MAUMEE in Port; MICHIPICOTEN Ready to Go; ANDRIE Out on Sea Trials

MAUMEE arrived in port at 0030 this morning and moored at the Mountfort Terminal with a cargo of salt from Fairport Harbor, Ohio. The vessel unloadied throughout the night and finished as the first rays of dawn peaked over the horizon at 0555 this morning. MAUMEE's crew quickly cast off and departed the Mountfort Terminal, slowly worked her way into Presque Isle Bay and turn on hard starboard wheel to line up with the channel. The Lower Lakes Transportation-owned, 1929-built classic the proceeded slowly through the channel and into Lake Erie on a gorgeous morning more typical of late May than mid-April, bound for Cleveland's Cargill Salt dock to load.

Meanwhile, across the harbor, MAUMEE's Canadian fleetmate, Lower Lakes Towing's MICHIPICOTEN, is in the final stages of fitout at Erie Shipbuilding and this morning the vessel was waiting on inspection from Lloyd's of London and various government agencies. If all goes well the vessel will be departing today or tomorrow.

MICHIPICOTEN was drydocked for the rebuilding of a piece of machinery in the tail shaft, located at the stern near the propeller. This work was supposed to have been done when the vessel received its five-year survey at Bay Shipbuilding in December; however, Bay Shipbuilding, the largest shipyard on the Great Lakes, did not have the capability to do the work, resulting in Erie Shipbuilding winning the contract. Hopefully, the completion of this work will lead the Lower Lakes fleet to do more business with Erie Shipbuilding.

Fit out work continues on tug KAREN ANDRIE and barge A-397. This afternoon at 1555 the ANDRIE departed Erie on sea trials, returning an hour later after completion of them. A-397 received her five-year survey, along with the Hydraconn coupler system installed on the tug and barge over the winter, while in drydock.

An article in today's Buffalo News indicates that scrapping on the LANSDOWNE is almost complete and the remains will be moved later this week to facilitate scrapping. The two rail cars on the stern have been saved by the Illinois Railway Museum.

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MAUMEE completes its turn this morning.


Lining up for the channel.


Entering the channel as the sun rises.


MAUMEE in between the piers.


The bow of the MAUMEE approaching the Erie Pierhead Lighthouse.


Stern view.


Another view.


Into Lake Erie.


KAREN ANDRIE preparing for sea trials.


With the MICHIPICOTEN.


With the A-397.


MICHIPICOTEN fitting out.


Another view, taken from the public dock.