Erie Shipping News

Saturday Activity Photos

2012-02-05T12:21:00.008-05:00

Tugs APALACHEE and MANITOU had a busy day yesterday, completing five tows between the CALUMET, MANITOWOC and ROBERT S. PIERSON.

APALACHEE and MANITOU began work at 0945 hours Saturday by moving the MANITOWOC from the North Face of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair and anchoring the vessel in Presque Isle Bay; this move was necessary to allow the ROBERT S. PIERSON to come out of drydock. At around 1130 hours the APALACHEE and MANITOU moved over to Donjon and pulled the PIERSON from drydock, anchoring the vessel in Presque Isle Bay for ballasting.

MANITOWOC was moved into drydock at around 1330 Saturday afternoon, where it will remain for about three weeks. CALUMET is the next vessel to be drydocked.

ROBERT S. PIERSON moved to the North Face of Donjon Shipbuilding, with an assist from the MANITOU, at 1645 before departing for Sarnia and winter layup at 1800. At around 2100 the two tugs moved the CALUMET over to the North Face of Donjon, where the MANITOWOC was docked. CALUMET will remain there until it trades places with MANITOWOC in about three weeks.

APALACHEE and MANITOU approach the MANITOWOC on Saturday morning.

Beginning the tow.

Pulling away from the dock.

Turning the MANITOWOC.

Moving into position to anchor the MANITOWOC.

APALACHEE has let the MANITOWOC go and is getting ready to head back to the drydock.

Turning.

MANITOU stands by the MANITOWOC.

At anchor with Lakeshore Towing's DON HENRY passing.

PIERSON, CLEVELAND ROCKS and EDGAR B. SPEER.

CALUMET with the LAKES CONTENDER.

Pulling ROBERT S. PIERSON out of drydock.

Another view.

With the MANITOWOC.

APALACHEE starts to turn the MANITOWOC.

Close up.

Turning.

MANITOU on the port bow of the MANITOWOC as they work past the PIERSON.

Overhead view.

Backing toward the shipyard.

Close up of the MANITOU.

Turning.

From left to right: PIERSON, MANITOWOC and CALUMET.

Backing toward Donjon's yard.

Overhead view.

Two young boatwatchers, David and Nathan, pose in front of CALUMET.

ROBERT S. PIERSON at anchor.

PIERSON approaching Donjon.

Docking.

ROBERT S. PIERSON departing for Sarnia.

PIERSON LEAVES; MANITOWOC PUT IN DRYDOCK

2012-02-04T19:46:00.002-05:00

ROBERT S. PIERSON has now departed Erie for Sarnia and the MANITOWOC is now in drydock. I will post photos and a full report in the morning.

CALUMET ARRIVES; PIERSON TO SAIL SATURDAY

2012-02-03T20:06:00.001-05:00

CALUMET arrived at 1600 today and docked next to the barge LAKES CONTENDER on the opposite side of the West Slip. In doing so, CALUMET becomes the first vessel to ever tie up at the Cruise Ship Terminal built in 2002.

Donjon will begin flooding the drydock at 0600 on Saturday to move the ROBERT S. PIERSON out. PIERSON will then depart for Sarnia and MANITOWOC will move into drydock with assistance from tugs APALACHEE and MANITOU.

CALUMET DUE; PIERSON DUE OUT

2012-02-02T18:55:00.002-05:00

CALUMET should arrive in Erie tomorrow morning around 1030. Saturday morning ROBERT S. PIERSON will come out of drydock and MANITOWOC will be placed in drydock.

Winter Layup Photos

2012-01-22T21:33:00.005-05:00

Below are photos of the ROBERT S. PIERSON arriving last Monday, the EDGAR B. SPEER last Wednesday, and Erie's layup fleet, taken today.

APALACHEE moves the CLEVELAND ROCKS last Monday.

ROBERT S. PIERSON inbound.

APALACHEE with the PIERSON.

PIERSON gets ready to start to turn to back into the drydock.

Waiting in the bay.

Bow on.

Starting to turn.

Turning.

APALACHEE pushing on the PIERSON.

Another view.

EDGAR B. SPEER inbound on Wednesday.

SPEER inbound.

Stern view inbound.

MANITOU approaching the bow of the SPEER.

Starting to turn.

MANITOU pushing on the SPEER.

Turning.

MANITOU stands by.

With the ROBERT S. PIERSON.

PIERSON in drydock. CLEVELAND ROCKS is behind her.

Backing into the dock.

MANITOWOC in layup. She will be the next drydocking.

MANITOWOC with the KEN BOOTHE SR.

MANITOWOC at the north face of the shipyard.

ROBERT S. PIERSON in drydock. Should be coming out within a couple of weeks.

EDGAR B. SPEER in layup.

SPEER with the APALACHEE.

J.S. St. JOHN, SPEER, PIERSON and MANITOWOC.

LAKES CONTENDER.

KEN BOOTHE SR..

VICTORIAN PRINCESS, another of Donjon's projects, in layup in the East Canal Basin.

PRESQUE ISLE DUE

2012-01-19T16:42:00.001-05:00

PRESQUE ISLE should be arriving within the next day for winter layup at the Mountfort Terminal. MANITOWOC is now docked across the north face of Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, and the CALUMET is due this weekend for layup.

MANITOWOC INBOUND

2012-01-18T21:31:00.001-05:00

MANITOWOC is now inbound Erie headed for the shipyard for winter layup.

SPEER ETA

2012-01-18T10:56:00.000-05:00

SPEER ETA 1200.

SPEER Getting Underway

2012-01-18T09:34:00.002-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER is currently getting underway from behind Long Point and should arrive sometime within the next three to five hours. MANITOWOC just went into Nanticoke to unload and should arrive tonight.

MANITOWOC, SPEER Due

2012-01-17T20:10:00.002-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER will be arriving Wednesday morning for the Old Ore Dock. Shortly thereafter, MANITOWOC will arrive for the North Pier to moor for several days. Once bits are installed for the MANITOWOC to tie up to, MANITOWOC will move to the West Slip. PRESQUE ISLE will arrive this weekend or early next week.

PIERSON, Barge CLEVELAND ROCKS in drydock

2012-01-16T19:03:00.001-05:00

ROBERT S. PIERSON is now in drydock ahead of the CLEVELAND ROCKS. PIERSON will be in drydock for two or three weeks before departing for Sarnia for layup.

PIERSON, ROCKS Drydocked; MANITOWOC Due

2012-01-16T14:26:00.003-05:00

MANITOWOC should arrive on Wednesday morning for winter layup; ROBERT S. PIERSON and CLEVELAND ROCKS were both drydocked today.

Photos and a more detailed account will follow.

PIERSON ANCHORS; WILL ARRIvE MONDAY

2012-01-15T20:09:00.003-05:00

ROBERT S. PIERSON went to anchor outside Buoys 1 & 2 this afternoon and will not arrive in Erie until tomorrow morning. Donjon will begin flooding the drydock at 0500, the gate will be moved at around 0900 and then the tugs APALACHEE and MANITOU will move the CLEVELAND ROCKS into drydock. The PIERSON will then enter the piers and go stern-first into drydock ahead of the ROCKS.

APALACHEE and MANITOU will remain in Erie the winter to move vessels at the yard. Apparently, CLEVELAND ROCKS will be moved four times this winter to make room for vessels coming to the yard while she is modified to fit her new articulated tug, BRADSHAW MCKEE, which will arrive in Erie to pick up the barge in the spring.

Ironically, CLEVELAND ROCKS is the second barge that has been modified at the shipyard facility in Erie for the BRADSHAW MCKEE. As SUSAN W. HANNAH, the tug's barge MEDUSA CONQUEST was modified at Erie Marine Industries in 1992; that job was botched and ended with Medusa Cement taking the barge to Bay Shipbuilding and suing Erie Marine. This job will no doubt end better.

SPEER DUE

2012-01-15T12:20:00.001-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER will be arriving for layup sometime on Tuesday. The SPEER is due in Conneaut at 2000 on Monday night to unload ore and will proceed to Erie afterwards.

ROBERT S. PIERSON DUE

2012-01-15T08:14:00.001-05:00

ROBERT S. PIERSON is due Erie at 1400 today. PIERSON will be drydocked Monday.

LAKES CONTENDER FLOATED!

2012-01-08T16:54:00.004-05:00

LAKES CONTENDER, after delays due to weather, was winched stern first in the drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair beginning at 0900 this morning. Around that time the MANITOU moved the tug KEN BOOTHE SR. to the east side of the shipyard in preparation for the move of the LAKES CONTENDER.

At around noon, MANITOU took a stern wire from the barge and began to slowly pull the LAKES CONTENDER from the drydock. After the barge was most of the way out of the drydock, APALACHEE backed into position and took a wire from the bow. The APALACHEE pulled the bow west and the tugs started to move the new barge into the West Slip.

Unfortunately, the move did not go without incident. While inbound the West Slip the barge got away from the tugs and scraped the west pier by the cruise terminal in front of about thirty onlookers, leaving several scrapes on the paint of the barge.

Once the LAKES CONTENDER was secured at 1430 this afternoon the BOOTHE SR. was moved back to the West Slip and moored behind her barge. The drydock gate was then moved into place and the drydock will be pumped out, and the blocks will be reset for next week's arrival of the ROBERT S. PIERSON for drydocking.

When completed in the spring, the KEN BOOTHE SR./LAKES CONTENDER are expected to enter service under a bareboat charter to American Steamship Company.

APALACHEE and MANITOU at dock on Friday.

MANITOU pushes the CLEVELAND ROCKS.

Turning to approach the east side of Donjon.

APALACHEE prepares to grab a line.

Into the Old Ore Dock.

1943-built APALACHEE working the CLEVELAND ROCKS.

MANITOU and the BOOTHE on the east side of the shipyard.

Overhead view.

MANITOU approaches the drydock.

Working the lines on the LAKES CONTENDER.

Approaching the West Slip with the new barge.

APALACHEE works hard.

Straightening out.

Getting ready to approach the West Slip.

Inbound the West Slip.

Close up of the LAKES CONTENDER.

APALACHEE poses nicely.

Stern view of the APALACHEE.

LAKES CONTENDER is within three feet of me as it comes near the west side bulkhead.

Scrapes on the new paint.

Bouncing off.

APALACHEE working to straighten the LAKES CONTENDER.

Working to dock the barge.

Another view.

MANITOU moves the drydock gate this afternoon.

BOOTHE SR. and her barge in the late afternoon sunlight.

The barge is 740 feet long and capable of carrying 38,000 tons of cargo.

LAKES CONTENDER in the late afternoon sun.

LAKES CONTENDER TO MOVE SUNDAY

2012-01-07T19:32:00.004-05:00

After weather delays, the moves of the tug KEN BOOTHE SR. and barge LAKES CONTENDER will happen Sunday morning.

BOOTHE SR. will be moved to the east side of Donjon in order to allow the LAKES CONTENDER to move to the West Slip. BOOTHE SR. will then be returned to the West Slip and the drydock gate will be floated back into place in order to pump out the drydock and set the blocks for next week's arrival of the CALUMET.

The following vessels, in addition to the BOOTHE/LAKES CONTENDER, will be spending the winter in Erie:

PRESQUE ISLE
EDGAR B. SPEER
CALUMET
MANITOWOC
ROBERT S. PIERSON

CALUMET, MANITOWOC and PIERSON are all due to be drydocked here.

LAKES CONTENDER TO BE FLOATED SATURDAY

2012-01-06T17:25:00.003-05:00

Saturday morning, tugs MANITOU and APALACHEE are scheduled to float the new barge LAKES CONTENDER from the drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair into the West Slip. Today, the tugs moved CLEVELAND ROCKS from the West Slip to the east side of Donjon's facility.

I will post photos from today, as well as the first photos of the new barge, in the morning.

CALUMET in Port

2011-12-27T09:45:00.000-05:00

CALUMET is currently in port, unloading salt from Fairport Harbor at the Mountfort Terminal.

TUG OHIO DUE

2011-12-09T12:16:00.002-05:00

Great Lakes Towing's tug OHIO, light tug, will be arriving in Erie at 2130 tonight to pick up the barge WITTE 1407. WITTE 1407 will be taken to Buffalo to load cargo for Toledo and then brought back to Erie.

Meanwhile, ATLANTIC SALVOR is scheduled to come out of drydock tomorrow.

BBC COLORADO UPDATE

2011-12-01T19:26:00.002-05:00

BBC COLORADO is now expected at 1245 on Friday.

BBC COLORADO DUE TO LOAD LOCOMOTIVES

2011-12-01T03:02:00.001-05:00

BBC COLORADO is expected in Erie at 1600 on Friday to load Freightliner locomotives for Englad. I will post an update on the vessel's arrival time tomorrow.

BIG WINTER NEWS FOR DONJON

2011-11-23T09:55:00.002-05:00

I've been informed that Donjon Shipbuilding has a busy winter ahead. Donjon will be drydocking three Grand River Navigation and Lower Lakes Towing vessels, beginning with the ROBERT S. PIERSON, which will then head out of port after being drydocked in early January. The MANITOWOC will follow the PIERSON and will remain in Erie all winter. The CALUMET will be the third vessel to be drydocked and may spend the winter in Erie, or may head to Sarnia for the rest of the layup depending on ice conditions.

I've also been informed that the barge CLEVELAND ROCKS will spend the winter in Erie undergoing a million-dollar dockside reconstruction.

AMERICAN COURAGE DUE

2011-11-11T14:25:00.000-05:00

AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Calcite, is due in Erie at 2330 tonight.

AMERICAN COURAGE DUE

2011-10-31T04:00:00.000-04:00

AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Calcite, is expected in Erie at 0930 on Tuesday.

ROBERT S. PIERSON ARRIVES

2011-10-28T12:55:00.000-04:00

ROBERT S. PIERSON just arrived at the North Pier with sand from Thessalon. The vessel should be out later today.

SALVOR, FARRELL 256 Drydocking Photos

2011-10-16T17:54:00.003-04:00

ATLANTIC SALVOR and barge FARRELL 256 were drydocked last Saturday. However, due to problems blocking for the tug, SALVOR did not go into drydock until Monday. The duo is expected to remain in drydock until early December.

ATLANTIC SALVOR's tire fendering was cut off Friday afternoon, October 7.

Moving the FARRELL 256 into drydock on Saturday afternoon.

Another view.

SALVOR turns after dropping the barge in drydock.

Backing into the graving dock.

SALVOR, FARRELL and the new barge SEAJON ENTERPRISE in the graving dock Saturday evening.

ATLANTIC SALVOR.

Another view of the large globetrotting tug.

Close up.

With the setting sun.

Docked in the West Slip Monday awaiting the correct positioning of the blocks.

Another view.

ATLANTIC SALVOR's tire fendering was cut off Friday afternoon.

KEN BOOTHE SR. awaits the completion of its new barge in the West Slip.

Close up.

Stern view.

ATLANTIC SALVOR, FARREL 256 TO BE DRYDOCKED SATURDAY MORNING

2011-10-07T21:07:00.002-04:00

ATLANTIC SALVOR and FARRELL 256 are to be drydocked at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair on Saturday morning and will remain in the drydock about a month.

I will post photos of the duo's arrival and the week's activity sometime tomorrow.

H. LEE WHITE DUE

2011-10-05T08:43:00.000-04:00

H. LEE WHITE, with stone from Calcite, is expected in Erie at 1400.

ATLANTIC SALVOR, FARREL 256 DUE

2011-10-04T08:41:00.000-04:00

ATLANTIC SALVOR and barge FARRELL 256 are due at 1600 today.

ATLANTIC SALVOR, Barge FARREL 256 Due; NIAGARA Drydocked in Cleveland

2011-10-01T16:10:00.004-04:00

ATLANTIC SALVOR and crane barge FARREL 256 are currently weatherbound at Cape Vincent on the east end of Lake Ontario. The duo should be arriving Erie by afternoon on Monday.

U.S. Brig NIAGARA arrived at The Great Lakes Towing Company in Cleveland for drydocking on Monday and is expected to remain there most of this week. Below are photos of its arrival and drydocking.

NIAGARA arrives at Great Lakes Towing Company's Great Lakes Shipyard division on Monday, led by its tender.

Another view.

Close up of the NIAGARA.

NIAGARA's captain, Wes Heerrssen, supervises the docking operation.

Dockside on Tuesday.

Another view with Great Lakes Shipyard's offices and fabrication shop in the background. This photo, the one below, and the one above were taken from G Tug IOWA.

Stern view.

Drydock FAVORITE is flooded on Wednesday morning.

NIAGARA eases off the dock.

Stern view.

The vessel's tender is used to maneuver into the drydock .

The NIAGARA is almost into position for lifting to begin.

Starting to pump out the drydock and "lift" the NIAGARA.

High and dry.

Bow view.

DONJON BRINGING TUG AND BARGE FOR DRYDOCKING

2011-09-23T09:41:00.001-04:00

Donjon Marine is bringing tug ATLANTIC SALVOR and a crane barge from their New York operation to Erie. The tug and barge are due in Erie on October 3 and will be entering the drydock at Donjon's subsidiary Donjon Shipbuilding for repairs.

PETITE FORTE in Port; H. LEE WHITE DUE

2011-09-20T13:09:00.001-04:00

PETITE FORTE/ST. MARY'S CEMENT arrived in Erie yesterday afternoon at 1500 to wait weather. The duo, on its way to Cleveland with cement from Bowmanville, Ontario, is docked at the Mountfort Terminal.

H. LEE WHITE, laden with stone, is expected in Erie at 1900 this evening.

SAM LAUD DUE

2011-09-14T08:28:00.000-04:00

SAM LAUD, with stone from Calcite, is expected in Erie at 0500 on Thursday.

SAM LAUD DUE

2011-09-08T08:14:00.000-04:00

SAM LAUD, with stone from Cedarville, is expected in Erie at 2330 tonight.

AMERICAN COURAGE DUE

2011-08-31T08:33:00.001-04:00

AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Calcite, is expected in Erie at 1830 this evening.

AMERICAN COURAGE, CALUMET Visit

2011-08-20T21:36:00.002-04:00

AMERICAN COURAGE arrived in Erie this morning at 0230 and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to unload part of a cargo, before shifting over and finishing at the Old Ore Dock. COURAGE departed at 1000.

CALUMET arrived in Erie this afternoon at 1600, with its hatches overfilled with salt from Fairport Harbor. The CALUMET docked at the Mountfort Terminal to unload.

AMERICAN COURAGE turning off the Mountfort Terminal.

Outbound.

Closer view of the newly painted COURAGE.

Stern view.

CALUMET inbound. Notice the blue salt piled high on the deck.

Swinging the boom out before reaching the dock.

Docking.

The first few tons come off the boom. When finished the CALUMET is scheduled for Cleveland to load salt at Cargill.

AMERICAN COURAGE

2011-08-19T10:36:00.001-04:00

AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Calcite, is expected in Erie at 0230 on Saturday morning.

AMERICAN COURAGE DUE

2011-07-30T22:27:00.000-04:00

AMERICAN COURAGE, with stone from Calcite, is expected in Erie at 0830 Sunday.

CUYAHOGA DUE

2011-07-18T09:33:00.001-04:00

CUYAHOGA, with sand from Thessalon, is due in Erie at 1615 this afternoon.

DREDGING ON PRESQUE ISLE BAY

2011-07-15T21:13:00.005-04:00

Dredging work began on July 6 in Erie harbor and is expected to continue through the 15th of August. Below are photos taken on July 13.

I will be posting more photos of recent Erie activity sometime this weekend.

Luedtke's ANN-MARIE pulling an empty scow inbound.

Close up.

Stern view.

Dredging in the bay.

KRISTA S, recently acquired by Luedtke from Calumet River Fleeting in South Chicago, stands by the dredging operation.

Another view.

DREDGING ON PRESQUE ISLE BAY

2011-07-15T21:13:00.001-04:00

Photo caption.

DREDGING ON PRESQUE ISLE BAY

2011-07-15T21:13:00.000-04:00

Photo caption.

BOLAND DUE

2011-07-12T13:49:00.001-04:00

JOHN J. BOLAND, laden with stone, is expected in Erie at noon on Wednesday.

MISSISSAGI Due

2011-07-09T16:08:00.000-04:00

MISSISSAGI, with sand from Thessalon for beach replenishment, is expected in Erie at around 1000 on Sunday.

DREDGE EQUIPMENT ARRIVES

2011-07-05T15:05:00.001-04:00

Luedtke tugs KRISTA S. and ANN MARIE are currently moored at the Old Ore Dock with dredge equipment anchored in the harbor. Harbor dredging is expected to begin any day.

I will be posting photos of recent activity in Erie sometime this week.

AMERICAN COURAGE, KUBER DUE!

2011-07-01T13:13:00.001-04:00

AMERICAN COURAGE, loaded with stone, is expected in Erie at 2115 tonight. VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, also with stone are due at 0030.

PRESQUE ISLE UPDATED ETA

2011-06-30T12:41:00.000-04:00

PRESQUE ISLE is expected to arrive Erie at 1500 today.

PRESQUE ISLE EXPECTED BACK

2011-06-30T08:21:00.000-04:00

Tug PRESQUE ISLE is due in Erie at 1830 tonight to mate with its barge. I will update throughout the day.

MISSISSAGI DUE WITH SAND

2011-06-17T12:30:00.003-04:00

MISSISSAGI, with sand from Thessalon, is due in Erie at 1130 on Saturday morning.

VICTORY, PRESQUE ISLE ARRIVE

2011-06-08T14:58:00.002-04:00

Tug VICTORY and JAMES L. KUBER arrived at 0530 this morning and docked at the Mountfort Terminal. The duo unloaded there for two hours, delaying the PRESQUE ISLE's arrival. PRESQUE ISLE arrived at 0730 after the KUBER moved to the Old Ore Dock, turned in the basin and docked at the Mountfort Terminal.

PRESQUE ISLE is in the process of detatching from its barge and heading down to Port Weller Dry Dock for its five-year survey. The tug should be departing around 1700 today.

VICTORY/KUBER, PRESQUE ISLE

2011-06-07T09:25:00.001-04:00

VICTORY/barge JAMES L. KUBER are expected in Erie with the first stone cargo in over a month when they arrive at 0400 Wednesday with stone from Calcite.

PRESQUE ISLE is currently unloading in Detroit and expected in Erie Wednesday for repairs.

LUEDTKE TO BEGIN HARBOR DREDGING

2011-06-04T14:17:00.004-04:00

Luedtke Engineering Company will begin harbor dredging on June 20 with the tug ANN MARIE and a dredge. The dredging work in the channel is expected to last about two months.

Tug ANN MARIE is 71 feet long and was built in 1980. Last winter, it sank on the Saginaw River, where it had been working on another dredging project. For more on that, see Saginaw River Images.

Dredging was made necessary due to shoaling that last year prevented the CLIPPER LOYALTY from loading biodiesel here.

Updates

2011-05-20T11:17:00.001-04:00

I will be posting another update this weekend. Sorry for the delay.

VICTORY/KUBER Arrive

2011-04-24T20:48:00.002-04:00

VICTORY and barge JAMES L. KUBER arrived in Erie at 1630 today and docked at the Mountfort Terminal. The KUBER is unloading stone from Calcite on its second visit of the year.

Last year, the season's first vessel did not arrive until the KUBER visited the port on May 1. The KUBER has already been to Erie twice and the SAM LAUD once in 2011.

VICTORY/KUBER inbound.

Another view.

VICTORY.

Stern view.

Another view as the KUBER docks at the Mountfort Terminal.

KUBER ETA Update

2011-04-24T13:47:00.000-04:00

VICTORY/JAMES L KUBER are now expected at around 1530 this afternoon.

KUBER, LAUD Photos; KUBER DUE

2011-04-23T18:35:00.002-04:00

Below are photos of the VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER arriving last Saturday, and the SAM LAUD arriving on Wednesday. SAM LAUD departed at noon on Thursday, bound for Cleveland to shuttle ore up the Cuyahoga River to ArcelorMittal.

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, with stone from Calcite, are expected in Erie at 1430 on Easter Sunday.

JAMES L. KUBER/VICTORY inbound.

Another view.

Stern view. The only change in the vessel is the colors of the stacks, which have had the KK painted out and a red stripe of Grand River Navigation.

SAM LAUD inbound.

Another view on a windy Wednesday.

Stern view.

BIG TONY inbound following the LAUD.

LAUD ARRIVES

2011-04-21T07:29:00.001-04:00

SAM LAUD arrived in Erie at 1030 yesterday morning and moored at the Mountfort Terminal. Due to high winds at the time the vessel did not start unloading until late last night, and is currently finishing its unload at the Old Ore Dock. The LAUD will be departing sometime this morning.

SAM LAUD DUE

2011-04-19T13:25:00.001-04:00

SAM LAUD, with stone from Calcite, is expected in Erie at 1000 on Wednesday.

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER Due

2011-04-15T07:24:00.000-04:00

Tug VICTORY and barge JAMES L. KUBER, on their first trip for new owner Grand River Navigation, are expected in Erie at around 2230 tonight with stone from Calcite, Michigan.

Updates

2011-04-12T13:19:00.001-04:00

Expect another update tomorrow morning. I apologize for the lack of recent updates.

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

2011-03-27T18:27:00.003-04:00

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.

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

2011-03-24T13:33:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-23T16:44:00.002-04:00

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;

2011-03-20T14:27:00.004-04:00

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.

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

2011-03-19T19:47:00.002-04:00

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

2011-03-17T07:39:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-16T08:06:00.001-04:00

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

2011-03-12T16:57:00.003-05:00

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.

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.

Lack of Posts

2011-03-10T08:03:00.001-05:00

Apologies for the lack of updates on this blog since mid-February; I will have another update today or tomorrow.

Kuber Barges sold to Lower Lakes Transportation

2011-02-14T19:08:00.003-05:00

Frequent Erie visitor VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, and the unit's fleetmate, OLIVE L. MOORE/LEWIS J. KUBER, have been sold to Lower Lakes Transportation in a $40 million dollar transaction. This means that the next time the duo visits Erie they will sport the familiar gray of the Grand River Navigation fleet of vessels.

This also means that frequent Erie visitor MAUMEE is probably headed for the scrapyard; however, that remains to be seen.

GE 70012 Damage Photos; Erie Shipping News Photo Use Policy

2011-02-04T19:19:00.006-05:00

Two photos of the GE Class 70 Freightliner 70012, damaged in a fall on the BELUGA ENDURANCE last month, can be found on the law offices of Countryman and McDaniel's website. Note that you have to scroll through several of my uncredited photos to find the photos.

This is the second site other than my own upon which I have found photos of the BELUGA ENDURANCE and the GE Class 70 locomotives. This has led me to write the following photo use policy:

You are allowed to use any of my photos for personal use or internet display as long as credit is attributed to Jeff Thoreson. Any publication display requires prior written permission which may be obtained via email.

I write the Erie Shipping News as a labor of love; I have never received any monetary compensation for my writings or my photograph, nor do I have any desire to do so. I do this because I love to do it and it is quite disheartening to see other sites take credit for my work.

GE Class 70 Locomotives in service in the UK

2011-02-03T15:57:00.002-05:00

The new Freightliner GE Class 70 locomotives shipped out of Erie on the BELUGA ENDURANCE in December have gone into service. A photo of 70011 in service, hauling a coal train, can be found online here. The fantastic photo at that Fotopic.net link is by Martin Turner.

Winter Layup Update

2011-01-24T18:13:00.002-05:00

Winter work has begun in earnest on the CASON J. CALLAWAY, EDGAR B. SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE. Tomorrow, Lakeshore Towing Services will sink the cofferdam for the PRESQUE ISLE and position it under the vessel; this was scheduled to be done today but was called off due to cold temperatures.

Work continues on the KEN BOOTHE SR. and today two exhaust funnels were added to the stack to direct engine exhaust and keep it from shooting straight up onto the back of the pilot house, as it has been over the past several weeks.

CALLAWAY at dock on Sunday afternoon.

Another view.

Stern view.

KEN BOOTHE SR. behind the CALLAWAY at Donjon.

Another view.

With the CALLAWAY.

Close up.

Straight on.

Another view of the 10,500 horsepower tug.

EDGAR B. SPEER at the Old Ore Dock.

Another view.

The SPEER, built in 1980, is one of the newest carriers on the Great Lakes.

105 feet wide.

Thursday Videos - CASON J. CALLAWAY, tug MANITOU

2011-01-21T20:16:00.002-05:00

Below are three videos of activity in Erie harbor yesterday. The first two are the CASON J. CALLAWAY's arrival, and the third is the movement of the KEN BOOTHE SR. I will post video from Wednesday's arrival of the PRESQUE ISLE and the move of the KEN BOOTHE SR. on Wednesday during the day tomorrow.

CASON J. CALLAWAY Arrives; BOOTHE SR. Moved Again

2011-01-20T15:40:00.004-05:00

CASON J. CALLAWAY arrived this morning from Detroit at 0745 and proceeded inbound, docking at the West Slip with assistance from the tug MANITOU.

CALLAWAY reported encountering little ice east of Pelee Passage until the vessel got outside of Erie. The 1953-built steamer is the first ship to use the West Slip since the PINEGLEN docked there overnight in July 2008.

By 0838 the CALLAWAY was secured at the dock and the tug MANITOU moved the KEN BOOTHE SR. back around the corner of the dock. The BOOTHE SR. is now docked directly behind the CALLAWAY.

MANITOU then proceeded outbound and broke ice near the PRESQUE ISLE to allow for installation of the cofferdam underneath the starboard side of the ship, possibly as soon as tomorrow. MANITOU departed at 0950 bound for Ashtabula, where it will assist the tug INVINCIBLE and barge McKEE SONS as that unit loads a coal cargo for Trenton, Michigan.

I am having problems getting the video from yesterday and today to upload and will post it once I am able.

CASON J CALLAWAY inbound.

Another view of the 767-foot long steamer.

Close up.

Breaking the ice that is well-broken already, having been opened by the SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE.

Into Presque Isle Bay.

Stern view.

Passing the PRESQUE ISLE.

Turning for the West Slip.

Manitou heads out to break ice around the CALLAWAY's starboard side.

Coming around the CALLAWAY.

CALLAWAY and MANITOU approach the dock.

Approaching the dock.

All secured.

MANITOU and KEN BOOTHE SR. begin to move around the corner.

Moving.

Around the corner.

Into position.

MANITOU holding the BOOTHE to the dock so the yard's crew can secure the tug.

MANITOU breaking ice around the PRESQUE ISLE.

Turning for another pass.

Heading out of the harbor.

MANITOU outbound.

Stern view.

CALLAWAY ETA: 0800

2011-01-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

CASON J. CALLAWAY is currently about 10 miles northwest of Erie and is expected at the piers at 0800, headed to Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair for winter layup.

PRESQUE ISLE ARRIVES; CALLAWAY EXPECTED AT 0800

2011-01-19T20:49:00.004-05:00

PRESQUE ISLE arrived at 1730 this afternoon and docked at the Mountfort Terminal, with assistance from tug MANITOU, for winter layup.

CASON J. CALLAWAY is due at 0800 for layup at Donjon Shipbuilding. The MANITOU moved the tug KEN BOOTHE SR. to the north face of Donjon's yard at 1630 this afternoon. No word on whether or not the BOOTHE will be returned to her original position once the CALLAWAY arrives.

Once the CALLAWAY is docked the MANITOU will be departing Erie to return to Michigan.

I will post video tomorrow.

MANITOU moving the KEN BOOTHE SR.

MANITOU backs away from the BOOTHE.

Turning.

Pushing the stern against the dock.

And now pushing the bow.

Quickly motoring into the West Slip to break ice for the CALLAWAY.

Another view.

Returning to Presque Isle Bay to make another pass.

Stern view.

Back into the West Slip.

Coming up the slip.

MANITOU is 110 feet long, and a former Coast Guard icebreaking tug built in 1943.

Returning to the slip to moor to await the PRESQUE ISLE.

PRESQUE ISLE inbound.

Another view.

Passing the lighthouse.

Close up.

Docking.

EDGAR B. SPEER at dock.

PRESQUE ISLE Update

2011-01-19T12:28:00.004-05:00

PRESQUE ISLE is currently off of Conneaut making 12.7 knots, which would put the ship off of Erie at 1430. The vessel will likely head in at that time.

CASON J. CALLAWAY is now departing Detroit and will probably be in Erie late tonight or possibly tomorrow morning.

Stay tuned for updates.

PRESQUE ISLE Update

2011-01-19T07:23:00.000-05:00

PRESQUE ISLE is currently expected in Erie at around 1400.

CASON J. CALLAWAY is unloading in Detroit and expected out at around 1300 today. This will put the vessel in Erie late tonight or early tomorrow for layup.

EDGAR B. SPEER in Port; PRESQUE ISLE Due

2011-01-18T13:35:00.007-05:00

PRESQUE ISLE is expected out of Detroit at 2130 this evening, and due in Erie at 0930 Wednesday, ice permitting.

EDGAR B. SPEER arrived in Erie about 33 hours later than originally expected when it arrived in Erie at 2100 on Monday.

Tug MANITOU arrived at 1850 Monday evening and opened the channel for the SPEER. The MANITOU waited in the harbor as the SPEER attempted to enter about an hour later, but at 2030 hours the SPEER requested that the MANITOU leave the harbor and escort the SPEER in. At that time the SPEER's captain requested that MANITOU open up the ice on the vessel's port quarter, describing the ice field as "real sticky." MANITOU opened that water up, and the SPEER reported at 2050 that the port side had moved a little, and they hoped to get the 1004' long vessel lined up for the channel completely by hitting the harder ice they were approaching. The SPEER's captain requested that the MANITOU not get too far ahead of him in case he got stuck again.

At 2111 hours the MANITOU told the SPEER that he was prepared to leave Erie and head up the lake to meet up with the CASON J. CALLAWAY, which the MANITOU was to escort into Sandusky, Ohio to finish loading a coal cargo started in Ashtabula. The SPEER's captain asked the MANITOU to wait, however, until he got in and turned around. The MANITOU later offered assistance to the SPEER in turning, and began to turn the SPEER at 2145 hours. By 2156 the SPEER told the MANITOU to stop pushing, and he began to back into the slip. At 2205 the SPEER released the MANITOU, telling the tug's captain that he'd possibly see them in the spring; the MANITOU departed and the SPEER was all secure at the Old Ore DOck by 2330.

The SPEER is the first of three vessels to arrive in Erie for winter layup. Expected Wednesday is the PRESQUE ISLE, which is currently at Detroit's Ecorse U.S. Steel plant to unload iron ore before proceeding to Erie, where it is expected to arrive Wednesday. PRESQUE ISLE, as usual, will be docking at the Mountfort Terminal. Also expected Wednesday or Thursday is the CASON J. CALLAWAY, going to the West Slip. CALLAWAY is currently loading in Sandusky and due in Detroit tomorrow to unload before heading to Erie.

Work continues on the KEN BOOTHE SR. at the West Slip. The tug's radar mast is now up. I have also been informed that Donjon's newsletter was a misprint and the barge SEAJON ENTERPRISE will, in fact, be 740 feet long.

Tug KEN BOOTHE SR at dock on Wednesday.

Close up of the pilothouse.

WITTE 1407 and the PRESQUE ISLE's cofferdam at the Mountfort Terminal.

MANITOU inbound.

Breaking ice at the Old Ore Dock.

Stern view.

Breaking ice.

Pushing on the SPEER.

Another view.

SPEER at dock, with ballast pumped out already, on Thursday.

Another view.

With the WITTE 1406 in the crowded slip.

SEAJON ENTERPRISE under construction at Donjon.

KEN BOOTHE SR. at dock. Note that the plastic coverings on the windows have been removed.

Close up of the elevated pilothouse.

EDGAR B. SPEER ARRIVES

2011-01-17T22:38:00.001-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER arrived in port at 2100 hours today, turning in the harbor with assistance from the tug MANITOU and backing into the Old Ore Dock. The vessel went to the foot of Parade Street, not Holland Street as the local media had been reporting.

I will post a full report, with photos and video, sometime tomorrow.

SPEER Arrival Update

2011-01-17T17:25:00.000-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER should be arriving at 2000 this evening.

PRESQUE ISLE is currently due at 2000 on Wednesday.

EDGAR B. SPEER - CLEAR OF CONNEAUT

2011-01-17T09:51:00.001-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER has just cleared Conneaut piers and should arrive Erie sometime around noon today.

Stay tuned to Erie Shipping News for updates.

SPEER Remains in Conneaut

2011-01-17T05:59:00.003-05:00

At this hour EDGAR B. SPEER remains in Conneaut, with an estimated time of departure of sometime around 0900. Ice and weather permitting this puts the SPEER's arrival in Erie at sometime between 1100 and 1200 today.

As always, stay tuned to Erie Shipping News for updates.

SPEER Update

2011-01-16T20:39:00.001-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER is currently unloading in Conneaut and is expected out sometime during the morning hours. SPEER should arrive in Erie after daylight on Monday morning.

I will update when I learn the vessel's arrival time. Please check back.

MANITOU ARRIVES IN CONNEAUT

2011-01-16T15:59:00.004-05:00

MANITOU entered Conneaut harbor at 1524 today and is currently working on docking the SPEER. Assuming the SPEER begins to unload at 1700 today, and unloads for twelve hours, that should put the SPEER in Erie sometime after daylight tomorrow, possibly after 0800. No word yet on whether the MANITOU will return to Erie tonight or wait and return with the SPEER tomorrow. There is also no word as to whether the MANITOU will stay in Erie after the SPEER arrives or take off for Sandusky and Ashtabula to assist the CASON J. CALLAWAY; however, with ice on Lake Erie being extremely heavy due to several weeks of sub-freezing temperatures, it's likely the MANITOU will depart and return later this week with the PRESQUE ISLE and CALLAWAY.

MANITOU had arrived in Erie at 1500 yesterday and broke open the ice in the harbor, which will - in theory, as ice has a mind of its own - allow the SPEER to turn and back in to the Old Ore Dock. The MANITOU's presence will allow for the SPEER to back in, as compared to two years ago, when the ROGER BLOUGH was forced to pull into the Old Ore Dock after receiving inadequate ice breaking from the USCGC NEAH BAY. Since then Great Lakes Fleet has preferred to pay the bill for the private icebreaking services of Malcolm Marine.

Please check back on Erie Shipping News, or, as I wrote in a post below, check out our Twitter page. Both will be updated as the news happens and will allow viewers to see the SPEER's arrival.

SPEER in Conneaut

2011-01-16T13:24:00.002-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER has just turned around and is now backing into Conneaut. MANITOU has just departed Erie bound for Conneaut to assist the SPEER, but may turn back if the SPEER gets into the dock at Conneaut without any trouble.

SPEER, meanwhile, should be arriving Erie tomorrow morning.

Be sure and check Erie Shipping News throughout the day, or visit us on Twitter for up-to-date information.

SPEER, PRESQUE ISLE Update

2011-01-16T11:28:00.002-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER is reportedly due in Erie at 0600 tomorrow; this will likely be later as it is doubtful that the ship's crew will want to deal with the ice in the dark. This is the same scenario that prevented the ship from entering Conneaut last night and arriving in Erie today.

PRESQUE ISLE, meanwhile, is currently expected in Erie at 0900 on Wednesday.

CASON J. CALLAWAY is unloading at Ecorse, Michigan at this time and is next scheduled to Sandusky and Ashtabula to load a coal cargo for Ecorse before laying up in Erie, likely on the 19th or 20th.

Turn to Erie Shipping News for the most accurate, up-to-the-minute updates on the positions of the SPEER, PRESQUE ISLE and CALLAWAY.

EDGAR B. SPEER - Currently inbound Conneaut

2011-01-16T11:08:00.001-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER is currently inbound Conneaut at this time to unload; the SPEER has had to back and ram the ice in Conneaut harbor as it pulls into the dock to unload. This means a 14 to 18 hour unload for the SPEER, which will likely arrive Erie sometime tomorrow morning.

SPEER Update

2011-01-16T07:56:00.001-05:00

According to reports from Conneaut the EDGAR B. SPEER never went into that port last night, after spending the night at anchor. The vessel is expected to go in and unload today, meaning it will not be arriving in Erie at noon today. I will update when I learn more.

EDGAR B. SPEER Due

2011-01-15T15:30:00.000-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER is due in Conneaut at 1800 this evening, and is still expected in Erie at noon tomorrow. I will update this blog with any changes as I become aware of them; please check back.

SPEER Update

2011-01-14T19:39:00.000-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER is currently due in Conneaut at 1800 hours on Saturday, and is still expected in Erie (likely with icebreaker escort) Sunday at noon.

SPEER, CALLAWAY, PRESQUE ISLE UPDATE

2011-01-13T17:18:00.003-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER is due in Conneaut on the 15th at 1800 to unload 52,000 tons of taconite pellets, and is expected in Erie at noon on Sunday for layup.

CASON J. CALLAWAY is due in Ecorse, Michigan on the 15th to unload and will run several coal shuttles across Lake Erie before laying up.

PRESQUE ISLE, meanwhile, is due in Ecorse to unload on the 17th at 1900, dock and weather conditions permitting, and then will proceed to Erie the next day for layup.

Ice Advisory from Friday through January 19

2011-01-12T21:10:00.003-05:00

Erie Western-Pennsylvania Port Authority has issued an ice warning for Presque Isle Bay extending from Friday through January 19, due to the impending arrival of EDGAR B. SPEER, CASON J. CALLAWAY and PRESQUE ISLE.

EDGAR B. SPEER is currently downbound on Lake Superior and due Conneaut on Saturday at 2000 hours. That will put the vessel here, as the first of the arrivals, probably escorted by a tug, during daylight hours on Sunday.

Layup Update; More Photos of GE Class 70 - 70012

2011-01-11T18:33:00.004-05:00

EDGAR B. SPEER expects to be loaded and out of Two Harbors, Minnesota sometime tomorrow evening and down to Conneaut on Saturday evening. This will put the SPEER in Erie for layup sometime on Sunday.

PRESQUE ISLE is due into Duluth to load iron ore tomorrow and is reportedly due down at Ecorse, Michigan to unload on the 17th at 1100 hours. If this holds, this will put the PRESQUE ISLE in Erie, if all goes well and ice does not prove to be a problem, sometime during daylight Tuesday.

CASON J. CALLAWAY is due in Duluth to load iron ore ahead of the PRESQUE ISLE tomorrow and will be down to Ecorse, Michigan on the 15th, later in the day.

Another photo of GE locomotive 70012 can be found here. Reportedly, it will be reloaded on the undamaged BELUGA ENDURANCE when BELUGA ENDURANCE returns there after unloading in Ghent, Belgium in several days.

BELUGA ENDURANCE Video, Part One; Winter Layup Information

2011-01-09T17:09:00.006-05:00

BELUGA ENDURANCE is shown in the video below while departing Erie on December 21.

Photos of the unloading, including a couple of the bent-up 70012, can be found online here.

To clear up the questions I have received, it is my understanding that as far as layup dockings are concerned, the EDGAR B. SPEER will be backed into the Old Ore Dock; the CASON J. CALLAWAY will be in the West Slip and the PRESQUE ISLE, as always, will be at the Mountfort Terminal. The PRESQUE ISLE will have the cofferdam installed on the starboard side by Lakeshore Towing so that the shaft seal on that side can be replaced.

Please note that photos are currently not appearing in posts below; this is due to a server change I am working on and will be remedied by Tuesday at the latest. I am also in the process of changing old photos on this blog (2006 and 2007) from the Webshots albums they were previously in to my own server.

Video: Locomotive Loading at the Mountfort Terminal

2011-01-08T16:53:00.002-05:00

Below are two videos of the locomotive loading process at the Mountfort Terminal.

The first video shows a unit being shifted to the north track on the dock to be loaded on Sunday, December 19, and the second video shows the actual loading of one the next day.

I will post video of the BELUGA ENDURANCE arriving, and also departing, in the next few days.

BELUGA ENDURANCE Arrives in Wales

2011-01-07T17:44:00.007-05:00

BELUGA ENDURANCE arrived in Newport, Wales on the 3rd of January and successfully unloaded four of the five locomotives loaded in Erie last month.

However, while unloading #70012, the final locomotive, a cable on the ship's crane snapped, dropping the locomotive about 13 feet into the cargo hold of the BELUGA ENDURANCE. Reportedly damage to the unit includes cracked axles, crushed bogies, and a bent frame. There have been no reports as of yet of damage to BELUGA ENDURANCE. It's too early to say what will become of the 700012, but with that damage it seems likely that it will be scrapped and replaced with another unit.

This unfortunate incident has spawned a fan page on Facebook.

KEN BOOTHE SR. Update; Layup Update

2011-01-06T14:06:00.005-05:00

Work continues on tug KEN BOOTHE SR. at the West Slip. The windows of the tug were unboarded today to reveal that there is not yet any glass in the windows; in fact, large sheets of plastic similar to garbage bags cover the openings where the tug's windows will go.

KEN BOOTHE SR. is reported about two months from completion, and will remain in Erie until its companion barge is finished and fits out in the spring of 2012.

Although the BOOTHE has been said to have been built to be a sister to the JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT, several differences exist among the two. I have posted photos of the BOOTHE and the VANENKEVORT below for comparison. Among the differences are the stack on the BOOTHE is lower, allowing 360 degree viewing from the pilothouse, the number of windows in the front of the pilothouse of the BOOTHE, and the cabin of the BOOTHE.

In today's layup update, EDGAR B. SPEER is due in Gary tomorrow morning to unload iron ore before returning to Two Harbors to load ore on its last trip. The PRESQUE ISLE is loading iron ore in Duluth for Detroit's Ecorse U.S. Steel Plant, where the vessel is expected on the 9th. CASON J. CALLAWAY is due in Conneaut to unload on the 8th, and then will head back to Two Harbors for one more trip.

All three vessels should layup here sometime around the weekend of January 15. I will continue to post position reports and track the progress of the three vessels toward Erie.

KEN BOOTHE SR. at dock this morning. The two bubblers were installed on the stern to keep the area around the propellers on the tug free of ice.

The cabin. The metal gratings on the upper level of the cabin were installed after the tug was floated from drydock.

Close up of the pilothouse of the BOOTHE SR.

KEN BOOTHE SR. on December 22.

Tug JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT departing Erie on April 15, 2008.

JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT at Erie Shipbuilding on April 14, 2008.