Historical: BUCKEYE Conversion, Part 3 of 3

Today's entry in the BUCKEYE conversion gallery takes us from July through September 2006, when the barge LEWIS J. KUBER and tug OLIVE L. MOORE departed Erie Shipbuilding on their first trip.


LEWIS J. KUBER retains the Oglebay Norton name and colors on August 2, 2006.


On August 8, the name is painted on the port side of the barge for the christening ceremony that took place the next day.


The starboard side, however, did not receive the markings for some time.


Workers perform some welding on the stern on August 9.


By the morning of August 15, the name LEWIS J. KUBER had been applied to the bow; however, the Oglebay Norton fleet logo remained.


That afternoon, the markings were painted out.


Done working, a shipyard employee is hoisted back over the barge.


Mated with tug OLIVE L. MOORE on September 9. Four days later the vessel would sail in the middle of the night.


OLIVE L. MOORE in Erie harbor on August 24.