J.S. St. JOHN Update; NEAH BAY Departs; Donjon Shipbuilding Update

J.S. St. JOHN continues to be repainted in Carmeuse Lime and Stone colors at the Old Ore Dock. Today crews were repainting the name, and got as far as J.S. St. before quitting for the day on the starboard side. The name on the port bow has yet to be repainted at all.

NEAH BAY departed this morning at 0900.

Donjon Shipbuilding has made preparations for the new rail line to be installed into the yard. Reportedly the Bayfront Parkway will be closed for two weeks after the 4th of July to allow for the installation.

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St. JOHN at dock this evening.


Another view.


The ABS loadlines on the St. JOHN have yet to be painted over.


Bow view.


In this view you can see that there is no name painted on the port side.


St. JOHN looks sharp in her new color scheme of blue and gray.


Another stern view. If you look closely above the name, you can see her former name, LAKE EDWARD.


The suction pipe the St. JOHN uses to dredge sand.


Pilothouse and stack.


Sailing vessel ANGKOR WAT, registered in the Marshall Islands, at Dobbin's Landing this evening. The 65 gross ton yacht was built in 2007.

MANITOWOC Inbound; Brand New CCGS KELSO Working from Wolverine Marina

MAUMEE departed Erie bound for Cleveland to load salt shortly after midnight last night.

MANITOWOC is currently inbound Erie and should arrive in port at around 2230 this evening to unload stone at Erie Sand and Gravel.

The 2009-built Canadian Coast Guard research vessel KELSO arrived in port at 1500 Monday and has spent the week staying at Wolverine Marina. The 61-foot long KELSO departs each morning at around 0800 and spends its time sampling the water off of Erie and performing hydrographic surveys of the lake bottom. KELSO was designed to be a replacement for the CCGS SHARK and is homeported at Burlington, Ontario.

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KELSO inbound Wolverine Marina this evening at 1830.


Stern view.

PRESQUE ISLE DEPARTS

This morning, Lakeshore Towing tugs FLATTOP and DON HENRY moved the cofferdam used on the PRESQUE ISLE from the Mountfort Terminal to the Old Ore Dock at around 0930. At that time the PRESQUE ISLE was preparing to get underway, and did so at around 1030. The PRESQUE ISLE, after 15 days in port, turned in her namesake harbor and departed Erie upbound for Duluth, Minnesota, where the vessel is expected to load taconite pellets.

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PRESQUE ISLE heads into its namesake harbor and starts to turn around to line up with the channel.


Turning.


PRESQUE ISLE rounds the Mountfort Terminal and prepares to head out.


In the channel.


Close up.


Outbound for Duluth.

PRESQUE ISLE Repairs Complete; Departure Scheduled for Monday

This morning crews from Lakeshore Towing and Erie Sand & Gravel, along with Great Lakes Electrical Services, removed the cofferdam from the starboard side of the PRESQUE ISLE. With repairs to both shaft seals complete, the vessel is expected to depart sometime on Monday.

Stay tuned to Erie Shipping News for updates.

Work Continues on PRESQUE ISLE

This morning crews from Erie Sand & Gravel, Lakeshore Towing Services and Great Lakes Electrical Services removed the cofferdam from the port side of the PRESQUE ISLE after successful completion of repairs to the propeller shaft seal. The cofferdam has now been installed on the starboard side and repairs are expected to continue through the weekend.

Weather Delays Cofferdam Installation

Today's east winds caused swells in Erie's entrance channel that have delayed the installation of the cofferdam on the PRESQUE ISLE. Crews from Erie Sand & Gravel and Lakeshore Towing will try again tomorrow morning to install the cofferdam and facilitate the beginning of repairs to the tug.

Winter Work Underway on BLOUGH, PRESQUE ISLE

Every year, around the time the Soo Lucks close on January 15, the vessels that make up the U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes fleets, with a few exceptions, lay up for the winter and their crews head home to their families for a well-deserved vacation. At this time, scores of shoreside personnel go to work. Led in Erie by Great Lakes Electrical Services and Erie Sand & Gravel, and supported by various outside contractors, these firms are tasked with completing repairs and upgrades to the vessels before they begin the new season about ten weeks after laying up.

This winter, Great Lakes Electrical Services and Erie Sand & Gravel have a long list of projects worth several hundred thousand dollars to be performed on the ROGER BLOUGH and PRESQUE ISLE while they spend the winter in Erie.

On the BLOUGH, these include engine room piping and electrical repairs, overhauling a generator and installing a rewound generator, repairs to the ECPINS navigation system and other pilothouse electronics, flooring repairs in the crew quarters, and ballast valve upgrades.

On the PRESQUE ISLE, overhauls of both the starboard engine and a generator, and various other engine room work are the main tasks scheduled for the winter. In addition, repairs to the ship's unloading system and conveyors are on the agenda, as long as a great deal of ballast tank steel replacement. The steel replacement is the reason the tug and barge were separated this winter; their separation allows the normal winter ballast to be pumped from the barge to allow the work inside the ballast tanks.

Yearly work to keep the vessels in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping regulations is also scheduled for both the BLOUGH and PRESQUE ISLE.

In other harbor news, Erie Shipbuilding LLC remains closed as the company works to secure financing to continue construction on a new 135' tug and 740' self-unloading barge they are in the process of building. I have received confirmation through several sources that the new tug is scheduled to be named CLYDE VANENKEVORT, after the father of shipyard President Dirk S. VanEnkevort. Tentatively, the new barge, being constructed for VanEnkevort Tug & Barge subsidiary Erie Trader LLC, is scheduled to be named ERIE TRADER. The unit, when complete, will be utilized primarily to haul stone to and from various Great Lakes ports for LaFarge North America on a long-term contract.

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ROGER BLOUGH at dock on Sunday.


Stern view.

Historical Arrivals: September 6

Historical arrivals for September 6:

1982: LAKEWOOD arrives with sand, docking at Erie Sand & Gravel's Sassafras Street slip, which is now the site of the Bayfront Convention Center.

PRESQUE ISLE Departs

Repairs completed and the cofferdam removed, the PRESQUE ISLE slowly slid away from the Mountfort Terminal at 1620 hours this afternoon, turned in Presque Isle Bay and departed Erie bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load taconite pellets.

The repairs to the shaft seals took less than a week, despite being hampered by weather on Saturday. The quick repairs are an example of the skilled talent at Erie Sand & Gravel, Lakeshore Towing and Great Lakes Electrical Services, all of whom worked together to get the PRESQUE ISLE back underway as quickly as possible to make money for her owners.

The cofferdam was left underwater and will be refloated tomorrow. Unlike in the past, when the cofferdam was towed to Erie Shipbuilding, it will be left at the Mountfort Terminal.

Unloading on the McALLISTER 132 continued today and should be done by the weekend.

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PRESQUE ISLE slowly turns off of the Mountfort Terminal.


Another view.


Outbound.


Underway in Lake Erie.


Bow on.


PRESQUE ISLE is moving at roughly 12 miles per hour in this photo.


Final shot.


J.S. ST. JOHN outbound at 1815 this afternoon.


Stern view.


Motor yacht SCOTT FREE, owned by local hotelier Nick Scott, outbound. Scott, like most of the uber-rich, chooses to register his yacht offshore in the Cayman Islands.

PRESQUE ISLE DUE OUT

Crews from Great Lakes Electrical Services, Lakeshore Towing and Erie Sand & Gravel today worked on moving the cofferdam from the starboard to port side of the PRESQUE ISLE at the Mountfort Terminal. The cofferdam was moved to facilitate work on the port shaft seal, which will be repaired overnight tonight. If all goes well, PRESQUE ISLE could depart tomorrow afternoon bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load taconite pellets.

PRESQUE ISLE Repairs Continue

Crews from Lakeshore Towing and Erie Sand & Gravel worked all day today to install the cofferdam on the PRESQUE ISLE to facilitate repairs on the starboard shaft seal. The repairs are to be undertaken during the night, and the cofferdam will be removed tomorrow and placed on the port side.

Meanwhile, unloading continues on the McALLISTER 132. Both the McALLISTER 132 and PRESQUE ISLE are currently expected to depart on Wednesday.

Photos from yesterday will come tomorrow.

AMERICAN COURAGE in Port

AMERICAN COURAGE arrived in Erie earlier than scheduled today, at 0900. The COURAGE proceeded inbound and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Cedarville.

Erie Sand & Gravel parent company Oglebay Norton was sold Friday to the Carmeuse Group, a Belgium-based company that is the world's largest producer of lime products. Carmeuse already owns docks in Buffington, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; River Rouge, Michiga; and Green Bay, Wisconsin. I have no idea what changes this may mean for the operation here in Erie.


AMERICAN COURAGE inbound.


Another view.


Stern view of the COURAGE as it passes inbound.


Another view.


Swinging a man off as the COURAGE docks.


Docking.


Overhead view. The COURAGE started to unload, then stopped for a moment.


The AMERICAN COURAGE begins to unload again at 0950 hours.

BUFFALO Departs; BOLAND Arrives; PRESQUE ISLE Due for Departure Sunday

The BUFFALO finished unloading and departed Erie at 1500 today bound for the Norfolk Southern Coal Dock in Ashtabula, where she will take on approximately 15,000 tons of coal for Alpena.

At around 1900 this evening the JOHN J. BOLAND arrived in port amid a flurry of small boat activity in the harbor and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Calcite. She should be outbound sometime during the night.

The latest word on the PRESQUE ISLE is that her departure is set for late-morning Sunday. According to her owners, Great Lakes Fleet, she has had a change of orders and will head straight to Duluth DM&IR to load taconite pellets, due there on the 22nd.

PRESQUE ISLE is the second vessel to use the port of Erie for repairs this year; the first was the JOSEPH H. THOMPSON/THOMPSON JR. in April, which unloaded at the Old Ore Dock before shifting to Erie Shipbuilding.

These two are a good sign for Erie, which, due to the placement of skilled technicians of Great Lakes Electrical Services, Erie Shipbuilding, Lakeshore Towing and ON Minerals: Erie Operation, has rebounded from being almost dead as a layup and repair port; it was once regarded that due to the lack of an ore-loading dock at this end of the Great Lakes that shipping companies would no longer use the port for winter layup or general repairs. However, this is obviously no longer the case.


PRESQUE ISLE undergoing work this evening.


BOLAND inbound.


In the channel.


A closer look at the BOLAND.


BOLAND passes USCG 47241.


Stern view.


Approaching the PRESQUE ISLE.


BOLAND passes by the PRESQUE ISLE.


Passing in the busy harbor


Turning.


BOLAND's stern passes the PRESQUE ISLE.

RESERVE Due

K&K Warehousing's steamer RESERVE, due to lay up here later this year for her 5-year survey and either repowering or conversion to a barge, is due in Erie at 2145 tonight with stone from Cedarville, Michigan. She may still be here in the morning.

AMERICAN COURAGE Visits; Today in Erie History

The AMERICAN COURAGE arrived in Erie today at approximately 0700 and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Port Inland. The COURAGE departed at approximately 1230 this afternoon, passing the inbound J.S. St. JOHN outside of the harbor.

Charter fishing boat EDWARD JOHN was placed back into the water today as her owners prepare for her third season of "party fishing" in Erie.

Today in Erie history:
May 1, 1972- The face of the Great Lakes shipping industry changes forever as the first 1000-foot supercarrier, STEWART J. CORT, departs Litton Industries in Erie, Pennsylvania on her maiden voyage. As such, watch for a special "Erie Connections" on this blog featuring the CORT within the next week.


COURAGE unloading at 0800.


Unloading at noon.


Another view

Finished.


Backing away from the dock.


Backing into Erie harbor.


Preparing to turn outbound.


Outbound.


Stern view


Passing the lighthouse.


Into Lake Erie.


St. John inbound.


Inbound.


Another view.


Stern view.