NEW WEATHER BUOY DEPLOYED

This morning, a crew from Lakeshore Towing moved the company's barge 503 into the East Canal Basin to begin another day of work. Like most of the company's work, this work was designed to benefit the local boating community. Today's job, however, will have a particular impact on the local boating community.

Contracted to the Regional Science Consortium, tug LOW BIDDER and barge 503 were slated to load a new weather buoy for deployment off of Presque Isle to transmit weather data online. The data will be transmitted via cell phone and put on a website for accessibility to help boaters determine wind and wave conditions on Lake Erie. The buoy has been deployed almost in the Lake Carrier's Course, and is deployed at coordinates 42 11.141 N, 080 08.195 W. When functional the buoy will also feature a web camera.

The buoy was deployed around noon today and is now on station; it is now transmitting data.

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The weather buoy arrives.


Lakeshore Towing's crew prepares the buoy for lifting from the bed of the truck.


The excavator is moved into position.


Slings are locked into place on the excavator to lift the buoy.


Lifting.


The buoy is skillfully set down on the barge.


Attaching the top of the buoy, with all of the transmission equipment and the radar reflector.


LOW BIDDER backs the barge away from the dock.


Turning.


LOW BIDDER pushes the barge out of the East Canal basin.


USCG 45757 outbound the channel. 45757 is Station Erie's newest boat, one of the new 45-foot class of small boats being built for the Coast Guard.


Stern view. At this time it remains to be seen if this boat will replace 47241 as Erie's larger boat or if it just an additional boat for the Station.


US Customs & Border Protection Safe Boat 382907 is followed by smaller fleetmate, 332119, out of the channel.


Work on PRESQUE ISLE's starboard propeller is continuing and the vessel could potentially be departing later this week.


LOW BIDDER outbound.


Close up of the pushboat.


Stern view.

FRONTENAC Arrives, is Drydocked; WITTE 2301 Emerges

At 0745 this morning, Lakeshore Towing's tugs LOW BIDDER and DON HENRY, along with towboat TITAN, entered the graving dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair and hooked up to newly built hopper barge WITTE 2301. A few minutes later, with DON HENRY on the stern and leading the tow, the trio emerged from the dock and moved the barge to the West Slip, moored across from McKEE SONS. By 0915 the tow was complete and the barge was moored at the dock.

FRONTENAC departed Nanticoke shortly before 1000 this morning after unloading taconite pellets and arrived in Erie at 1300. After a short stop at the Mountfort Terminal while the dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair was prepared, FRONTENAC turned in the harbor and backed into the graving dock at 1530 today.

FRONTENAC's drydocking is different than the previous few drydockings at Donjon - VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, barge A-390 and THALASSA DESGAGNES have all been drydocked bow-in. This is the first drydocking done for FRONTENAC's owner, Canada Steamship Lines, in Erie since the winter of 1996-97 when MANITOULIN, JEAN PARISIEN, and LOUIS R. DESMARAIS were drydocked here. Of note, MANITOULIN has been scrapped and the other two vessels have been renamed since then; FRONTENAC, however, has carried the same name since being built in 1967.

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LOW BIDDER works WITTE 2301 west toward the slip in the rain this morning.


Coming around tug INVINCIBLE.


LOW BIDDER and DON HENRY line the WITTE 2301 up for the dock.


LOW BIDDER leading the tow.


WITTE 2301 is similar to the three hopper barges built for Sterling Equipment this summer.


Passing a mooring line to the dock.


DON HENRY holds the stern off the dock.


FRONTENAC inbound.


Another view between the piers.


This is believed to be 1967-built FRONTENAC's first visit ever to Erie.


The vessel is here for her five-year survey.


Passing the Coast Guard Station.


Stern view.


Approaching the Mountfort Terminal.


Close up.


FRONTENAC docks at the Mountfort Terminal.

FRONTENAC Underway; WITTE 2301 Emerges

FRONTENAC is currently departing Nanticoke bound for Erie. The vessel should be arriving around 1300.

Lakeshore Towing's tugs completed moving the new hopper barge WITTE 2301 from the drydock to the west side of the West Slip, next to McKEE SONS, at 0915 this morning. WITTE 2301, built for Donjon Shipbuilding's parent Donjon Marine, is similar to the three new hopper barges just built for Sterling Equipment.

FRONTENAC Update

FRONTENAC continues to unload in Nanticoke at this time; I will post when the ship gets underway.

Lakeshore Towing's tugs LOW BIDDER, DON HENRY and towboat TITAN are currently moving a new hopper barge out of Donjon's graving dock and will be docking it behind FARRELL 256 on the east side of Donjon's yard to make room for FRONTENAC.

FRIENDS GOOD WILL GOES AGROUND

This morning at 1105 FRIENDS GOOD WILL called on the radio requesting a tow after having gone aground in 7.5 feet of water in Presque Isle Bay. Lakeshore Towing Services quickly answered the call and immediately dispatched tug DON HENRY to the scene. DON HENRY hooked up and began pulling the vessel, which has a draft of 8.9 feet.

DON HENRY, however, made very little progress toward freeing the 55-ton sailing ship, and the decision was made to call for the company's other tugs, LOW BIDDER and FLATTOP. After all three tugs were on scene and hooked to the tow, FRIENDS GOOD WILL was easily pulled free of her grounded position and got underway for Dobbin's Landing. The passengers who had paid for a 90-minute sail got much more than they bargained for today.

LAKESHORE TOWING COMPLETES PURCHASE OF MARINE SERVICES OF ERIE

Lakeshore Towing Services announced today that they have completed the acquisition of the assets Marine Services of Erie in a deal that closed Wednesday. The deal includes a 26' foot tug, LOW BIDDER, a 50' crane barge, another crane and various other pieces of marine construction equipment.

The purchase allows Lakeshore Towing to expand its marine construction abilities by adding the new cranes and barge to the fleet. LOW BIDDER becomes the fifth vessel in Lakeshore's fleet, and the 50' crane barge becomes the fifth barge in the fleet.

After a minor refit, LOW BIDDER is expected to enter service almost immediately. The vessel will have its wheelhouse painted red while retaining its black hull. A name change is not expected for the vessel.

Lakeshore Towing is Erie's source for marine construction and marine towing. The company also runs Wolverine Park Marina and the fuel dock at Presque Isle Marina. Current projects include construction of a boat lift at Niagara Pier and work at Bay Harbor Marina. For more information on the company, visit their website.

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LOW BIDDER working on the Erie Water Authority intake cribs off of Beach 2 on October 13, 2008.


The purchased barge is shown working on that day.

TREGURTHA Arrives; WITTE 4004 Floated

For the first time in over 17 years, PAUL R. TREGURTHA arrived in Erie today. TREGURTHA arrived at sunrise and docked along the east wall of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair. The Queen of the Lakes will be drydocked on Monday morning.

Lakeshore Towing's tug FLATTOP and towboat DON HENRY removed the partially-completed WITTE 4004 from drydock at Donjon today, mooring the barge in the West Slip. The new dump scow will be completed after repairs to the TREGURTHA are complete.

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PAUL R. TREGURTHA approaching the East side of Donjon.


Using the bow thruster.


Sliding the wall.


Another view.


In position behind Donjon's WITTE 1407 and Lakeshore Towing's 501.


Overhead.


One sailboat in the background on the overcast Sunday morning.


Another view.


DON HENRY and FLATTOP moving WITTE 4004.


Lining up for the West Slip.


FLATTOP.


With towboat TITAN standing by if needed.


Bow view.


At dock this evening.


Bow view.


Tug MANITOU in port, moored behind FARRELL 256.


PAUL R. TREGURTHA at the east slip.