SAGINAW Visits

SAGINAW delivered the fourth, and likely final, sand load of the season yesterday evening. SAGINAW arrived at 2030 and departed at around midnight bound for Toledo, Ohio to load coal.

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SAGINAW backing into Erie harbor.


Swinging the boom out.

SAGINAW Visits; CHEYENNE in Port

SAGINAW arrived in Erie this morning at 0830 with sand from Thessalon, Ontario for beach replenishment. This is SAGINAW's first trip to Erie since April 12, 2004.

SAGINAW unloaded the third load of sand for beach replenishment throughout the morning and early afternoon before departing at 1500 bound for Toledo to load coal.

Tug CHEYENNE and Erie-built barge WITTE 1402 arrived in Erie today and moored at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair. The tug/barge unit is on its way back from delivering cargo to Fairport Harbor, Ohio and are here to pick up the barge WITTE 1407. WITTE 1407 will be taken to New York. I will update with more on CHEYENNE's departure as I learn more.

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SAGINAW backing into Erie harbor.


Lowering the workboat to put deckhands ashore.


Swinging the boom out.


Unloading in the early afternoon.


Stern view of the classic laker. The last time SAGINAW was in Erie, the vessel was a steamship; SAGINAW has since been repowered.


J.S. St JOHN inbound.


Close up


Stern view.


Departing at 1500.


SAGINAW in the channel at Buoys 3 & 4.


Outbound.


Headed up the lake.


Course change - heading up the lake.


SAGINAW picks up speed.


SAGINAW's classic bow.


Stern view, departing for Toledo.


CHEYENNE at dock with WITTE 1402.


A puff of smoke from CHEYENNE's stack. Note J.S. St. JOHN turning in the background to head outbound


CHEYENNE pushing on the barge WITTE 1402.

SAGINAW Due

Lower Lakes Towing's SAGINAW, laden with sand from Thessalon, is expected in Erie at 1130 tomorrow morning. This is SAGINAW's first visit to the port since 2004.

Sand replenishment to begin at last, at least one ship load due

Sand replenishment at Presque Isle State Park is FINALLY set to begin next week. The first phase of the project involves moving 16,800 tons of sand already built-up between the breakwalls and the beach, and placing it on other beaches.

The second phase involves receiving 31,400 tons of sand by ship from Thessalon, Ontario, with 6,000 tons remaining at the North Pier to be put down on the beaches later. According to the article Lafarge North America will be hauling the sand. However, as Lafarge owns no lake vessels and contracts most of their hauling out to Lower Lakes Towing, likely the MISSISSAGI, CUYAHOGA, MANISTEE or SAGINAW will be hauling this sand to Erie. Last year the MISSISSAGI made two trips, the CUYAHOGA and MANISTEE one each into Erie with sand.

However, none of these vessels carry more than 20,000 tons per trip, meaning at least two vessel loads are necessary. With low water levels, however, three trips may be necessary to haul 31,400 tons of sand into Erie harbor if all of the sand is deposited on the North Pier. Last year, however, the MISSISSAGI lightered her two loads at the Mountfort Terminal before shifting to unload most of the cargo at the North Pier, so two vessel loads is likely what Erie will see during this project.

Due to the placement of storage area at the North Pier, a ship with a forward-mounted unloading boom is necessary to reach the storage area. A vessel with an aft-mounted boom will not be able to reach the pile easily. I'm sure it's possible but it's not likely.

If by some chance another shipping company hauls the sand into Erie, it will more than likely be another Canadian operator. But, as Lower Lakes has always hauled this sand into Erie, they are the most likely to be delivering this sand.