ROBERT S. PIERSON ARRIVES

ROBERT S. PIERSON just arrived at the North Pier with sand from Thessalon. The vessel should be out later today.

CUYAHOGA Arrives and Departs

CUYAHOGA arrived in Erie this morning at 0130 and docked at the North Pier to unload sand from Thessalon, Ontario. This is the third load of sand for beach replenishment. The vessel spent the night unloading, and after clearance from U.S. Customs, departed at 0730 bound for Cleveland to load salt.

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CUYAHOGA unloads as the first rays of light cross the sky at 0545.


Stern view.


An hour later and the unload is almost complete.


Close up of the unloading boom.


J.S. ST. JOHN outbound, passing the CUYAHOGA at 0700.


Outbound.


Passing the lighthouse.


CUYAHOGA departing at 0730.


CUYAHOGA departing at 0730.


At 0742 the CUYAHOGA picks up speed at Buoys 3 and 4.


Turning at Buoys 1 and 2.


Picking up speed, powering through the turn.


Turning to head westbound.


CUYAHOGA's bow cuts through the unusually-calm Lake Erie waters.


Outbound.


CUYAHOGA pours on the power and heads for its next cargo in Cleveland.

MISSISSAGI Arrives

MISSISSAGI arrived off of Erie's Buoys 1 and 2 today at around 1030 and turned to back into the North Pier with sand from Thessalon, Ontario. The vessel backed all the way through the channel and the crew reported that the ship was close to scraping bottom in several places. MISSISSAGI docked and began unloading at about noon today. The vessel is, as I write this, preparing to depart upbound for Cleveland to load salt.

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MISSISSAGI at Buoys 1 and 2.


Bow view.


Backing into the channel.


Another view.


Between the piers.


MISSISSAGI whiile docking at the North Pier.


Lifting the unloading boom.


Swinging the boom out.


Stern view.

PIERSON Arrives, Departs; FAIRLOAD Due

ROBERT S. PIERSON arrived in Erie today at 1700 with sand from Thessalon, Ontario, and docked at the North Pier. This is the former WOLVERINE's first trip to Erie since being renamed in early 2008.

PIERSON encountered problems inbound while attempting to dock at the North Pier. Several pleasure craft attempted to pass between the PIERSON and the North Pier, with one slamming into the PIERSON and bouncing off. The small craft, which was at fault, remained afloat.

After a short unload, PIERSON departed the North Pier at 2105 this evening outbound.

Jumbo Shipping's Dutch-flagged heavy lift ship FAIRLOAD is currently moored at the Seaway Terminal in Port Huron, Michigan and will begin unloading tomorrow. When the vessel finishes unloading it will sail to Erie in ballast to load.

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PIERSON underway approaching Erie harbor.


Flying the Lower Lakes Towing houseflag and "Don't give up the ship." Don't give up the ship has been Lower Lakes' motto since the company's founding in the early 1990s.


Stern view.


PIERSON in the channel at Buoys 1 and 2.


Preparing to dock.


Stern view.


PIERSON churning up mud from the bottom of the channel.


Pleasure craft attempt to sneak between the PIERSON and the North Pier.


Pleasure craft bounces off the PIERSON.


Docking.

GRAYFOX in Port

USNSCS GRAYFOX arrived in port today at noon with an escort from USCG 25573. The GRAYFOX stopped at the North Pier near the Coast Guard station and will be moored there overnight before departing tomorrow.

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GRAYFOX at dock.


Stern view.

MISSISSAGI, REPUBLIC IN PORT

MISSISSAGI arrived in Erie last night at 2100 during a terrible downpour and ended up anchoring in Presque Isle Bay for about two hours to wait wind before turning in the harbor and docking at the North Pier to unload sand from Thessalon.

The AMERICAN REPUBLIC arrived in Erie at 0300 this morning and docked at the Old Ore Dock with stone from Calcite. The REPUBLIC unloaded there until 0900 and then shifted to the Mountfort Terminal, where she unloaded for about 40 minutes before clearing outbound.

Photos to follow later this evening.

SAND LOAD ARRIVES; BOLAND, CHEYENNE DUE

CUYAHOGA arrived in Erie this afternoon at 1300 and backed to the North Pier to unload sand from Thessalon, Ontario. The sand will be distributed on beaches at Presque Isle for replenishment after a hard winter eroded many of the beaches.

JOHN J. BOLAND, with stone from Calcite, is due in Erie tomorrow at 1030. Tug CHEYENNE, bound for Erie Shipbuilding to pick up more of the new deck barges built at the yard, is moored in Port Colborne, Ontario for the night and should be getting underway tomorrow for Erie. This likely puts the tug in port during daylight Thursday.

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CUYAHOGA backing in the channel.


Another view.


Bow view.


CUYAHOGA docks at the Pier to unload.

CUYAHOGA in port; departs

CUYAHOGA arrived in Erie at around 0115 Monday morning, turning in Erie harbor and docking at the North Pier. Throughout the night the vessel unloaded her 16,000-ton sand cargo from Thessalon, and departed at 0600 this morning bound for Nanticoke to load slag.

SAND LOAD (Finally) ARRIVES

Carrying 16,000 tons of long-awaited sand for beach replenishment from Thessalon, Ontario, the CUYAHOGA arrived in port at 1100 today, turned in the bay and proceeded through the channel to dock at the North Pier to unload. By 1625 this afternoon the sand was unloaded and CUYAHOGA was outbound for Toledo to load corn.

The pretty, 1943-built CUYAHOGA made its first visit to Erie since October 22, 2006, when she also unloaded sand at the North Pier.


Equipment to move the sand arrived as the CUYAHOGA did.


CUYAHOGA inbound.


Passing the lighthouse.


Close up.


CUYAHOGA is a near-sister to the MANISTEE and MISSISSAGI.


"Don't give up the ship" has been the owner's motto since the company inception in 1995.


Boaters take pictures of the CUYAHOGA.


Crew members on deck.


Stern view.


Into the bay.


Turning in Erie harbor.


Another view.


Passing the Mountfort Terminal bound for the North Pier.


Another view.


BIG TONY attempts to go between the North Pier and the CUYAHOGA.


Approaching the pier.


Raising the boom.


Coming alongside.


Turning to land a crewman on the pier.


Moving the boom out.


At dock.


Starting to unload.