Historical: MICHIPICOTEN in Drydock, March 2008

Below are photos of the MICHIPICOTEN in drydock at Erie Shipbuilding during March, 2008. The MICHIPICOTEN was in for propeller shaft repairs and various other work.

Photos courtesy of the former Erie Shipbuilding LLC.

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MICHIPICOTEN in drydock.


Another view.


View from inside the drydock.


Starboard-side view of the MICHIPICOTEN.


Close up of the hull resting on the blocks in the drydock, one of the largest on the Great Lakes.


Another view with the KAREN ANDRIE in the background.


With the propeller pulled from the vessel. In the background the barge WITTE 1404 is under construction.

MICHIPICOTEN, NEAH BAY in Port

MICHIPICOTEN arrived in port at 2000 Wednesday night and docked at the North Pier to unload sand from Thessalon, Ontario. This is the third, and probably final, load of sand delivered for the Presque Isle sand replenishment program. MICHIPICOTEN departed Erie shortly after midnight bound for Ashtabula, Ohio to load coal for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

NEAH BAY returned to Erie last night and remained anchored in Presque Isle Bay throughout Thursday.

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Motor Yacht SCOTT FREE underway in Lake Erie on Wednesday night.


MICHIPICOTEN turns for the channel.


Another view.


Passing buoys 3 and 4.


Stern view.


Approaching the North Pier.


The workboat seen between the MICHIPICOTEN and North Pier carries two deckhands from the vessel.


MICHIPICOTEN unloading.


USCG 25573 inbound the channel.


NEAH BAY at anchor.

MICHIPICOTEN DUE

MICHIPICOTEN, with sand from Thessalon, is due in Erie tonight at 2000.

MICHIPICOTEN DEPARTS

MICHIPICOTEN departed Erie last night at 2230 hours bound for Marblehead, Ohio to load stone. With her departure, the last of Erie's layup fleet has departed.

This leaves Erie Shipbuilding's docks quite empty, so what's next for the company? They have two more deck barges to build and delivery of the ones currently moored in the West Slip should begin sometime in May.

ANDRIE, WITH ASSISTANCE, DEPARTS; MANISTEE ARRIVES

After spending the morning preparing to depart Erie Shipbuilding, KAREN ANDRIE and A-397 got underway from Erie Shipbuilding at noon today, with the tug pushing the barge as Lakeshore Towing's tugs FLATTOP and DON HENRY stood by. The two were on hand to assist the ANDRIE before the tug-barge's departure.

KAREN ANDRIE and A-397, along with FLATTOP and DON HENRY slowly made their way into the channel, and around 1250 hours this afternoon the two tugs moved in as the ANDRIE approached the North Pier to set the barge alongside. ANDRIE intended to tow the barge on the open lake, and decided to switch to pull mode in Erie harbor. As the barge A-397 does not have a bow thruster, FLATTOP and DON HENRY were on hand to push the barge alongside the North Pier and held it there as ANDRIE unhooked from the barge and shifted around to the bow. Having taken up a tow line on the barge, KAREN ANDRIE and A-397 departed at 1400 this afternoon for Toledo, Ohio.

I erred in mentioning yesterday that both the ANDRIE and A-397 had received a new coupler system this winter while in drydock. Only the tug KAREN ANDRIE received the JAK coupler system. This occured so that the ANDRIE can be mated with a new barge that Andrie has on order for delivery this November from a shipyard in Mississippi. When this occurs, barge A-397 will be transfered to tug BARBARA ANDRIE, and BARBARA ANDRIE's barge, A-390, will likely be scrapped.

MICHIPICOTEN is now the last remaining member of Erie's layup fleet. Today the vessel was conducting fire and boat drills in preparation for her departure, which will likely be sometime before the end of the week.

Lakeshore Towing continued to dredge at East Avenue today. The company has another day or two worth of work there, two days of dredging work in the East Canal Basin and will then be working at Shades Beach in Harborcreek for about two weeks.

As I was about 90% finished with this entry at 2005 hours this evening, MANISTEE gave a 15-minute security call inbound for the Mountfort Terminal with salt for Fairport Harbor. The vessel was tying up by 2100 and should be unloaded by around 0300.

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Lakeshore Towing Service's towboat TITAN is outbound the piers ahead of the A-397 and ANDRIE.


ANDRIE, assisted by FLATTOP enters the channel.


The flotilla of tugs and a barge.


Closer view of the convoy.


FLATTOP alongside the stern of the A-397.


DON HENRY pulls ahead of the A-397.


DON HENRY.


A-397.


KAREN ANDRIE and FLATTOP.


KAREN ANDRIE.


FLATTOP pushes on the A-397 to bring it closer to the North Pier.


DON HENRY joins the fun.


TITAN passes the ANDRIE and FLATTOP.


Tug KAREN ANDRIE begins to back out of the barge.


Out of the barge.


KAREN ANDRIE manouevers around the barge.


Coming ahead.


Side view. Note the door below the pilot house is open and can


KAREN ANDRIE comes alongside the barge.


ANDRIE takes the tow line.


ANDRIE and A-397 preparing to leave.


Pulling away from the pier.


ANDRIE...


A-397.


Stern view of the KAREN ANDRIE.


Stern view of the barge.


Outbound.


FLATTOP and DON HENRY depart the South Pier bound for East Avenue.


FLATTOP.


Stern view with Lake Erie Biofuels in the background.


MANISTEE inbound.


Framed by the lighthouse and a buoy.


Close up.


Stern view.


Docking.