EDGAR B. SPEER ARRIVES

Great Lakes Fleet's EDGAR B. SPEER arrived in Erie at 0830 this morning and entered port for winter layup. The SPEER proceeded past the PRESQUE ISLE and into Presque Isle Bay, where the vessel turned and backed into the Old Ore Dock. The SPEER's arrival drew a crowd about half of the size of the crowd on hand to see the PRESQUE ISLE on Thursday, with most of the crowd arriving to see the SPEER back through the icy slip at the Old Ore Dock.

This is the 1981-built SPEER's first-ever visit to the port of Erie. The SPEER, with its short unloading boom, can only unload at Gary, Indiana or Conneaut, where the vessel spent yesterday unloading. Unloading at other ports requires the SPEER to unload into another ship, something that it has done on a couple of occasions. Earlier this season the SPEER travelled to Nanticoke, Ontario where it unloaded into the CSL TADOUSSAC.

I will post video of both the SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE later tonight or tomorrow; editing the video always takes more time than I expect it to.

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EDGAR B. SPEER inbound.


Passing the lighthouse.


In the channel.


Stern view.


Passing the PRESQUE ISLE.


Turning into the bay.


Turning in the bay.


Overhead view approaching its winter berth.


Backing into the slip.


Alongside the dock.


SPEER pushes tons of ice backwards as it inches along the dock.


Nathan and David, budding boatwatchers, watch the SPEER.


Close to the layup dock.


Finished with engine.