SPEER, PRESQUE ISLE Depart

After just over two months of work in port, both EDGAR B. SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE departed Erie today. After several delays, SPEER ended up departing before the PRESQUE ISLE at around 1300, bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load iron ore.

SPEER saluted the crowd of about 100 people, including representatives of WICU-TV, WJET-TV, and the Erie Times News, gathered on hand to watch the departure.

Around 1345 PRESQUE ISLE departed the Mountfort Terminal, and exchanged salutes with a number of motor vehicles on the dock. The PRESQUE ISLE turned in Presque Isle Bay and departed outbound, also saluting the dwindling number of onlookers as it departed the port to begin another season. The PRESQUE ISLE is bound for Duluth to load iron ore.

I will post video of these departures tomorrow or Sunday.

---

EDGAR B. SPEER testing its unloading boom prior to departure.


PRESQUE ISLE at the Mountfort Terminal this morning.


EDGAR B. SPEER in Presque Isle Bay.


Turning for the channel.


Passing its fleetmate PRESQUE ISLE, which is about 30 minutes from leaving the Mountfort Terminal at this point.


Outbound.


Closeup.


Stern view.


At the end of the channel.


Another view.


Passing the lighthouse.


Next destination: Two Harbors, Minnesota.


Local motor yacht ENDLESS ENDEAVOUR inbound from the lake. The yacht's owner reports windrows of five to six feet of ice in the lake.


PRESQUE ISLE departing the Mountfort Terminal.


Turning into the bay.


Turn almost complete.


Lining up for the channel.


Approaching the piers.


In the channel.


Stern view.


Next destination: Duluth.


See you next winter, if not sooner.

SPEER, PRESQUE ISLE Set to Depart

NEAH BAY remained in port today and will likely depart tomorrow with the PRESQUE ISLE, currently scheduled to leave, bound for Duluth to load iron ore, around 0800. EDGAR B. SPEER, bound for Two Harbors to load iron ore, is scheduled to leave between 1100 and 1200.

PRESQUE ISLE DEPARTS

PRESQUE ISLE departed Erie at about 1330 hours this afternoon after nearly three months in winter layup. The tug/barge unit departed the Mountfort Terminal at 1250 hours, turned in her namesake harbor and departed for Two Harbors, Minnesota, where the vessel is expected on Saturday to load iron ore.

The PRESQUE ISLE, due to the poor economy, stayed in layup about three weeks later than normal. Last year the vessel fitted out on March 22.

Later this week, possibly as early as tomorrow, the ROGER BLOUGH is expected to be towed to Conneaut to continue to sit out the 2009 season.

---

PRESQUE ISLE departing the Mountfort Terminal.


Entering Presque Isle Bay.


In the bay.


PRESQUE ISLE turns.


Turning for the channel.


Bow view. The PRESQUE ISLE, due to its massive size and awkward handling, moved as far to the north side of the channel as possible before straightening out.


In the channel.


Next destination: Two Harbors, MN.

ROGER BLOUGH; PRESQUE ISLE UPDATE

Both the PRESQUE ISLE and ROGER BLOUGH are upbound on their last trips of the season before laying up in Erie for the winter. As of today the BLOUGH is ahead of the PRESQUE ISLE and due in Two Harbors, MN to load on the 9th at 1500. The PRESQUE ISLE is due later that evening; both are loading for Conneaut, which puts them there late on the 12th or early on the 13th, and in Erie late that day or on January 14.

I will continue to update they vessels' progress toward their winter layup in Erie.

PRESQUE ISLE DEPARTS

CASON J. CALLAWAY was freed by the Canadian Coast Guard cutter GRIFFON last night at midnight and is now on her way across Lake Erie for Detroit and eventually, Two Harbors, Minnesota.

A shift in wind direction overnight gave the PRESQUE ISLE's captain and crew some concern before the vessel departed early this afternoon. The wind had shifted and was blowing from the east, causing ice to jam up at the end of the channel.

As such, the PRESQUE ISLE departed the Mountfort Terminal at 1215 hours this afternoon, but unlike any of the vessel's previous visits to the port, did not choose to back through the channel and turn in Lake Erie. Instead, the captain chose, in front of around 100 onlookers, to turn in Presque Isle Bay and proceed bow-first through the channel and out into Lake Erie. The GRIFFON, meanwhile, stood by while working with USCG NEAH BAY to break tracks through the ice for ships sailing between Conneaut, Ohio, and Nanticoke, Ontario.

PRESQUE ISLE blew a master's salute to the crowds gathered on the piers to see the vessel off. They are next bound for either Duluth or Two Harbors, Minnesota to load taconite pellets for Conneaut.

I will post video of both the CALLAWAY and PRESQUE ISLE departures either tonight or tomorrow.

---

PRESQUE ISLE prepares to leave the Mountfort Terminal this morning.


Moving away from the Mountfort Terminal.


Another view.


PRESQUE ISLE proceeds into Presque Isle Bay.


Turning around.


Heading into the channel.


PRESQUE ISLE in her namesake bay, lined up for the channel.


Entering the channel.


Outbound.


Close up of the tug.


Stern view.


PRESQUE ISLE passing the lighthouse.


Another view. This photo and those below by Jim Thoreson.


Heading into the ice field.


Though the vessel slowed, the PRESQUE ISLE made good time through this ice field.


Ice was visible as far as the eye could see.

CALLAWAY Departs, Doesn't Get Far; PRESQUE ISLE to Depart Saturday

CASON J. CALLAWAY, after a three-hour delay from her original planned departure time, departed Erie at 1830 this afternoon bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load taconite. The crew of the CALLAWAY had spent most of Friday completing last minute fit-out tasks before departing the Old Ore Dock and proceeding slowly past fleetmate PRESQUE ISLE. The vessels exchanged three long and two short whistle blasts - a master's salute - as CALLAWAY picked up speed to get a run for the ice outside Erie harbor.

The CALLAWAY's captain, having been in contact throughout the day with the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker GRIFFON, intended on heading east to Long Point to find a track of open water before turning west for Southeast Shoal and the Detroit River. As of 1845, ice permitting the crew hoped to reach Long Point in 2.5 hours, Southeast Shoal at 0700 Saturday, and run up through the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers during daylight Saturday.

At around 1850, the CALLAWAY told the PRESQUE ISLE that they were making good time and encountering no problems with the ice as they reached a speed of 9 miles per hour. This changed quickly when the vessel hit a windrow of ice, and the vessel came to a halt by 1930 hours in a position of 42' 11.6 N, 80' 02.1 W, about two miles east of the Erie harbor entrance. The vessel has called the GRIFFON for help. The GRIFFON is currently en route to try and break the CALLAWAY free.

CALLAWAY'S departure drew a large crowd to the South Pier this afternoon, including a photographer from the Erie Times-News.

Meanwhile, PRESQUE ISLE is planning to depart tomorrow at noon for Two Harbors.

---

CALLAWAY at dock at 1645 hours. The vessel did not have to shift forward to take on ballast, as the PHILIP R. CLARKE did last March, thanks to dredging performed in December by Lakeshore Towing.


Coming around the PRESQUE ISLE.


Turning into the channel.


Passing her fleetmate PRESQUE ISLE.


Outbound.


Another view.


CALLAWAY picks up speed on its way out.


Churning water as the 1953-built steamer picks up speed.


Heading for the lake.


Into open water as ice looms ahead, underway for the new season.


Janet Campbell of the Erie Times-News photographs the outbound CALLAWAY.