OLIVE L. MOORE DEPARTS

After two months in drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair for engine work and an owner's inspection, OLIVE L. MOORE departed Erie this morning at 0900 bound for Toledo, Ohio. The MOORE will mate up with her barge, LEWIS J. KUBER, in Toledo and begin another season on the Great Lakes.

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER are still expected in Erie at around 0500 on Friday morning, weather permitting.

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OLIVE L. MOORE turns enters the channel.


In between the piers.


The raised pilot house on OLIVE L. MOORE was added in 2006 in Escanaba, Michigan before the tug returned to Erie to mate up with LEWIS J. KUBER for the first time. The 1928-built MOORE has been modified numerous times over the years and this will likely be her last configuration.


Racing out the channel.


Stern view.


Outbound for Toledo.

VICTORY Cruises the Bay; Layup Updates

Tug VICTORY backed away from her barge in the graving dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair this afternoon at around 1445 hours and moved to the east side of the dock. VICTORY's crew spent about three hours working on the tug's engines before the tug backed away from the graving dock and turned circles in the bay to test her engines.

VICTORY docked at the West Slip, where she remains, at 1755 this afternoon.

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, in for her five-year survey and other repair work, should be departing later this week. OLIVE L. MOORE, which had been in for engine work, should also be departing to return to Toledo later this week. MOORE will pick up her barge, LEWIS J. KUBER, there.

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VICTORY in the graving dock this afternoon.


Turning in Presque Isle Bay.


Stern view.


VICTORY, finished with trials, turns for the West Slip.


VICTORY approaches the West Slip.


Docking.

Two Tugs and a Barge Drydocked

OLIVE L. MOORE departed the east slip of Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair at 0630 this morning and began breaking ice in Presque Isle Bay, in preparation for the movement of several vessels at the yard this morning. OLIVE L. MOORE broke several tracks to the north of Donjon and returned to dock at 0700 this morning.

The crew on the MOORE then moved over to the tug VICTORY and began to prepare it for movement into the graving dock. After problems getting pumps on the VICTORY's engine running, the tug and barge JAMES L. KUBER began working away from the north face of Donjon at 0845, beginning the process of entering the dock bow first. The process was made more complicated by the fact that the VICTORY's port engine went down at one point during the move, forcing the captain to use one engine and the bow thruster to make the turn. VICTORY's engine came back online before the duo entered the dock.

VICTORY and JAMES L. KUBER were into position by 1130 this morning, with the tug disconnected from the barge, and the crew switched back over to OLIVE L. MOORE. MOORE then entered the dock slowly, rubbing against JAMES L. KUBER, and is docked in front of the KUBER. There are four vessels - FARREL 256, KUBER, MOORE and VICTORY - in drydock at this time, which is the most vessels ever drydocked at once at the facility.

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OLIVE L. MOORE breaking ice this morning at 0645.


Close up of the 1928-built tug, which hasn't been in Erie since departing on its first trip with LEWIS J. KUBER in September 2006.


VICTORY/KUBER in the snow at 0819 this morning.


Twenty-six minutes later, the duo departs the dock in the sunlight.


Moving away from the dock.


In the bay, turning toward the dock. The duo turned several times from north to south and back again.


Turning north.


Turning south again.


Stern view of the VICTORY.


McKEE SONS and TECUMSEH in the West Slip.


Turning for the dock.


In the graving dock.


About 100 feet to go here and the duo will be in position.


MOORE departing the east slip.


Turning.


Next to the KUBER.


Alongside and scraping down the side of the JAMES L. KUBER.


Another view as MOORE approaches the bow of the KUBER.

JAMES L. KUBER, VICTORY, OLIVE L. MOORE to be put in Drydock

Tuesday morning, tugs OLIVE L. MOORE, VICTORY, and JAMES L. KUBER will enter the graving dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair. VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER are going in for five-year survey. At that time, barge JAMES L. KUBER is scheduled to be painted grey to match the rest of the Lower Lakes Towing/Grand River Navigation fleet.

OLIVE L. MOORE Arrives

Articulated tug OLIVE L. MOORE arrived in Erie at 0030 this morning and backed into dock on the east side of Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, across from the EDWIN H. GOTT. MOORE is expected to remain in Erie for the winter.

OLIVE L. MOORE Due

Tug OLIVE L. MOORE, light tug, is expected in Erie at midnight. The tug left layup at Toledo, where it's barge LEWIS J. KUBER is currently laid up, this morning.

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OLIVE L. MOORE in Erie harbor on August 24, 2006. The tug is now painted black and wears the stack colors of Grand River Navigation.

Kuber Barges sold to Lower Lakes Transportation

Frequent Erie visitor VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, and the unit's fleetmate, OLIVE L. MOORE/LEWIS J. KUBER, have been sold to Lower Lakes Transportation in a $40 million dollar transaction. This means that the next time the duo visits Erie they will sport the familiar gray of the Grand River Navigation fleet of vessels.

This also means that frequent Erie visitor MAUMEE is probably headed for the scrapyard; however, that remains to be seen.

Video: BUCKEYE Towed into Erie for Barge Conversion

At 0830 on Sunday, December 4, 2005, the OLIVE L. MOORE, assisted by the Ashtabula-based Great Lakes Towing tug NEW YORK, towed the BUCKEYE into Erie harbor to Erie Shipbuilding, where over the coming months the vessel would be converted into the barge LEWIS J. KUBER. Below is video of that event.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting more video from years past as I get it converted and uploaded. Next up will be a video from April 5, 2002 of the tugs IOWA and RHODE ISLAND moving the RICHARD REISS from the Mountfort Terminal to the West Slip. I hope to have that up by sometime next week.

In addition, I will be posting videos from as far back as 1993 as I get them onto the computer and edit them.

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OLIVE L. MOORE tows the BUCKEYE into the channel toward Presque Isle Bay, December 4, 2005.


Another view.


Close up of the tug OLIVE L. MOORE.


Close up of BUCKEYE. In a few months, the cabins will be completely removed and the barge will be unrecognizable as the same vessel it is on this day.


Great Lakes Towing tug NEW YORK, out of Ashtabula, Ohio, assisted the tow.


Stern view of the tow.


Close up of the BUCKEYE.


A few minutes later, on this cold December morning, the tow is in the West Slip.


NEW YORK holds the BUCKEYE alongside as Erie Shipbuilding employees moor the vessel.

Historical: Erie Shipbuilding's BUCKEYE Conversion, Part 1

On December 4, 2005, Erie Shipbuilding's first project arrived in Erie. The former Oglebay Norton steamer BUCKEYE arrived under tow of the OLIVE L. MOORE. The steamer, over the next nine months, would be converted to a barge at the shipyard. This photo essay will take a look at the first months of her stay in Erie.


OLIVE L. MOORE tows the BUCKEYE into the channel toward Presque Isle Bay, December 4, 2005.


Another view.


Close up of the tug OLIVE L. MOORE.


Close up of BUCKEYE. In a few months, the cabins will be completely removed and the barge will be unrecognizable as the same vessel it is on this day.


Great Lakes Towing tug NEW YORK, out of Ashtabula, Ohio, assisted the tow.


Stern view of the tow.


Close up of the BUCKEYE.


A few minutes later, on this cold December morning, the tow is in the West Slip.


NEW YORK holds the BUCKEYE alongside as Erie Shipbuilding employees moor the vessel.


Conversion on the BUCKEYE is well underway by the time of this January 12, 2006 photograph. The stack has been removed and crews are cutting into the stern of the ship.


BUCKEYE is shown in this photo on January 19, 2006.


Stern view on January 19.


Stern of the BUCKEYE on January 28, 2006.


Conversion progresses on February 15.


On the morning of February 20, Lakeshore Towing's FLATTOP and DON HENRY break ice in preparation for the BUCKEYE's move into drydock late that day.

Watch for Part 2 tomorrow.