BIG NEWS FOR SHIPYARD

As I reported on negotiations here several months ago, Erie Shipbuilding has begun work on building a 135-foot long tug and 740-foot long barge similar to the articulalted tug-barge unit JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT/GREAT LAKES TRADER. The $55 million contract is expected to take about 15 months to complete and will guarantee employment for the shipyard's 100 employees.

The vessel will be constructed in the building at the south end of the drydock, and dropped into the drydock in pieces as each section is completed.

I will follow this story over the coming months and will provide more details as they become available.


JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT/GREAT LAKES TRADER at dock at Erie Shipbuilding in April.

GREAT LAKES TRADER Departs; STELLANOVA Arrives

STELLANOVA arrived in Erie at 0745 this morning, having been delayed by the departure of tug JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT and barge GREAT LAKES TRADER. The TRADER departed her dock at Erie Shipbuilding at 0620 and backed into Presque Isle Bay,
where the vessel slowly turned for the channel. At this time the pilot on STELLANOVA attempted to reach the TRADER's captain on the radio; however, after trying on channels 16, 12, 8, 10 and 6, in that order, the pilot gave up and ordered STELLANOVA turned north to turn a big lazy circle in outside of buoys 1 and 2 while the TRADER passed through the channel.

The two vessels finally made radio contact outside of Erie harbor and agreed to meet on two whistles, or starboard-to-starboard, but the TRADER turned hard left wheel outside the channel and cut across the bow of STELLANOVA before meeting the vessel, and headed up Lake Erie bound for Stoneport, Michigan, where GREAT LAKES TRADER is expected tomorrow evening to load stone.

With GREAT LAKES TRADER out of the channel, STELLANOVA slowly proceeded inbound and turned in Presque Isle Bay before docking at the Mountfort Terminal. The vessel should be in port today and part of tomorrow unloading 775 tons of steel mill components.

I hope to have video of the day's events tomorrow or Thursday.

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GREAT LAKES TRADER turns in Presque Isle Bay.


Leaving Presque Isle Bay.


In the channel.


Close up.


Tug JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT.


The sun rises on the North Pier and lighthouse as STELLANOVA holds off Erie piers.


Stern view of the TRADER.


Outbound.


Turning to head westbound on Lake Erie.


Erie's last commercial fisherman, BIG TONY, was outbound as STELLANOVA approached the piers.


STELLANOVA inbound.


Close up.


Stern view.


Into the bay.


Side view in the bay.


Turning.


Another view.


Completing the turn.


Docking.


At dock at noon.

TRADER Causes Unloading Problems for LAUD

GREAT LAKES TRADER's visit to Erie caused unloading problems for the SAM LAUD this morning, as the 78-foot wide barge was discovered to simply be too wide for the LAUD to unload at the Old Ore Dock.

After arriving at 0730 this morning, the LAUD docked at the Mountfort Terminal, where the vessel remained until 0940 hours. At that time the LAUD departed the Mountfort Terminal and turned in Presque Isle Bay to back into the Old Ore Dock.

The vessel was unable to complete this manouever, however, due to the TRADER's presence at Erie Shipbuilding, and by 1130 the LAUD returned to the Mountfort Terminal to finish unloading. The JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT even moved to the north side of Erie Shipbuilding to allow more room, but to no avail.

SAM LAUD departed for Ashtabula at 1430 this afternoon.

The next vessel scheduled for the port will be the STELLANOVA tomorrow at 0800.

Lakeshore Towing continues dredging on the Chestnut Street boat launch and has about one more day of work to complete there.

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LAUD unloading at 0830.


Another view of the unloading.


J.S.St. JOHN and GREAT LAKES TRADER at the Old Ore Dock this morning.


GREAT LAKES TRADER.


TRADER is still heavily ballasted.


Another view.


LAUD attempting to back into the Old Ore Dock at 1100.


With that attempt having failed, the vessel throttles up and heads back to the Mountfort Terminal.


Another view.


JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT at Erie Shipbuilding.


Approaching the Mountfort Terminal.


Swinging the boom out.


LAUD unloading.


Departing.


Another view.


Stern view.


Another view.


Passing the lighthouse.

ANDRIE, WITTE 1404 Emerge from Drydock; GREAT LAKES TRADER in for repairs

JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT and barge GREAT LAKES TRADER arrived in port sometime this morning and secured at the east dock of Erie Shipbuilding for repairs. I'm not sure what type of work the duo is in for at this time.

This afternoon, Lakeshore Towing tugs FLATTOP and DON HENRY moved the gate from the drydock at Erie Shipbuilding and headed into the drydock to retrieve the next deck barge the company is building for Donjon Marine.

After slowly manouvering the barge in the wind, FLATTOP and DON HENRY slid the barge alongside A-397 and secured the barge next to WITTE 1403.

Safely securing the barge alongside at around 1500, FLATTOP and DON HENRY returned to the drydock and took the tug KAREN ANDRIE in tow and moved the tug out of drydock. The ANDRIE is now secured behind barge A-397 and will be fitting out shortly. Over the winter the ANDRIE was fitted with the Hydraconn articulated tug-barge coupler system, which replaces the tow-line system the barge had used.

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GREAT LAKES TRADER at dock this afternoon.


Another view.


Overhead view.


GREAT LAKES TRADER later in the afternoon. Note that the vessel has been ballasted to take list to port, allowing inspection of part of the hull beneath the waterline.


FLATTOP pulls WITTE 1404 in Erie harbor.


DON HENRY stands by to assist in turning the barge.


Turning the corner into the West Slip.


Another view of the turn.


WITTE 1404.


FLATTOP pulls the barge alongside A-397.


Alongside.


Docking the barge.


About 45 minutes later, FLATTOP and DON HENRY pull KAREN ANDRIE into Erie harbor.


KAREN ANDRIE in Presque Isle Bay.


DON HENRY pushes on the ANDRIE.


Turning the tug.


Another view.


FLATTOP comes around to pull the barge.


DON HENRY docks the ANDRIE.


Side view.


Another job well done by Lakeshore Towing Services, Inc., and the ANDRIE rests at dock.


Side view.


KAREN ANDRIE and A-397.