USCGC BISCAYNE BAY Stops in Port

The U.S. Coast Guard's 140-foot long icebreaking tug BISCAYNE BAY, WTGB-104, arrived in Erie at 2130 on Tuesday and anchored in Presque Isle Bay. This afternoon, the tug moved to the west side of Dobbin's Landing.

BISCAYNE BAY is one of nine "Bay class" Coast Guard cutters constructed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and one of five stationed on the Great Lakes. BISCAYNE BAY is stationed in St. Ignace, Michigan and is nicknamed "Sentinel of the Straits," due to her homeport's location in the Straits of Mackinac.

It is unknown how long the BISCAYNE BAY will be in port.

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BISCAYNE BAY at dock.


Overhead view.


Close up.

Lakeshore Towing is First Responder to Persons in Water

What started out as another ordinary tow for Lakeshore Towing's Captain Neil Lundell aboard ENDURANCE on Wednesday evening ended with Lundell rescuing three people from the waters of Lake Erie after a search and rescue operation involving ENDURANCE, Coast Guard Station Erie, and a Coast Guard helicopter from Detroit.

Apparently, after the pleasure craft became disabled, three of the vessel's occupants decided to go swimming. While trying to reboard the craft, the swim platform on the vessel broke free and the boat drifted away from them, leaving a lone female occupant on the boat. However, she informed no one until Capt. Lundell arrived aboard ENDURANCE. By this time, the occupants had drifted quite a distance from the vessel, which was located about two miles northeast of the channel.

The vessel's occupant informed Capt. Lundell of the missing persons, and he in turn informed Coast Guard Station Erie and began searching for the three.

The three passengers were recovered by ENDURANCE at around 2030 hours Wednesday night. One of the vessels from Coast Guard Station Erie transported the three to Lampe Marina, where they refused treatment from Emergycare, though one was reported to be suffering from mild hypothermia.

BRISTOL BAY arrives in port

Only about a half-hour after I posted earlier today that the Coast Guard icebreaker BRISTOL BAY was working in Lake Erie, the vessel arrived in Erie and secured at the Coast Guard station for supplies. The 140-foot "Bay Class" U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking tug was inbound at 1045 hours this morning and secured at the North Pier along the Coast Guard property.

The last time BRISTOL BAY was in Erie was May 4, 2007, when the vessel brought its buoy barge into port to replace the winter markers with the summer aids to navigation.


BRISTOL BAY at the Coast Guard Station at 1230 this afternoon.


Another view.


Stern view.


BRISTOL BAY at dock.

HIGH WINDS DELAY DREDGING, HOLLYHOCK; TOBAGO LOADING CONTINUES

High winds in Erie harbor and on Lake Erie have delayed dredging work at the Old Ore Dock. Lakeshore Towing's equipment has remained tied up all weekend with no work being completed.

USCGC HOLLYHOCK has remained in port and is secured at the Old Ore Dock ahead of Lakeshore Towing's dredging site.

CLIPPER TOBAGO loading continues and should be complete late this week, if all goes well.

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CLIPPER TOBAGO loading 5,415 tons of biodiesel.


The view from the South Pier.


USCG 33133 surfs through the channel.


In Presque Isle Bay.


HOLLYHOCK and Lakeshore Towing's FLATTOP and DON HENRY secured at the Old Ore Dock.

HOLLYHOCK ARRIVES FOR BUOYS; CLIPPER TOBAGO LOADS

US Coast Guard Cutter HOLLYHOCK (WLB-214) arrived in Erie at 1445 hours this afternoon and secured at Coast Guard Station Erie to load the winter markers that have been stored at the station since May 4. Over the next two days the crew of the HOLLYHOCK will use the ship's crane and lift each of the lighted summer buoys from its station in Erie harbor and replace them with the unlighted winter markers. This will prevent any ice build ups from causing severe damage to the lighted summer buoys. With snowy, cold weather expected over the next few days this will be a cold job for the crew.

When complete, the HOLLYHOCK will offload the summer buoys onto the pier at Coast Guard Station Erie, where they will remain until HOLLYHOCK returns sometime after May 1 to return them to the water. Any buoys that are currently found in need of repair will be taken to HOLLYHOCK's home base in Port Huron, Michigan and repaired over the coming months.

Crews at the Mountfort Terminal remained hard at work this afternoon loading the CLIPPER TOBAGO with biodiesel. As of 1500 six of the twelve railcars on the dock had been offloaded into the tanker. I'm not sure if they will be working on Sunday, but on Monday more railcars will be delivered to the Mountfort Terminal to continue loading the TOBAGO.

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HOLLYHOCK inbound.


Close up.


These buoys on the deck of the HOLLYHOCK have already been removed from other waterways and are in need of repair for the winter.


The newest member of Station Erie's fleet, 33133, which arrived late October, is shown while inbound Erie.


Stern view of the HOLLYHOCK.


HOLLYHOCK manouevering to dock as 33133 passes.


HOLLYHOCK secured alongside the Coast Guard Station, ready to begin loading.


CLIPPER TOBAGO loads.


Another view of the TOBAGO.

AMERICAN COURAGE in Port

AMERICAN COURAGE finished unloading her Cedarville-loaded cargo of stone this morning at 0800 and departed the Old Ore Dock outbound.

Bright and early this morning Coast Guard Station Erie lifted their 47-foot motor lifeboat 47241 from the water for some unknown repairs.

Signs of Spring and Thing to Look Forward to

Spring is in the air in Erie harbor. Lakeshore Towing's towboat WOLVERINE is now back in the water and moored at their dock at Wolverine Marina.

Coast Guard Station Erie's 47-foot motor lifeboat, 47241, has been removed from the winter storage building on Station Erie's property, sporting her crew cut- the removal of her flying bridge that allows her to be stored in the building. Crews are busy preparing her for her return to the water.

CG Station Fairport Harbor's 47-foot lifeboat, 47283, was moored at Station Erie today. I'm not sure if she's there for repairs, or just a visit. In the past 47283 has come to Erie to be hauled out of the water for repairs.

Looking forward, some important dates for the shipping season:

April ?- Arrival of the first vessel of the season.
May 1- USCGC HOLLYHOCK will arrive to replace the winter buoys in Erie harbor (approximate).
June ?- Erie Shipbuilding's Hull 101 will be delivered to her owner.
August 27- Barring another dock-wall collapse, Erie's Cruise Terminal will open with the arrival of American Canadian Caribbean Line's GRANDE MARINER.
December 1- USCGC HOLLYHOCK will arrive to replace the summer buoys in Erie harbor (approximate).


47241 and 47283 at Station Erie

Erie Harbor mentioned in District 9 USCG Notmar

The proposed 89-foot pedestrian bridge over the West Canal Basin that will connect the new Convention Center and Hotel being built on Erie's bayfront are now open for public comments on this week's Notice to Mariners (NOTMAR) issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District. The NOTMAR can be accessed online at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/d9/lnm0911.pdf. Public comments will be accepted through April 7th.