DONJON'S NEWEST BARGE DEPARTS

Tug VIGILANT I arrived in Erie this morning at 0830 and docked at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, astern of the FARRELL 256.

At 1115 the VIGILANT I entered the graving dock and turned around behind newly-completed WITTE 4004, faced up and pushed the WITTE 4004 out of the dock. The WITTE 4004 was moored on the east side of the shipyard.

VIGILANT I then moved over to the West Slip and hooked up to the FARRELL 256, moving the barge into the drydock for more repair work. The barge will be docked next to the A-390 when the Andrie barge arrives this weekend and is put into drydock.

VIGILANT I then hooked up to the WITTE 4004 and departed with the barge, bound down the Seaway for Valleyfield, where it will reportedly meet up with the tug ATLANTIC SALVOR and barge WITTE 1007 to be taken to New York City.

Also of note, the Erie Western Pennsylvania Port Authority was recently awarded a $700,000 grant to extend the rail siding at Donjon's yard.

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VIGILANT I inbound Erie at 0830 this morning.


Side view.


Stern view.


Docking on the west side of Donjon's yard.


VIGILANT I moves the WITTE 4004 out of drydock.


Docking the barge on the east side of the yard.


A few minutes later, VIGILANT I's crew works with shipyard employees to moor the FARRELL 256 into drydock.


Starting to back the FARRELL 256 out of the slip. This is the barge's third trip into drydock since arriving in Erie last October.


Backing out.


Turning to line up for the drydock.


WITTE 4004 departing, powered by VIGILANT I.


Another view.


Close up. The barge is a sister to the 2007-built WITTE 4003, constructed at Erie Shipbuilding LLC.


VIGILANT I providing the power to the barge. They are currently a little less than two hours out of Port Colborne, at a speed of 6.7 knots.


Stern view.


Clearing the piers.

VIGILANT I DUE BACK

VIGILANT I is expected back at around 0830 Friday to pick up dump scow WITTE 4004 at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair.

VIGILANT I ARRIVES, DEPARTS WITH WITTE 1407; 1407 TO HAUL SPECIAL CARGO; DONJON UPDATE

Nadro Marine's 1,500 horsepower tug VIGILANT I arrived in Erie at 0900 this morning, and docked alongside the barge WITTE 1407 on the east side of Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair. VIGILANT I was here to take the barge out of port.

After clearing customs, the tug and barge cleared at 1325 for Valleyfield, Quebec. The VIGILANT I pushed WITTE 1407 out of port as a light barge and should be arriving at the Welland Canal at 2025 this evening.

WITTE 1407 is being taken to Valleyfield to load a special cargo - the antenna for the new World Trade Center under construction in New York City. After loading, the barge will be taken to Albany, New York, where it will be picked up next week by Donjon's big tug ATLANTIC SALVOR and taken to New York City.

Meanwhile, at Donjon's yard, work continues on new dumpscow WITTE 4004. The barge was floated today for testing, and will be reset on the blocks tomorrow or Thursday for a few more days. Reportedly, tug VIGILANT I will return next week to tow WITTE 4004 out of Erie.

After that, FARRELL 256 will return to drydock for more work, involving the removal of the barge's house for interior steel work.

Erie is expecting five ships for winter layup, with two of them being the thousand-footers EDWIN H. GOTT and PRESQUE ISLE. The other three are reportedly to layup at Donjon.

Of note, the only other time VIGILANT I was in Erie was April 18, 2003, when it towed the J.S. St. JOHN to Port Weller Dry Docks for repairs.

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VIGILANT I inbound Erie this morning.


Stern view.


VIGILANT I entered the West Slip before being informed by a Donjon employee working on FARRELL 256 that the barge they were here for was, in fact, moored on the other side of the shipyard.


Turning in the slip.


Turned and departing the West Slip.


Mooring alongside WITTE 1407 a few minutes later.


A crew member on the VIGILANT I puts the red starboard light on the barge. These portable lights are required by navigation regulations, but not often permanently mounted to deck barges due to a lack of power. Therefore, these portable, battery powered units are carried on tugs and installed when needed.


Clearing U.S. Customs.


VIGILANT I tests its towline by pulling on the east side of the slip.


Backing the barge out of the slip.


Approaching the channel in an east wind, which is pushing water into the rake of the barge and causing a large bow wave.


Outbound.


Passing the Coast Guard station.


Outbound. This is likely the last time the WITTE 1407 will be in Erie, as it is expected to enter service for Donjon Marine on the east coast after delivery of its cargo.


St. JOHN inbound a few minutes after the VIGILANT I and WITTE 1407 depart.


Passing the Erie Pierhead lighthouse.


Stern view, bound for the Old Ore Dock.

VIGILANT I DUE

Nadro Marine's tug VIGILANT I is expected in Erie at around 0830 this morning.