CSL NIAGARA Departs

With assistance from RHODE ISLAND and IOWA, CSL NIAGARA backed away from the West Slip at 0745 on Wednesday, under tow of NEW YORK, and with a push from the RHODE ISLAND turned and departed. CSL NIAGARA spent the morning and much of the afternoon undergoing tests off of Erie before departing upbound for Superior at around 1600. The vessel will load coal, it's first cargo of the season after repairs to ice damage, in Superior.

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NEW YORK tows the CSL NIAGARA away from McKEE SONS.


RHODE ISLAND stands by as the NIAGARA slowly backs away.


CSL NIAGARA slowly proceeds backward.


RHODE ISLAND moves in.


Approaching the NIAGARA.


RHODE ISLAND pours on the power.


Locomotives for export and the transformers unloaded by FEDERAL KUMANO last week sit on the dock. More transformers will arrive in mid-July aboard FEDERAL WESER.


NIAGARA rounds the Mountfort Terminal.


Turning.


RHODE ISLAND and NEW YORK escorted CSL NIAGARA out before returning to Ashtabula.


CSL NIAGARA lines up for the channel.


With the tugs.


Another view.


Close up.


RHODE ISLAND outbound with Capt. Brad Sheppard in the window and Engineer Dave Kostik on deck.


Stern view.


NEW YORK on the starboard side.


Clearing Erie outbound.


A family of Canada geese at the East Avenue Boat Launch on Wednesday afternoon.


CSL NIAGARA stopped off of Erie.

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NEW YORK departing Erie on the morning of May 24.


Later that afternoon, outbound to assist FEDERAL KUMANO.


Stern view.


FEDERAL KUMANO and the North Pier Light.


NEW YORK escorting the KUMANO inbound


Another view.


At the piers.


Close up of the KUMANO, paying its first visit to Erie.


KUMANO was loaded with transformers bound for a power plant in New York.


Close up.


NEW YORK escorts the FEDERAL KUMANO.


Stern view.


In the bay.


NEW YORK pushing.


Another view.


Pouring on the power.


Turning.

I will post the remainder of the photos - CSL NIAGARA's removal from drydock on May 25 - tomorrow.

Video: RICHARD REISS Tow in Erie, Part 2

Part two of the video of the RICHARD REISS tow shows the tow approaching the West Slip.

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Video: RICHARD REISS Towed in Erie, April 5, 2002

On April 5, 2002, the RICHARD REISS, which was not slated to sail that season, was towed by the tugs IOWA and RHODE ISLAND from the Mountfort Terminal to the West Slip. This video is part one of two parts showing that tow. Part two will come tomorrow.

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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.