BOOTHE SR. Out on Trials; SPEER, PRESQUE ISLE Depart

KEN BOOTHE SR. was out on sea trials on Monday and Tuesday. EDGAR B. SPEER finally departed Erie Wednesday at 1700, and cruised Lake Erie until Friday before finally receiving a destination. The vessel is now bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load ore. PRESQUE ISLE departed on Friday at 1700, bound for Duluth.

Below are photos of the week's activity.

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BOOTHE SR. inbound after sea trials on Monday, March 21.


Another view of the new tug.


Outbound for its second day of sea trials on Tuesday, March 22.


Another view as the tug clears the channel.


BOOTHE returns later in the day.


Inbound.


Passing the Coast Guard Station.


KEN BOOTHE SR. has engines capable of producing 10,700 horsepower.


Stern view.


Passing another tug-barge unit assembled in Erie.


Approaching the West Slip.


Into the dock.


The tug's articulated pins have been retracted for now.


Docking.


EDGAR B. SPEER outbound on March 23.


Passing the PRESQUE ISLE.


East winds blew lots of ice back into the channel the previous evening.


Close up of the SPEER.


Stern view.


Passing Erie Pierhead lighthouse.


Outbound.


PRESQUE ISLE departing Erie on Friday, March 25.


Another view.


Stern view.


Another view.


Clear of the channel ice.

PRESQUE ISLE to Depart Friday

PRESQUE ISLE's departure has moved to noon on Friday; however, the vessel may be later.

TWO VESSELS DUE TO DEPART; BOOTHE OUT ON SEA TRIALS

EDGAR B. SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE are both due to depart from Erie this afternoon or evening; the two thousand-footers will be escorted up Lake Erie by the Canadian Coast Guard ship SAMUEL RISLEY.

KEN BOOTHE SR. was out on sea trials both Monday and Tuesday; I will update with photos on Friday night or Saturday. Reportedly the BOOTHE has a crew from Donjon's New York City operation on board for the sea trials.

CALLAWAY Photos; BOOTHE Sea Trials to begin Monday;

KEN BOOTHE SR. is scheduled to begin sea trials in Presque Isle Bay on Monday morning. I will update if I find out more as to when the trials are supposed to begin.

Both PRESQUE ISLE and EDGAR B. SPEER are scheduled to depart Erie and begin the 2011 shipping season on Wednesday, March 23.

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Lowering the lifeboat.


Going down...


In the water.


Backing out of the slip Thursday afternoon.


Another view.


Passing the KEN BOOTHE SR.


Past the PRESQUE ISLE.


Outbound.


Close up.


Another view. Gene Polaski photo.



Stern view.


Next stop: Escanaba.

CALLAWAY DEPARTS; BOOTHE TO HEAD OUT MONDAY; SPEER, PRESQUE ISLE TO DEPART WEDNESDAY

CASON J. CALLAWAY departed upbound for Escanaba, Michigan on Thursday and arrived there today. NEAH BAY escorted the vessel across Lake Erie.

KEN BOOTHE SR. is scheduled to depart on sea trials on Monday.

Both EDGAR B. SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE are expected to depart winter layup on Wednesday.

CALLAWAY UPDATE

CASON J. CALLAWAY's departure time has changed to noon today. The CALLAWAY will be escorted up the lake by the NEAH BAY, which is now in port. CALLAWAY is bound for Escanaba, Michigan to load iron ore for Gary, Indiana at the time of her departure.

In other news, EDGAR B. SPEER should be leaving Sunday.

CALLAWAY SET TO DEPART

CASON J. CALLAWAY is currently expected to depart winter layup at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair on Thursday at 0730 hours.

Traffic on the Great Lakes Recently

Shipping activity has started again on the Great Lakes. Cleveland saw the ALGOCANADA arrive with diesel on March 2, being towed up the river by Great Lakes Towing's tugs IOWA and RHODE ISLAND. Meanwhile, the tug/barge DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER has been shuttling iron ore up the Cuyahoga River to Mittal Steel.

All photos were taken on March 2.

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ALGOCANADA under tow of the tug IOWA upbound on the Cuyahoga River, nearing what is known as Nautica Bend.


Another view.


ALGOCANADA was built in Turkey in 2009.


Close up of the IOWA.


Stern view.


The RHODE ISLAND is on the stern acting as a brake.


Stern view of the tow.


DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER backing down the river later that day.


Coming under the Hope Memorial Bridge.


Close up of the Z-drive tug DOROTHY ANN.


Bow view backing down and approaching Collision Bend.


Another view.