Season Wrap-Up

The poor economy is to blame for making 2009 probably the most forgettable season in the history of the port of Erie. The season saw only 18 stone deliveries to the port, down from 22 in 2008, 43 in 2007 and 41 in 2006. The season saw a total of 36 commercial vessels visit the port (excluding passenger vessels and Coast Guard vessels), which is down from 46 in 2008, 63 in 2007, and 56 in 2006. These commercial visits included vessels arriving with cargo, to wait weather, or arriving for repairs.

Among other cargoes, the number of salt deliveries to the port (four) remained the same as in 2008, due to the harsh winter conditions generally expected in the Erie region. This was up from three in 2007 and two in 2006. Sand deliveries to Presque Isle for beach replenishment totaled three in 2009, up from two in 2007 and 2008, but down from four in 2006.

Biodiesel shipments from the port fell from seven in 2008 to only two this season. Likewise, miscellaneous cargoes (machinery, paper products, etc.) fell from three in 2008 to two in 2009.

The once-familiar black, silver and red bands of the stacks of American Steamship Company vessels became a rarer and rarer sight in the port of Erie in 2009, replaced by the Indian-headed grey and black funnels of Lower Lakes Towing and its affiliate Grand River Navigation, which logged 14 visits to the port in 2009. For the second year in a row Lower Lakes led the port in visits, having logged 13 visits in 2008, a total which narrowly nudged out American Steamship’s 12. American Steamship tied with K&K Integrated Shipping for second place in number of visits this year with only five.

K&K Integrated Shipping’s tug and barge VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER was the leading visitor to the port of Erie in 2009, with five visits. The KUBER’s five visits equal the total the vessel made to the port in 2006 as the steamer RESERVE, and are the most since its conversion to a barge in 2008. The CALUMET and MANISTEE tied for second place with four. In 2008, the CALUMET led the port with four visits. In 2006 and 2007 the leading visitor was the AMERICAN COURAGE with seven visits per year.

First time visitors to the port of Erie this year included the ROBERT S. PIERSON, SEDNA DESGAGNES, HARBOUR CLOUD, and CLIPPER LOYALTY. The next expected vessel traffic to the port will be the winter layup arrivals of the PRESQUE ISLE and EDGAR B. SPEER in mid-January.

Coming tomorrow: a look back at the top stories of 2009 and a look ahead to 2010.