PALMERTON Arrives

PALMERTON arrived in Erie at 0830 on Tuesday to load locomotives. The 2009-built ship docked at the Mountfort Terminal and is expected to sail on Thursday afternoon bound for Brazil.

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PALMERTON off of Beach 10, in ballast from Duluth, Minnesota.


Inbound at Buoys 3 & 4.


Another view.


The ship is under charter to BBC for this voyage.


Close up.


A wave from the deck.


Stern view.


Turning for the dock.


At dock.


This snowy owl has taken up residence on the peninsula.


The bird takes flight.

MUNSON PAYS RARE VISIT

Great Lakes Fleet's 1952-built steamship JOHN G. MUNSON arrived in Erie this afternoon at 1300, docking at the Mountfort Terminal to unload a cargo of stone from Calcite, Michigan. The MUNSON is the first steamship to visit Erie since AMERICAN FORTITUDE in 2008. MUNSON is also the first ship from Great Lakes Fleet to deliver a cargo to Erie since 2003.

MUNSON spent the afternoon and evening unloading before departing Erie at 2130 hours. It remains to be seen whether MUNSON or any of GLF's other ships visit Erie with cargo this season.

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JOHN G. MUNSON in the channel.


Close up.


The 1952-built steamer passes the lighthouse.


The steamer is paying what might be a first-ever visit to Erie.


Close up.


Stern view.


Approaching the Mountfort Terminal.


Swinging around.


Another view of the classic ship's stern.


Alongside the Mountfort Terminal.

MANITOWOC UNLOADS SAND; CSL NIAGARA SET TO DEPART; FEDERAL KUMANO, SHIMANTO DUE

MANITOWOC departed the Mountfort Terminal this morning at about 0745 and shifted to the North Pier to unload the first cargo of sand for beach replenishment. MANITOWOC departed Erie at 1245 hours bound for Fairport Harbor to load a cargo of salt.

CSL NIAGARA is currently floating in the graving dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair and due to depart on Saturday.

FEDERAL KUMANO, loaded with three transformers loaded in Antwerp, Belgium, is out of Hamilton and expected to arrive Erie at 1200 on Saturday. I will update with a better arrival time in the morning.

The second load of transformers is expected to arrive on July 16 aboard FEDERAL SHIMANTO.

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MANITOWOC backing away from the Mountfort Terminal.


With the boom down, MANITOWOC slows from reverse and begins to use the bow thruster to push away.


Turning.


Moving away.


MANITOWOC's workboat approaches the North Pier.


The deckhands race ahead to handle the mooring lines.


Turning for the North Pier.


Approaching the pier.


MANITOWOC's captain on the bridge wing.


A pile of sand on deck.


Docking.


Stern view.

BBC XINGANG Departs; MANITOWOC in Port

BBC XINGANG, after loading since Sunday afternoon, got underway and departed Erie at 0600 this morning bound for Mozambique with GE locomotives.

MANITOWOC arrived in Erie shortly after midnight with stone from Cedarville and spent the early morning hours unloading at the Old Ore Dock before moving to the Mountfort Terminal to load sand at around 0930. The ship will move to the North Pier at around 0900 on Friday morning to unload the first cargo for beach replenishment.

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The sun rises over the buoys.


BBC XINGANG underway this morning.


Between the piers.


Close up.


Stern view.


Another view against the morning sky.


Clearing Erie for Mozambique. The vessel is open for cargos in Mozambique beginning June 25, meaning the ship will be unloaded by that date.


MANITOWOC unloading.


Another view.


Overhead view of MANITOWOC unloading at the Old Ore Dock.

BBC XINGANG, REBECCA ANN in Port

BBC XINGANG arrived in Erie at 1015 hours Sunday, and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to load the first batch of locomotives bound for Africa. BBC XINGANG arrived from Milwaukee, after a stop in Hamilton and then a couple of weeks in the anchorage above Port Huron awaiting a pilot. Ice conditions on the upper lakes forced the Coast Guard to stop most salties above Port Huron at the beginning of the season and the lake pilots are now working through a pilot shortage. After spending last week working cargo in Milwaukee, BBC XINGANG stopped in Erie to load before completing her first visit to the Great Lakes.

BBC XINGANG was built in 2013 at Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding in Tianjin, China. Tianjin Xingang has built many of the BBC vessels, including seven sisterships to BBC XINGANG.

I will post a departure time when I learn of one for the BBC XINGANG.

REBECCA ANN returned to Erie this morning shortly after midnight to pick up another barge and is currently docked along the north wall of Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair.

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BBC XINGANG in the channel. In the distant background, note local perch fishing boats O'DANNY'O and EDWARD JOHN.


Passing the lighthouse.


Another view of XINGANG. Photo by Gene Polaski.


Bow view of the 2013-built general cargo vessel. BBC XINGANG has two cranes, each capable of lifting up to 350 MT, for a combined lift of 700 MT.


Side view.


Passing the Coast Guard station.


Stern view of XINGANG. Photo by Gene Polaski.


BBC XINGANG's cargo awaits.


BBC XINGANG approaches the Mountfort Terminal.


Coming alongside.


Alongside the dock.