Monday, December 29, 2014

MANITOWOC Visits, Departs

MANITOWOC arrived in Erie at 0400 on Saturday to unload salt from Fairport Harbor. The ship docked at the Mountfort Terminal, unloaded, and was outbound at 1000 bound for Fairport Harbor to load another cargo of salt. After spending all day Sunday loading at Fairport, the ship unloaded in Ashtabula this morning and is currently upbound on Lake Erie.

Below are photos of PALMERTON's departure Friday and MANITOWOC's departure Saturday.

Lines being dropped from PALMERTON on Friday morning.


Departing the dock.


Another view.


PALMERTON heads into the bay to turn.


Turn completed, PALMERTON prepares to head outbound.


In line with the channel.


Another view of the 2009-built ship.


Close up.


Stern view.


Outbound.


Next stop: Montreal Section 96, and then on to the Port of Itaqui, Brazil.


MANITOWOC unloading Saturday morning.


Departing the dock.


MANITOWOC's propeller is working hard to move the ship away from the dock.


Heading into Presque Isle Bay.


Turning.


Outbound.


Close up.


Another view of the workhorse ship.


Watchman on the bow.


Outbound for Fairport Harbor.

Friday, December 26, 2014

PALMERTON Departs; MANITOWOC Due

PALMERTON departed Erie this morning at 0800 bound for Montreal and eventually for Brazil.

MANITOWOC, with salt from Fairport Harbor, is expected to arrive in Erie at around 0300.

Photos will follow tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

PALMERTON Arrives

PALMERTON arrived in Erie at 0830 on Tuesday to load locomotives. The 2009-built ship docked at the Mountfort Terminal and is expected to sail on Thursday afternoon bound for Brazil.

PALMERTON off of Beach 10, in ballast from Duluth, Minnesota.


Inbound at Buoys 3 & 4.


Another view.


The ship is under charter to BBC for this voyage.


Close up.


A wave from the deck.


Stern view.


Turning for the dock.


At dock.


This snowy owl has taken up residence on the peninsula.


The bird takes flight.

Monday, December 22, 2014

PALMERTON DUE TO LOAD LOCOMOTIVES

Heavy-lift ship PALMERTON is expected to arrive in Erie at around 0800 on Tuesday to load locomotives for Vale Mining in Brazil. This will be the latest saltwater ship to arrive in Erie.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

YANKEE DEPARTS

After slightly more than 14 months undergoing a refit at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair in Erie, YANKEE departed Erie at 1645 on Saturday bound for her new assignment on the ocean. The tug, owned by a partnership between Donjon Marine and Seacor, is reportedly going to work in the trade lanes between Florida and Puerto Rico. What sort of work that entails remains to be seen; however, the lack of a raised pilothouse after the refit indicates it likely won't be pushing barges, but rather towing. Her refit including repowering and refurbishment of the tug's accomodations.


YANKEE backing away from the West Slip this afternoon.


Turning.


Outbound for the channel.


Another view.


Side view. The 1977-built tug is now owned by Seajon II, LLC, a partnership between Donjon Marine and Seacor. Seajon LLC owns the KEN BOOTHE SR/LAKES CONTENDER.


The tug is without the large upper pilothouse it carried for most of it's career while it pushed oil barges.


Stern view.


Outbound.


YANKEE as she appeared on arrival in Erie on October 9, 2013.

PALMERTON DUE

Saltwater ship PALMERTON is expected in Erie, in ballast from Duluth, at 2200 on Monday to load locomotives.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

McKEE SONS Departs

After nearly two years in layup in Erie, McKEE SONS and tug INVINCIBLE slipped their mooring lines at 1520 on Tuesday afternoon and backed away from the West Slip, bound for Muskegon, Michigan. After being on charter from the McKee family to Grand River Navigation since 2000, GRN is returning McKEE SONS to her owners and terminating the charter when the vessel arrives in Muskegon, Michigan later this week. INVINCIBLE, owned by Grand River Navigation, will be taken to Sturgeon Bay for modifications and will eventually push the barge LEWIS J. KUBER, replacing tug OLIVE L. MOORE.



McKEE SONS at dock on Tuesday morning.


Linehandlers slip the last mooring line as McKEE SONS prepares to head outbound.


Backing away from the dock.


Another view. The barge's bow thruster was reported to not be working.


Turning.


Rounding the Mountfort Terminal in the rain. The locomotives on the dock are consigned to Vale Mining in Brazil.


Lining up for the channel.


Another view.


Between the piers.


Close up.


Tug INVINCIBLE provides the power.


Stern view.


Outbound.