DONJON'S NEWEST BARGE DEPARTS

Tug VIGILANT I arrived in Erie this morning at 0830 and docked at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, astern of the FARRELL 256.

At 1115 the VIGILANT I entered the graving dock and turned around behind newly-completed WITTE 4004, faced up and pushed the WITTE 4004 out of the dock. The WITTE 4004 was moored on the east side of the shipyard.

VIGILANT I then moved over to the West Slip and hooked up to the FARRELL 256, moving the barge into the drydock for more repair work. The barge will be docked next to the A-390 when the Andrie barge arrives this weekend and is put into drydock.

VIGILANT I then hooked up to the WITTE 4004 and departed with the barge, bound down the Seaway for Valleyfield, where it will reportedly meet up with the tug ATLANTIC SALVOR and barge WITTE 1007 to be taken to New York City.

Also of note, the Erie Western Pennsylvania Port Authority was recently awarded a $700,000 grant to extend the rail siding at Donjon's yard.

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VIGILANT I inbound Erie at 0830 this morning.


Side view.


Stern view.


Docking on the west side of Donjon's yard.


VIGILANT I moves the WITTE 4004 out of drydock.


Docking the barge on the east side of the yard.


A few minutes later, VIGILANT I's crew works with shipyard employees to moor the FARRELL 256 into drydock.


Starting to back the FARRELL 256 out of the slip. This is the barge's third trip into drydock since arriving in Erie last October.


Backing out.


Turning to line up for the drydock.


WITTE 4004 departing, powered by VIGILANT I.


Another view.


Close up. The barge is a sister to the 2007-built WITTE 4003, constructed at Erie Shipbuilding LLC.


VIGILANT I providing the power to the barge. They are currently a little less than two hours out of Port Colborne, at a speed of 6.7 knots.


Stern view.


Clearing the piers.

TUG OHIO DUE

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.

SALVOR, FARRELL 256 Drydocking Photos

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.

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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

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.

ATLANTIC SALVOR, FARREL 256 DUE

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

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

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.

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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

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.