PILGRIM Scrapping Update

PILGRIM is now close to becoming nothing but a memory. Scrapping has progressed quickly on the fishing tug, which is now in sections at the boatyard near Perry's Landing Marina.

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PILGRIM's remains this afternoon.


Close up of the General Motors engine that once powered the vessel.


The midship section of PILGRIM.


Close up of one of the cuts in the hull.


Bow of the once-proud PILGRIM. Another piece of the commercial fishing history of the Great Lakes will soon be gone.

KATHY LYNN, Barge Remain; PILGRIM Scrapping Begins; LADY KATE Under New Ownership

KATHY LYNN and CT 150 remain in port today. The crane was loaded onto the barge today and the duo is moored alongside, parallel to the dock. No word yet on when they will be departing.

As I first reported late last year, the fishing tug PILGRIM, which suffered a sinking in early 2007, is currently being scrapped on Port Authority property just east of Perry's Landing Marina.

LADY KATE, which I reported to be for sale last year, is now owned by Tim Sedney, owner of Rum Runners and one of the principals in the VICTORIAN PRINCESS dinner cruiser that operates on Erie's waterfront. With former owner Tom Macaluso's retirement, the VHF waves around Erie harbor will never be the same.

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KATHY LYNN and barge at dock.


PILGRIM undergoing scrapping.


Another view.


Stern view.


Zebra mussels on the hull.


A pile of scrap on the dock.


Looking onto the stern of the PILGRIM.


Underneath the hull.


The deck of the PILGRIM, covered in holes in the metal.

Harbor Quiet; PILGRIM Not Yet Razorblades

Erie's harbor is quiet, as is normal for this time of year. Lakeshore Towing has completed dredging of the Old Ore Dock and all of their equipment is now back at their base at Wolverine Marina. FLATTOP and DON HENRY, along with barges 501 and 401 are moored at the marina, and barge 502 is moored immediately west of there at Presque Isle Yacht Club.

PILGRIM, meanwhile, has not yet been sent to a scrapyard. The vessel is currently high and dry inside the boat yard south of Liberty Park.


PILGRIM high and dry.


Another view.

Looking back at 2007, Part 2 of 3: 10 Most Noteworthy Stories of 2007

A great number of newsworthy events occured in 2007. Here are the ten most noteworthy.

1. Erie Shipbuilding launches first newbuildings: Erie Shipbuilding launched the first vessels to come out of the shipyard in 34 years late this year with the float launchings of the dump scow WITTE 4003 and deck barges PAV 101, PAV 102, PAV 103, WITTE 1401, and SUE B.

2. Biodiesel shipped from the port: The CLIPPER TOBAGO departed Erie early on the 20th of December with the first load of biodiesel to ever be shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway system. This cargo was many hours in the planning, with talented individuals from O-N Minerals, Lakeshore Towing, Logistics Plus, Erie Management Group, Lake Erie Biofuels, and CSX involved in the successful completion of this load.

3. Dredging begins on the Old Ore Dock: After years of shoaling occuring in the Old Ore Dock slip, Lakeshore Towing began dredging the slip in December. This will allow ships to load more cargo and deliver it to the Old Ore Dock in 2008 and beyond.

4. Season sees variety of ships: Unlike prior years, no one vessel made the vast majority of visits to the port of Erie in 2007. This year, 22 vessels delivered cargo to the port of Erie, and one loaded cargo.

5. Mountfort Terminal handles project cargo: The Mountfort Terminal handled one project cargo load this year, which arrived November 26 on board the DAVIKEN coming from Antwerp, Belgium.

6. Development of new cargoes for the port: 2007 saw three new commodities handled by the port of Erie. The three cargoes, railroad ballast, biodiesel, and paper products, should continue to be shipped through the port in the coming year and beyond.

7. Erie's rebirth as port for layups: Due to the combined talents of employees of Great Lakes Electrical Services, Lakeshore Towing, Erie Shipbuilding and O-N Minerals, Erie for the second straight winter hosted at least two vessels for winter layup. The PRESQUE ISLE and PHILIP R. CLARKE spent the winter of 2006-07 in the port of Erie.

8. Erie Shipbuilding drydocks JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT: Erie Shipbuilding drydocked one vessel in 2007. The JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT and barge GREAT LAKES TRADER spent three weeks in drydock for repairs in January.

9. PRESQUE ISLE, THOMPSON Stop for repairs: PRESQUE ISLE spent more than two days in mid-August in Erie for repairs to the port shaft seal. In April, the JOSEPH H. THOMPSON spent three days at Erie Shipbuilding undergoing engine repairs.

10. PILGRIM's plight: After sinking in the East Canal Basin in early February, the PILGRIM is not raised from the bottom until mid-April. The vessel does not move for the entire season and late in December is taken for scrap.

Coming Tuesday: A look forward to 2008

Happy New Year to all of my readers!

Lakeshore Towing pulls two barges from shipyard; PILGRIM bound for the cutter's torch

This morning at 1000 hours Lakeshore Towing crews, with tug FLATTOP and towboat DON HENRY, took a break from dredging the Old Ore Dock and proceeded into the drydock at Erie Shipbuilding. By 1030 the duo emerged with FLATTOP pulling and DON HENRY on the stern of the fourth of six deck barges built by the shipyard, the WITTE 1401. The barge is owned by Donjon Marine.

Lakeshore Towing crews pulled the barge to the far southern end of the West Slip, mooring it at alongside the pier with help from Erie Shipbuilding crews, then departed for the drydock. At 1130 hours FLATTOP and DON HENRY pulled deck barge SUE B. out of the drydock, mooring it alongside the WITTE 1401. The SUE B. was christened in September, however, it became the fifth of the six deck barges to emerge from the shipyard.

The final deck barge is the WITTE 1402, which will likely be completed soon.

At 0930 hours today, fishing tug BIG TONY took PILGRIM, the former fishing tug that sank under the weight of snow and ice last February, in tow from the East Canal Basin bound for Perry's Landing Marina. The PILGRIM reportedly will be lifted from the water and scrapped. A sad ending to yet another link to Erie's commercial fishing past.

Lakeshore Towing's new barge 401 took its first load of dredged material from the dredging site at the Old Ore Dock this afternoon.

Click here to view a short video clip of the first tow.

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FLATTOP and DON HENRY pull WITTE 1401 from drydock.


Turning the barge and lining up for the West Slip.


Close up.


FLATTOP and DON HENRY pull the barge into the West Slip.


FLATTOP.


WITTE 1401. Lakeshore Towing owner Eric Guerrein is standing on the bow directing the tow.


WITTE 1401.


DON HENRY on the stern.


Bringing the barge to a stop.


FLATTOP waits while the crew on the barge releases the tow line.


FLATTOP comes around to push the barge alongside the pier.


FLATTOP and DON HENRY push the barge alongside the pier.


Securing the barge.


FLATTOP departs for the drydock to tow SUE B.


FLATTOP and DON HENRY pull SUE B. from drydock.


FLATTOP and DON HENRY pulling on the barge.


Aligning the barge for the West Slip.


Into the West Slip.


SUE B.


Another view.


Bringing the barge alongside WITTE 1401.


FLATTOP comes around to push again.


SUE B.


Rafting the barges together.


FLATTOP and DON HENRY push the barge alongside the pier.


BIG TONY takes PILGRIM under tow.


PILGRIM at Perry's Landing Marina.

PILGRIM Raised

The fishing tug PILGRIM has been raised. Last Saturday crews attempted unsuccessful to lift the tug, and managed to sometime between then and today. Other than a scratched up paint job the tug amazingly doesn't look too bad for spending the winter on the bottom.


PILGRIM on Saturday morning.


PILGRIM at dock on Thursday.

PILGRIM

Page 4A of today's Erie Times-News features a photo of the PILGRIM as she rests now. The tug is still in this position and likely will remain underwater until the bay thaws, so she may be there a while.

PILGRIM Sinking, Part II

Below are photos of the PILGRIM, first as she appeared on 30 October 2006, and then from 12:30 this afternoon.

Fishing tug PILGRIM sinks

For the second winter in a row, ice on Presque Isle Bay has claimed a victim of Erie's historic harborfront fleet.

Last winter, the 1884-vintage restaurant/railroad car ferry LANSDOWNE sank on Christmas Day 2005, and was not raised until 2 February.

Recent cold temperatures have left ice on Erie's harbor to be several inches thick to a foot or more. This caused, as I witnessed today, the weight of the snow and ice to begin to crush 1946-built fishing vessel PILGRIM to begin to sink at her dock in the East Basin. The vessel is already sitting several feet lower in the water than normal and unless something is done soon, will likely slip to the bottom as more cold temperatures and snow are expected soon. The vessel is owned by Benjamin Green III of Waterford and was built at Vermillion, Ohio in 1946.

I will post photos of the PILGRIM's present state when I get home this evening.


PILGRIM.

Also, anyone who has visited the site in the past couple of days may have noticed that it can now be linked to directly at http://www.erieshipnews.com . This change is part of bigger plans I have for this blog in the future.