KATHY LYNN, CT 150 Loading Crane; SIDSEL KNUTSEN Due

Ryba Marine's tug KATHY LYNN and spud barge CT 150 remain in Erie today loading a crane at the Mountfort Terminal. I believe they're headed back to to Lake Michigan with this crane, as Ryba Marine is reported to be using KATHY LYNN on a dredging project in the Kinickinic River in Milwaukee.

During one of the attempts to load the crane, the crane got away from crews and narrowly missed hitting the warehouse on the Mountfort Terminal.

Meanwhile, the next load of biodiesel is scheduled to go out later this week aboard the tanker SIDSEL KNUTSEN. The KNUTSEN has been a frequent trader to the Great Lakes over the past few years, but is best known for colliding with and sinking the J.W. WESTCOTT in the Detroit River on October 23, 2001. The WESTCOTT, the U.S. mailboat servicing ships in the Detroit River, was completing a pilot change on the KNUTSEN at the time of the accident. The 1948 Erie-built WESTCOTT sank in the accident, killing two of the four people aboard the vessel at the time.

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KATHY LYNN with the barge alongside the Mountfort Terminal this afternoon.


Loading the crane.


Crane gets away from the crew working on loading.


Moving backwards. Note the man standing between the crane and the warehouse.


The crane is stopped. Note that the man standing between the crane and warehouse has wisely moved.

KATHY LYNN, Spud Barge Arrive in Port

Tug KATHY LYNN and her barge arrived in port this morning at 0730 and docked at the Mountfort Terminal. The barge is loaded with several vehicles and other equipment, along with what appears to be a small cutter dredge, all equipment that would be indicative of preparations for working in the harbor. I'm not sure what they're doing in port, but I will update as I learn more.

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KATHY LYNN and spud barge in Erie this afternoon.


Another view.

Tug KATHY LYNN Due

Ryba Marine Construction's tug KATHY LYNN and barge are due in Erie tomorrow at 1100.

Update: Barge Conversion of the Steamer RESERVE

Last summer I wrote about the fate of a frequent Erie visitor, the steamer RESERVE, which was to be converted to a barge.

The conversion was successful, the RESERVE was renamed JAMES L. KUBER and is now pushed by the tug VICTORY. On Monday the duo arrived in Conneaut on one of their first trips to the lower lakes, loaded with stone from Calcite, Michigan.

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Tug VICTORY and JAMES L. KUBER backing into Conneaut harbor.


Another view.


Close up of the barge.


Tug VICTORY.


Backing into Conneaut harbor.


Another view.


The unit turns for the P&C Stone Dock.

Historical Arrivals: May 27, 1948

On this date in 1948, CALUMET arrives with iron ore from Ashland. JOHN J. BOLAND arrives in ballast from Buffalo and clears with coal for Buffalo.

Historical Arrivals - May 26

Historical Arrivals for May 26:

1952 - C.S. ROBINSON and ADRIATIC arrive with iron ore from Superior and Two Harbors, respectively. Both clear light for Superior later in the day. MIDLAND PRINCE, NORMAN J. KOPMEIER and STANDARD PORTLAND CEMENT arrived light to load coal, clearing for Toronto, Toronto and Buffalo, respectively.

2000 - ALGOWOOD arrives with stone for the Mountfort Terminal.

2002- DAVID Z. NORTON arrives with stone for the Mountfort Terminal.

Historical Arrivals: May 25, 1948

On this date in 1948, two ships unloaded iron ore in Erie. The JAMES DAVIDSON and LEHIGH both unloaded iron ore from Superior at the Ore Dock. Both vessels cleared in ballast for Lake Superior later in the day.

CHEYENNE TAKES FOUR DECK BARGES

CHEYENNE departed Erie this morning at 0030 bound for the Welland Canal and Oswego, pushing the four deck barges remaining in the West Slip, the WITTE 1401, WITTE 1403, WITTE 1404, and WITTE 1405.

The CHEYENNE pushed the barges out with two of them lashed side-by-side, taking them to Port Colborne this way. WITTE 1401 and WITTE 1403 were left in Port Colborne and the CHEYENNE took the remaining two barges downbound, bound for the north end of the Canal, after which the tug will return upbound for the other two barges.

One more barge remains under construction at Erie Shipbuilding

CHEYENNE Remains

CHEYENNE remained in port today, secured at the West Slip. The tug should be departing with one or two barges in tow sometime this weekend. I will update when I learn more.

BOLAND, CHEYENNE in Port

JOHN J. BOLAND, laden with stone from Calcite, arrived in port this morning at 1030 hours and docked at the Old Ore Dock in a stiff west wind that affected the vessel's docking. The BOLAND's captain favored the west side of the channel leading into the Old Ore Dock as the BOLAND docked to unload.

Tug CHEYENNE departed Port Colborne at 0830 this morning and arrived in Erie at 1430 today, proceeding quickly through the channel and docking in the West Slip behind the new Donjon Marine barges and the fishing vessel VICTORY.

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JOHN J. BOLAND inbound this morning.


Close up.


Stern view.


Another view of the BOLAND.


Turning for the Old Ore Dock.


BOLAND moors at the Old Ore Dock.


CHEYENNE inbound.


The tug was pushing plenty of water as she quickly headed inbound.


Another view.


Stern view.


CHEYENNE enters the channel.


In the West Slip.


CHEYENNE backs as the tug approaches the dock.

SAND LOAD ARRIVES; BOLAND, CHEYENNE DUE

CUYAHOGA arrived in Erie this afternoon at 1300 and backed to the North Pier to unload sand from Thessalon, Ontario. The sand will be distributed on beaches at Presque Isle for replenishment after a hard winter eroded many of the beaches.

JOHN J. BOLAND, with stone from Calcite, is due in Erie tomorrow at 1030. Tug CHEYENNE, bound for Erie Shipbuilding to pick up more of the new deck barges built at the yard, is moored in Port Colborne, Ontario for the night and should be getting underway tomorrow for Erie. This likely puts the tug in port during daylight Thursday.

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CUYAHOGA backing in the channel.


Another view.


Bow view.


CUYAHOGA docks at the Pier to unload.

CUYAHOGA DUE

CUYAHOGA, loaded with sand from Thessalon for beach replenishment, is due in Erie tomorrow at 1200.

MORE BIODIESEL TO BE SHIPPED; SAND LOAD DUE

More biodiesel will be shipped through the port of Erie next month, with the next vessel due around June 4. PANAM FLOTA is due in Montreal on Wednesday and will be stopping for fuel there before heading to Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, the first load of sand for the beach replenishment will be arriving on Wednesday from Thessalon, Ontario aboard either the CUYAHOGA or MISSISSAGI. Both vessels are due to load in Thessalon, due today and tomorrow, respectively, and I'm not sure which will be loading for Erie at this time.

I will update tomorrow when I learn more.

Also, as a side note, much is being made in the local of gas prices on the water being more expensive than on land. Although this is the case with Port Authority-owned marinas, the fuel dock at the marina at Presque Isle is currently selling 89-octane gas for $3.879 per gallon, compared to $3.959 at most stations in tow and $4.349 at Port Authority-owned marinas.

PANAM FLOTA DEPARTS

This morning at 0700 Lakeshore Towing tug FLATTOP arrived at the Mountfort Terminal to remove the oil-containment boom surrounding the PANAM FLOTA in Erie harbor. Crews removed the boom as loading of the tanker with almost three million gallons of biodiesel was being completed.

With loading of 111 railcars totalling around 2,830,500 gallons (each car holding 25,500 gallons) complete, the PANAM FLOTA's crew spent the morning making preparations to depart for Rotterdam before getting underway at 1300 today in heavy winds producing rough seas in Presque Isle Bay.

This is the second load of biodiesel produced by Lake Erie Biofuels to be shipped through the port of Erie; the first was shipped out last December on board the FLOTA's fleetmate CLIPPER TOBAGO.

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Photos below by Jim Thoreson.


1999-built tanker PANAM FLOTA finishes loading.


FLATTOP shows up this morning.


This afternoon, the oil-containment boom is removed and the FLOTA is ready to go.


PANAM FLOTA at dock.


Another view.


Springing away from the dock.


FLOTA moves away from the dock.


Turning for the channel.


Outbound.


The FLOTA's captain and the lake pilot direct the operation.


One of the FLOTA's crew members works on deck in preparation for the trip across the Atlantic.


Stern view. Note the position of the deck crane.


Deck crane lifts the gangway to reposition it on deck.


FLOTA outbound.


Clearing Erie harbor bound for the Netherlands.


MOTIVATION, of Key Largo, Florida, inbound the channel bound for Wolverine Marina.


Stern view.

WHITE, McKEE SONS,FLOTA in Port Together; CSX Derails Biodiesel Car at Mountfort Terminal

INVINCIBLE/McKEE SONS arrived at Erie this afternoon at 1445 hours with stone from Stoneport. The tug/barge unit backed into Erie harbor and secured at the Mountfort Terminal behind the PANAM FLOTA, which continues loading biodiesel and should be done around 0700 Sunday.

Right behind the McKEE SONS was the H. LEE WHITE, which arrived at 1700 with stone from Calcite and docked at the Old Ore Dock. The WHITE should be outbound later this evening.

McKEE SONS departed at 2045 hours this evening.

While switching biodiesel cars at the Mountfort Terminal this morning, CSX shifted one of the empty cars too far backward and it jumped the track, knocking out part of the fence on the east side of the dock.

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FLOTA and McKEE SONS at the Mountfort Terminal.


1999-built PANAM FLOTA.


Wide view of the Mountfort Terminal.


H. LEE WHITE unloading.


Another view.


Bow-on.


Overhead view of the WHITE.


FLOTA and McKEE SONS at the Mountfort Terminal.


Another view.


McKEE SONS.


The damaged fence at the Mountfort Terminal.


McKEE SONS departing.


Backing away with the FLOTA in the foreground.


Away from the dock.


Turning.


Heading into the channel.


Close up at sunset.


This rainbow came out shortly before sunset. I was hoping to get it with the McKEE SONS in the picture, but alas, it wasn't to be.

ETAs Updated for WHITE, McKEE SONS

Updated ETA for the tug INVINCIBLE and barge McKEE SONS is 1245 today. The H. LEE WHITE should follow at around 1645.

FLOTA Loading Continues; McKEE SONS, WHITE DUE

Loading continues today on the PANAM FLOTA at the Mountfort Terminal. The biodiesel loading is going better than expected and the vessel could be finished loading and depart tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, two vessels loaded with stone are due in Erie tomorrow. Tug INVINCIBLE and barge McKEE SONS, with stone from Meldrum Bay, are due at 1200. Four hours later, the H. LEE WHITE is due with stone from Calcite. The WHITE will likely have to anchor and wait for the McKEE SONS to finish unloading, unless the FLOTA is finished and departs earlier than expected tomorrow.

Below are videos of the PANAM FLOTA inbound and the J.S. St. JOHN outbound yesterday.

PANAM FLOTA ARRIVES

PANAM FLOTA arrived in Erie at 0515 this morning, porceeded slowly through the channel and turned in Presque Isle Bay. The FLOTA secured at the Mountfort Terminal this morning around 0600 to load biodiesel. The vessel will be in port for several days loading the cargo.

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PANAM FLOTA inbound this morning.


Stern view.


In Presque Isle Bay.


Turning.


PANAM FLOTA turning in Presque Isle Bay.


Turn completed, the FLOTA heads for the dock.


Another view.


Close up.


PANAM FLOTA docking.


Another view.


The tanker drifts off the dock.


Securing mooring lines onto the dock.


Mooring alongside.


All secured, the FLOTA waits to begin loading.


Another view.


J.S. St. JOHN outbound on one of her first trips of the season.


Stern view.

PANAM FLOTA DUE

PANAM FLOTA should be arriving in Erie tomorrow at 0700 to load biodiesel.

PANAM FLOTA UNDERWAY FOR ERIE

PANAM FLOTA departed Montreal and is now underway in the St. Lawrence Seaway bound for Erie to load biodiesel. With minimal delays for traffic or weather on the vessel's voyage, PANAM FLOTA should arrive in Erie on Thursday morning. I will update with a more accurate ETA tomorrow.

PANAM FLOTA UPDATE

PANAM FLOTA is currently unloading in Montreal and should be departing later this evening or in the early morning hours on Tuesday. With minimal delays for traffic in the St. Lawrence Seaway, the FLOTA should arrive in Erie during daylight hours on Thursday to load biodiesel.

Biodiesel Shipment Update

PANAM FLOTA is due in Montreal later this evening to unload her cargo of petroleum products. After unloading the vessel will sail to Erie to load biodiesel. In preparation for the load, CSX has 24 loaded tank cars stored on a siding on Erie's bayfront which will be moved to the Mountfort Terminal to load the vessel.

The PANAM FLOTA's visit will be shorter than the visit last December by the CLIPPER TOBAGO, as most of the the 3,000,000 gallons the PANAM FLOTA will be loading will be ready for the vessel. When the TOBAGO loaded last December, the cargo was not completely ready and in order to fulfill the order and get the vessel out of the Seaway before closing, Lake Erie Biofuels was forced to buy some of the biodiesel from other plants and have it shipped in to finish the load on the vessel.

Although the PANAM FLOTA's time in port will likely be shorter than the TOBAGO's, the actual load time on the FLOTA will be longer, as the load the FLOTA is taking is double the size of the first biodiesel shipment.

I will continue to follow this story and update as it develops.

CHEYENNE DEPARTS

CHEYENNE, with deck barges WITTE 1402 and SUE B. in tow, departed Erie at 2330 on Friday evening. The tow is now downbound in the Welland Canal.

Tugs will be taking the rest of the barges out of Erie within the next month or two.

CHEYENNE TO TAKE TWO DECK BARGES

Port Albany Ventures' pretty canal tug CHEYENNE arrived in Erie at 0200 this morning and docked at the West Slip alongside the newly-built deck barge SUE B. The tug spent the morning preparing SUE B. for its tow to Albany before shifting to the WITTE 1402 at around 1430 today. The CHEYENNE moved WITTE 1402 backwards before taking the SUE B. in tow and turning it in the slip, mooring the barge bow-to-bow with WITTE 1402 to make them up for the tow through the Welland Canal to Oswego, NY. From Oswego the barges will be taken through the New York State Barge Canal one at a time.

After working on making up the tow, the CHEYENNE entered the drydock at Erie Shipbuilding at 1700 today and emerged a half-hour later with the newest deck barge, WITTE 1405, in tow. The WITTE 1405 is now secured alongside WITTE 1404.

CHEYENNE is scheduled to leave this weekend bound for Oswego.

CCGS SHARK departed Erie at 0815 this morning bound for Port Dover, Ontario. BUFFALO departed yesterday at 1915 bound for Calcite.

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CHEYENNE turns to back toward the SUE B. at 1450 this afternoon.


Backing up.


Coming alongside SUE B.


The tug prepares to move the SUE B. away from WITTE 1401.


Moving away.


Passing by the WITTE 1404.


Close up of the 1965-built tug, a sister to the CROW, which visited Erie last November to pick up the PAV 103.


Stern view.


Turning the barge in the West Slip.


Close up of the tug.


CHEYENNE gets lost in a puff of diesel smoke.


Turning the barge toward dock.


CHEYENNE's stern was right against the west side of the slip during most of the towing operation.


Another view of the tug.


CHEYENNE pushes the WITTE 1402 forward to line up with the SUE B.


With its tow.


Side view of the tug.


Alongside the SUE B.


The tug's crew pulls the two barges together.


A good smoker is the CHEYENNE as it leaves the West Slip to retrieve the WITTE 1405.


WITTE 1405 is officially launched.


CHEYENNE/WITTE 1405 coming into the West Slip.


Stern view of the pair.


Docking alongside two other DonJon Marine barges.


Docking WITTE 1405.


Work complete for the day, CHEYENNE rests alongside the barges it will tow to the East Coast.

BUFFALO in port; SHARK Working off Erie; Tug CHEYENNE Due

BUFFALO arrived in port at 1130 this morning and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to unload stone from Cedarville. About two hours later the vessel moved over to the Old Ore Dock to finish unloading.

CCGS SHARK departed Erie at 0845 this morning to work between five and ten miles north of Erie before returning to dock at Wolverine Marina at 1700 this afternoon.

Tug CHEYENNE of Port Albany Ventures is due in Erie at 0200 tomorrow. The vessel will be towing a deck barge from Erie Shipbuilding.

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BUFFALO inbound.


Close up.


Passing Coast Guard Station Erie.


Stern view.


Docking.


Unloading.

CCGS SHARK in port; BUFFALO due

BUFFALO, with stone from Cedarville, should arrive in Erie at around 1130 tomorrow.

Canadian Coast Guard fisheries and oceans research vessel SHARK arrived in Erie at 1700 this afternoon and docked at Wolverine Marina for the night. The vessel is homeported in Hamilton, Ontario.

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SHARK inbound in Presque Isle Bay.


Approaching the dock.

MAUMEE Video

Below is video of the MAUMEE inbound last Friday.

PANAM FLOTA Update

PANAM FLOTA is now inbound for Montreal, where she is expected on May 11 to unload cargo. Assuming that it will likely take a day or two for the vessel to unload, the FLOTA will likely arrive in Erie on May 15.

Historical Arrivals for May 4

1952: STEELTON arrives with ore from Superior. The vessel clears light later that day.
1974: Tanker VENUS arrives for the Sun Oil Dock in ballast to load.
1980: CONSUMERS POWER arrives for the Sassafras Street dock to unload stone.

BRISTOL BAY Video

Below is video of the BRISTOL BAY inbound on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. The video also shows crews lifting buoys 12 and 14 onto the barge CGB 12001.

The next video I will be posting will be of the MAUMEE's visit yesterday.

MAUMEE in Port

MAUMEE arrived at the outer buoys this morning at 1130 hours and proceeded slowly inbound the port. The vessel spent the next hour proceeding slowly into the channel and docking at the Mountfort Terminal to unload salt loaded at Fairport Harbor, Ohio yesterday and into this morning. This visit is the MAUMEE’s second within two weeks and is the third load of salt received this season in the port.

Up next for the crew at Carmeuse Lime & Stone is the loading of the PANAM FLOTA, expected between May 14 and 16 to load biodiesel for Europe. After that, the W.N. TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132 should be arriving with lumber products.

Lakeshore Towing remains busy with dredging work at Shades Beach. Crews are pumping the dredged material to the east to deepen the channel to the boat launch there and depositing the material back on the lake bottom.

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MAUMEE in the channel.


Passing the lighthouse.


Inbound.


Close up.


Prior to loading salt in Fairport, the MAUMEE had unloaded stone there. Rather than go out into Lake Erie and wash the deck down before loading, the crew shoveled the spilled stone into one big pile as shown here. The vessel's deck will be rinsed down upon departure from Erie later this afternoon.


Stern view of the 1929-built classic.


Docking.

MAUMEE Inbound

MAUMEE will be arriving at Erie at 1130 hours today with salt from Fairport Harbor. The vessel will be docking at the Mountfort Terminal.

Port Shipping Picks Up

The 2008 season stands to be a good one for the port of Erie's international business. Already, one saltwater vessel, the STELLANOVA, has been in port to unload machinery.

Sources within the plant at Lake Erie Biofuels report that the PANAM FLOTA should be arriving during the week of May 11 to load biodiesel for Europe. This will be the second load of biodiesel to be shipped through the port; the first one went out onboard the CLIPPER TOBAGO last December.

Several loads of biodiesel should be headed for Europe this season. Also, in October GE reportedly plans on shipping 25 locomotives through the port.

I will follow all of these stories and update them when I have more information.