2008 Erie Cruise Schedule

After seeing only one cruise ship visit the port in 2007, Erie will do marginally better this season, as the GRANDE MARINER of American Canadian Caribbean Cruises visits the port of Erie twice. The GRANDE MARINER, which visited Erie only once during 2007 when it visited on August 27, will arrive in Erie on June 26, 2008, and visit again on August 24.

The MARINER, however, will not be using the Cruise Boat Terminal at the foot of Holland Street. The terminal, built in 2002, has yet to see a cruise ship dock there and likely won't until at least 2010. Currently the building houses the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol offices.

Historical Layups: BURNS HARBOR, 1985-86

During the winter of 1985-86, the Bethlehem Steel 1000' BURNS HARBOR spent the winter laid up at the former Litton Industries property at the foot of Holland Street. The vessel was laid up early that winter, as these photos, taken in early December, show.

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BURNS HARBOR in layup in December 1985. Jim Thoreson photo.


A distant view shows how much things have changed since then. Today, the right side of this photo is the Intermodal Transportation Center, and on the left would be the Cruise Boat Terminal.

GRANDE MARINER Featured on Action News 24

The GRANDE MARINER's visit to Erie was the focus of a story on Action News 24 at 6 this evening. According to a Port Authority official, the Port Authority "is currently in talks with people about marketing the cruise terminal" for cruise ships. In other words, it's a very safe assumption that the terminal will probably not host a cruise ship until 2009 at the very earliest. Since all of the schedules for the larger cruise ships on the Lakes are already set through 2009, it will probably be 2010 before one docks there. Otherwise, the Cruise Boat Terminal may be the most expensive U.S. Customs & Border Patrol office ever, all funded via our Port Authority.

BREAKING: GRANDE MARINER DOES NOT OPEN CRUISE TERMINAL

GRANDE MARINER arrived in Erie earlier than expected today, arriving at 1200 and docking at West Dobbin's Landing and not the Cruise Boat Terminal, as was expected. Alas, for another season the five year old Cruise Boat Terminal goes unused.

Photos and more details later this afternoon.

GRANDE MARINER, AGAWA CANYON, W.N. TWOLAN Due

Cruise ship GRANDE MARINER will finally open the five-year old cruise boat terminal at the foot of Holland Street at 1300 tomorrow. The terminal was built with the intention of landing visits from the largest of the Great Lakes cruise ships, such as the c. COLUMBUS; however to date that has not happened and the c. COLUMBUS will not be returning to the Great Lakes in the forseeable future, due to low water levels. Therefore, the GRANDE MARINER's four stops here in 2008 will likely be the only four vessel calls on this terminal in 2008. Makes you wonder why they built that place to begin with.

Algoma's AGAWA CANYON, with a split load of stone from Bruce Mines and Thessalon, Ontario, will be arriving in Erie at 0300 Tuesday.

W. N. TWOLAN, and barge McALLISTER 132, departed Thunder Bay, Ontario at 2000 tonight bound for Erie, where they're scheduled to arrive shortly after midnight on Thursday. At this time I'm not sure what the pair is carrying.

Signs of Spring and Thing to Look Forward to

Spring is in the air in Erie harbor. Lakeshore Towing's towboat WOLVERINE is now back in the water and moored at their dock at Wolverine Marina.

Coast Guard Station Erie's 47-foot motor lifeboat, 47241, has been removed from the winter storage building on Station Erie's property, sporting her crew cut- the removal of her flying bridge that allows her to be stored in the building. Crews are busy preparing her for her return to the water.

CG Station Fairport Harbor's 47-foot lifeboat, 47283, was moored at Station Erie today. I'm not sure if she's there for repairs, or just a visit. In the past 47283 has come to Erie to be hauled out of the water for repairs.

Looking forward, some important dates for the shipping season:

April ?- Arrival of the first vessel of the season.
May 1- USCGC HOLLYHOCK will arrive to replace the winter buoys in Erie harbor (approximate).
June ?- Erie Shipbuilding's Hull 101 will be delivered to her owner.
August 27- Barring another dock-wall collapse, Erie's Cruise Terminal will open with the arrival of American Canadian Caribbean Line's GRANDE MARINER.
December 1- USCGC HOLLYHOCK will arrive to replace the summer buoys in Erie harbor (approximate).


47241 and 47283 at Station Erie