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.

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.

TUG OHIO DUE

Great Lakes Towing's tug OHIO, light tug, will be arriving in Erie at 2130 tonight to pick up the barge WITTE 1407. WITTE 1407 will be taken to Buffalo to load cargo for Toledo and then brought back to Erie.

Meanwhile, ATLANTIC SALVOR is scheduled to come out of drydock tomorrow.

KEN BOOTHE SR. FLOATED!

Great Lakes Towing's tug NEW YORK arrived from Ashtabula this morning and began breaking ice in Erie harbor in preparation for the move of the tug KEN BOOTHE SR from the drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair.

At 0800 the tug NEW YORK moved the WITTE 1406 to the east side of the shipyard across from the J.S. St. JOHN, and then moved the WITTE 1407 to the east end of the Mountfort Terminal. The movements will allow a vessel to be docked in the West Slip this winter.

At around 0930 shipyard crews removed the drydock gate, and at 1045 hours this morning the NEW YORK began to tow the tug KEN BOOTHE SR. out of the drydock, turning the tug in the harbor and backing it in to the north end of the West Slip. The BOOTHE will remain here all winter and is scheduled to be completed sometime in mid-February.

I will have video of this move posted tomorrow, along with video of the BELUGA ENDURANCE.

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NEW YORK and WITTE 1406 sit at the Old Ore Dock.


NEW YORK sits in the ice near the Mountfort Terminal.


NEW YORK turning at the West Slip. In a moment the tug will begin backing toward the WITTE 1407.


Backing toward the WITTE 1407.


Securing a line to the barge.


Pushing the barge out of the dock, bound for the Mountfort Terminal.


Stern view.


Stern view of the tow as it heads into icy Erie harbor.


NEW YORK pulls the KEN BOOTHE SR out of drydock.


Releasing the tow line.


NEW YORK backs around the KEN BOOTHE SR.


KEN BOOTHE SR. is the first powered vessel to be built entirely in Erie. Although PRESQUE ISLE and the STEWART J. CORT were assembled here, they were not completely built here.


NEW YORK swings the BOOTHE around.


Stern-on view as the NEW YORK moves the tug.


Approaching the slip.


Nearing the dock.


Close up of the NEW YORK.


Approaching the dock.


Pulling on the tug.


Close up.


This 135-foot long, 10,500 horespower tug is a sister to the JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT.


NEW YORK pushes the BOOTHE into position.


NEW YORK moves around the tug.


Turning.


Backing around to stop and dock for lunch.


Lowering a gangway onto the KEN BOOTHE SR.


Video of the NEW YORK moving the WITTE 1407.