are more than the BUFFALO usually makes to Erie; one visit is the normal number in a season.


EL PRESIDENTE enters the channel proceeding outbound.


In the channel.


Stern view.

FORMER PRESIDENTIAL YACHT IN PORT

Former Presidential yacht EL PRESIDENTE arrived in Erie this afternoon and docked at Wolverine Marina, where she will remain for the night.

The yacht, built in 1939 for the Cudahy family of Lake Forest, Illinois, for use on the East Coast, was originally the INNISFAIL. Requisitioned by the government in 1942, the vessel was outfitted as YP-354 after a refit at the Naval Shipyard at Philadelphia, with two 20mm cannons on deck and a depth charge rack at the stern. The YP-354 served five years in this role, before being decommissioned in 1947. It was at this time that EL PRESIDENTE was refurbished and remained in control of the U.S. government via a lend-lease agreement.

Every U.S. President from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Bill Clinton used the yacht, which was refurbished in 1996 and is now used for charters in Chicago. For more information on EL PRESIDENT, visit her website.


EL PRESIDENTE at dock this evening.

I'd like to thank the kind staff of Wolverine Marina for allowing me access to the dock to take the photo seen here.

CUYAHOGA in port; departs

CUYAHOGA arrived in Erie at around 0115 Monday morning, turning in Erie harbor and docking at the North Pier. Throughout the night the vessel unloaded her 16,000-ton sand cargo from Thessalon, and departed at 0600 this morning bound for Nanticoke to load slag.

CUYAHOGA Due

The second sand load, aboard the CUYAHOGA, is scheduled to arrive in Erie at 0500 Monday morning from Thessalon, Ontario.

AMERICAN COURAGE in Port

AMERICAN COURAGE arrived in Erie earlier than scheduled today, at 0900. The COURAGE proceeded inbound and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Cedarville.

Erie Sand & Gravel parent company Oglebay Norton was sold Friday to the Carmeuse Group, a Belgium-based company that is the world's largest producer of lime products. Carmeuse already owns docks in Buffington, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; River Rouge, Michiga; and Green Bay, Wisconsin. I have no idea what changes this may mean for the operation here in Erie.


AMERICAN COURAGE inbound.


Another view.


Stern view of the COURAGE as it passes inbound.


Another view.


Swinging a man off as the COURAGE docks.


Docking.


Overhead view. The COURAGE started to unload, then stopped for a moment.


The AMERICAN COURAGE begins to unload again at 0950 hours.

AMERICAN COURAGE Due

AMERICAN COURAGE, laden with stone from Calcite, is due in Erie at 0930 Saturday.

WOLVERINE in port

WOLVERINE, loaded with stone from Bruce Mines, Ontario, arrived in Erie at 0530 this morning. The vessel turned in the harbor before docking at the Mountfort Terminal to unload. Several delays and breakdowns delayed the unloading and the WOLVERINE did not depart until 1620 this afternoon bound for the Norfolk Southern coal dock in Ashtabula to load.

Late this morning Lakeshore Towing's DON HENRY took pleasure craft Endless Endeavour alongside and moved it from the East Canal Basin into the West Canal Basin.


WOLVERINE unloading at 0815 this morning.


Hanging off the dock, the WOLVERINE neded to swing the boom out to almost a 90-degree angle to reach the pile.


Shortly before noon, a lone seagull braves the elements as the WOLVERINE unloads.


DON HENRY outbound the East Canal Basin.


Close up.


...And into the West Basin.


WOLVERINE unloading at 1235.


Lakeshore Towing tug FLATTOP inbound at around 1515 hours.


Finished unloading as the sun peeks out at 1612.


WOLVERINE departs the dock.


Moving away.


Lining up for the channel.


Outbound.


In the channel.


Close up of the stern.


Stern view.


Outbound for Ashtabula as a flock of seagulls stirs along the North Pier.

WOLVERINE Due

WOLVERINE, loaded with stone from Bruce Mines, Ontario, is due in Erie at 0500 Thursday. No sign of the second load of sand yet.

Historical Arrivals: October 6

Arrivals in Erie on October 6 of years past:

1949- COL. JAMES PICKANDS, with ore from Superior, arrives at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Ore Dock (now the site of O-N Mineral's Erie Operation) with ore from Superior. Later in the day the PICKANDS cleared in ballast for Duluth.

1960- PRINS WILLEM GEORGE FREDERIK, a Norwegian flagged vessel, arrives in Erie, docking at the Duquense Marine Terminal to load packaged oil for Europe. Duquesne Marine Terminal is now the site of Erie Shipbuilding.

1972- Great Lakes Towing's LAURENCE C. TURNER and MARYLAND, towing the bow for the barge PRESQUE ISLE, arrive in Erie from Defoe Shipbuilding in Bay City, Michigan and dock at Litton Industries.

1990- STELLA DESGAGNES arrives at the Codan Corporation with pig iron.

2006- AGAWA CANYON arrives at the Mountfort Terminal with stone from Meldrum Bay and Bruce Mines.

BOLAND in port

JOHN J. BOLAND arrived in Erie at 2300 Tuesday night, turning in Presque Isle Bay before docking at the Mountfort Terminal. After unloading stone from Calcite throughout the early morning hours, the BOLAND departed at 0815 Wednesday morning bound for the Norfolk Southern coal dock at Sandusky.

This is the BOLAND's sixth visit of the season, making the BOLAND the leading visitor of 2007.


BOLAND unloading.


Swinging the boom in and a push from the bow thruster away from the dock.


Moving into the channel.


Outbound.


Stern view.


Next port of call: Sandusky, Ohio.

BOLAND DUE

JOHN J. BOLAND, with stone from Calcite, is scheduled to arrive in Erie at 2300 tonight.

Erie History: October 1

October 1, 2005: Erie Shipbuilding LLC.'s lease on the former Litton shipyard at the foot of Holland Street begins today.

Historical arrivals for October 1:

1947: BEN E. TATE arrives with a cargo of coal from Sandusky, clearing light later in the day for Conneaut, where she would load a cargo of coal for Manistee, Michigan.
1947: VANDOC arrives light from Port Colborne, clearing with coal for Fort William (Thunder Bay).
1947: FRANK ARMSTRONG arrives with iron ore from Superior, clearing light for Two Harbors.

1949: A Steelworker's strike at the Interlake Iron Company idles operations at the site today, and as such idles several vessels. Anchoring in Presque Isle Bay to wait out the strike for two days are the POWELL STACKHOUSE, MARYLAND and HEMLOCK with iron ore and the BEN E. TATE with slag. Also today, the VALLEY CAMP arrives to load coal.

1994: ALGOMARINE arrives with stone.