ROGER BLOUGH DEPARTS LAYUP

In an unexpected twist to a story the Erie Shipping News has followed since the ROGER BLOUGH laid up in Erie on January 18, the BLOUGH sailed from Conneaut on Thursday at 1630 bound for Calcite, Michigan. The BLOUGH is expected to load stone there for Duluth.

The BLOUGH departed the P&C Coal Dock at 1630 and backed all the way out into Lake Erie before turning to head up the lake.

The BLOUGH's departure so late in the year is an unexpected good sign in a season that has seen many vessels stay in layup all season, or only sail partial seasons. The BLOUGH had spent the year laid up at the P&C Dock since being towed into Conneaut by the tugs MANITOU and PATRICIA HOEY on April 30.

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BLOUGH tests its unloading boom at 1450 hours on Thursday. The BLOUGH's cargo holds were being cleaned of iron ore that had not been properly cleaned before layup in Erie last winter. Beneath the stern of the BLOUGH, note all the leaves in the water. They've floated down from the tree-lined Conneaut Creek.


ROGER BLOUGH backing from the Coal Dock.


Bow view


Passing the Ore Dock where the BLOUGH has unloaded many cargoes over the years.


Outbound the P&C Dock Complex.


Backing through the harbor.


Turned and headed up Lake Erie.


Sterb view.

VICTORY/KUBER in Port; STORM, PRAIRIELAND Depart

VICTORY and JAMES L. KUBER arrived in Erie at around 0400 on Wednesday, unloaded stone from Cedarville at the Old Ore Dock and departed at 1230 hours bound for Calcite, Michigan for another load of stone.

Both the STORM and PRAIRIELAND departed Erie early on Wednesday morning. PRAIRIELAND has returned to Dunkirk to resume her duties shuttling scows for the dredging operation there.

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KUBER and VICTORY shifting at the Old Ore Dock at 0830.


Backing away from the dock shortly after noon on Wednesday.


Turning in Erie harbor.


Outbound past Buoy 9 with a flyover from a military jet and a flock of geese.


Outbound.


Another view.


Stern view.


J.S. St. JOHN waited at the Mountfort Terminal for the KUBER to pass before shifting to the Old Ore Dock to unload.


Stern view approaching the dock.


CANADIAN SAILOR at anchor off Buoys 1 and 2.

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER Due, PRAIRIELAND Returned to Water; STORM Waits Weather, Miscellaneous News and Notes

Tug VICTORY and barge JAMES L. KUBER, laden with stone from Cedarville, are due in Erie at around 0100 Wednesday morning. This is the duo's fourth visit of the season to the port of Erie. This is also the duo's first trip out after a temporary layup in Menominee, Michigan.

Tug PRAIRIELAND was returned to the water at Erie Shipbuilding yesterday. I'm not sure yet when the tug will return to Dunkirk, NY, as there was no activity on the tug today.

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy vessel STORM, of Kings Point, New York, stopped at Wolverine Marina today at 1300 to wait for stormy weather on Lake Erie to subside. Ironic, isn't it?

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a Waterways Management Study on Erie Harbor and is requesting feedback from users of the harbor. More information can be found on the Coast Guard's 9th District Notices to Mariners #41 of 2009, located online here as a PDF file.

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STORM in slip A-22 at Wolverine Marina.


Another view.


Stern view.

Work Continues on PRAIRIELAND

Work continues on replacing the propeller and shaft on the PRAIRIELAND, which was lifted out on October 1 by Erie Shipbuilding and placed on their property. The tug snapped the propeller right off the shaft during dredging operations in late September.

PRAIRIELAND has been replaced on the Dunkirk dredging job by its larger fleetmate, PIONEERLAND.

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PRAIRIELAND at Erie Shipbuilding.


Another view.


PIONEERLAND moving a barge in Dunkirk harbor; the tug is shown bringing in an empty scow and taking out a loaded one on October 6. Watch at 6:15 as the towline breaks. I apologize for lack of updates to the Erie Shipping News this season and am committed to continuing to update this on a more regular basis.

Erie Shipping News Problems

The web host that contains all of the content (photos) of the Erie Shipping News has been down for several days for maintenance and this has kept me from updating this blog. I apologize for this and am working to get the problem corrected as soon as possible. I will have several days worth of updates to post as soon as the problem is resolved.

ADAM E. CORNELIUS DUE

ADAM E. CORNELIUS, on its first visit of the 2009 season to Erie, is due in port with stone from Calcite tonight at around 2130, weather permitting.