BOLAND Unloads Stone; MANITOWOC Brings First Sand Cargo of Season

JOHN J. BOLAND arrived in the port of Erie at around 0330 this morning and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Cedarville, Michigan. About two hours later the MANITOWOC, laden with a cargo of sand from Thessalon, Ontario for the North Pier, arrived off of Erie. This is the first load of sand for the season's annual beach replenishment on Presque Isle State Park.

MANITOWOC docked on the North Pier at about 0630 and proceeded to begin unloading. This is the first cargo of sand delivered to the dock site by a vessel with its unloading boom at the stern. The placement of the cargo meant that MANITOWOC had to pull in, rather than back in as sand vessels usually do.

JOHN J. BOLAND finished unloading at around 1045 this morning, backed out of the Old Ore Dock and turned in Presque Isle Bay before slowly proceeding outbound past MANITOWOC, which by that time had finished unloading and waited for the BOLAND to pass before backing out into the lake. JOHN J. BOLAND is now bound for Calcite, Michigan to load stone.

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MANITOWOC appears out of the early morning fog about three miles north of the channel at 0530 Tuesday.


Another view.


Slowing just off buoys 1 and 2.


Turning for the channel.


Turning with the sun rising.


MANITOWOC in the channel.


Another view.


Stern view.


Docking.


At dock.


JOHN J. BOLAND unloading this morning.


BOLAND unloading stone from Cedarville.


Bow view.


Finished unloading and backing away at 1050 this morning.


Bow view.


Turning.


Outbound.


MANITOWOC finishes unloading.


JOHN J. BOLAND approaches MANITOWOC in the channel.


Passing.


MANITOWOC backs away in the background.


BOLAND clear of the piers and headed to Calcite, Michigan.


Stern view.


MANITOWOC outbound.

JOHN J. BOLAND, MANITOWOC DUE

JOHN J. BOLAND, with stone from Cedarville, is due in Erie at 0300 on Tuesday morning. Three hours later MANITOWOC, also laden with stone, is expected in port.

POINT COUNTERPOINT II departed Erie late on Friday bound for Fairport Harbor, Ohio, where the American Waterways Wind Symphony is scheduled to perform on June 27. From there, the vessel will go to Port Stanley, Ontario for a July 1 Canada Day show and then return to Erie on July 3 and 4.

Ryba Marine tug KATHY LYNN, Barges Visit Temporarily

Ryba Marine Contracting's tug KATHY LYNN, pushing empty scows CT 251 and CT 252 and spud barge CT 150 arrived in Erie at around 0400 Sunday and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to escape the rough waters of Lake Erie. The KATHY LYNN departed Rochester, New York on Thursday after completing a year-long dredging project there and was bound for Ashtabula, Ohio.

Once Lake Erie calmed, the KATHY LYNN and barges departed the Mountfort Terminal at around 0930, turned in Presque Isle Bay and departed for Ashtabula. The crew of the KATHY LYNN used one of the spuds on CT 150 as an anchor to turn on in the bay.

The last time KATHY LYNN was in Erie was May 30, 2008 when the tug brought CT 150 into Erie to load the crane that is now on the barge.

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KATHY LYNN labors to turn her consort this morning.


The tow.


KATHY LYNN at full power turning the barges.


Another view.


Turning and headed for the channel. Spud barge CT 150 is on the starboard side.


Clear of the piers. Note on the bow of the CT 251 the former name of the barge, WEEKS MARINE 251, is visible. Weeks Marine is based in New Jersey.


The 1944-built, former Army tug ST-693 at full power after turning to head for Ashtabula.


Tow heads up the lake.


Another view.


CT 150. The crane was yellow when it was loaded last May.


CT 150 loading its crane on May 31, 2008.

GRANDE MARINER Visits; American Waterways Wind Symphony to Play Concerts Aboard POINT COUNTERPOINT II

GRANDE MARINER arrived in port this afternoon at around 1300 and docked on the east side of Dobbin's Landing. The MARINER arrived from Cleveland and will depart shortly after midnight for Buffalo, New York.

American Waterways Wind Symphony's floating orchestra barge POINT COUNTERPOINT II was moved back to its original mooring on the west side of Dobbin's Landing earlier this week as it prepares to fit out for its 2009 summer Great Lakes tour. The tour will take it to Fairport Harbor, Ohio on June 27, and will bring the POINT COUNTERPOINT II back to Erie for concerts on July 3 at 7:30 p.m. and July 4 at 2:30 p.m. The concerts will take place behind the Erie Maritime Museum, and tickets are $10 at the gate.

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GRANDE MARINER at dock.


Another view.


POINT COUNTERPOINT II is now back where it docked when it first arrived in Erie last August.


Stern view.


Overhead view with the Bicentennial Tower.


Close up of the POINT COUNTERPOINT II. Both of these overhead photos were taken from the parking ramp of the Sheraton Hotel. In all the time the POINT COUNTERPOINT II was there last fall, I never considered going up there for photos until today. And I didn't consider using the elevator until after I climbed back down the stairs today.

LAUD Arrives, Unloads, and Heads for Layup; Cruise Ship GRANDE MARINER Due

SAM LAUD arrived in Erie this morning at around 0300 and backed into the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Calcite, Michigan. The LAUD unloaded through the early morning hours and departed at 0930 this morning bound for Toledo, Ohio's CSX Coal Dock 2 for temporary layup. The vessel joins numerous American Steamship fleetmates in layup due to the economy.

Cruise ship GRANDE MARINER is due to arrive in Erie at 1300 on Friday. This is the first of three visits the MARINER and her American Canadian Caribbean Line fleetmate NIAGARA PRINCE will make to Erie this season. The NIAGARA PRINCE will arrive in Erie on July 23, and the GRANDE MARINER will return on August 18.

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SAM LAUD unloading at the Old Ore Dock this morning. The cofferdam for the PRESQUE ISLE is stored here temporarily due to several heavy lifts scheduled at the Mountfort Terminal.


LAUD prepares to depart the Old Ore Dock.


Leaving the Old Ore Dock.


Turning for the channel with Lakeshore Towing's tug FLATTOP crossing astern.


In the channel.


Outbound.


Stern view.

SAM LAUD DUE

SAM LAUD, with stone from Calcite, Michigan, is due in Erie at 0300 Thursday on its second visit of the year.

PRESQUE ISLE DEPARTS

This morning, Lakeshore Towing tugs FLATTOP and DON HENRY moved the cofferdam used on the PRESQUE ISLE from the Mountfort Terminal to the Old Ore Dock at around 0930. At that time the PRESQUE ISLE was preparing to get underway, and did so at around 1030. The PRESQUE ISLE, after 15 days in port, turned in her namesake harbor and departed Erie upbound for Duluth, Minnesota, where the vessel is expected to load taconite pellets.

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PRESQUE ISLE heads into its namesake harbor and starts to turn around to line up with the channel.


Turning.


PRESQUE ISLE rounds the Mountfort Terminal and prepares to head out.


In the channel.


Close up.


Outbound for Duluth.