KEN BOOTHE SR./LAKES CONTENDER TO BE CHRISTENED TUESDAY

Tug KEN BOOTHE SR. and barge LAKES CONTENDER will be christened in a ceremony at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair on Tuesday afternoon, bringing to a close a nearly four-year long construction process that began when the tug was laid down for VanEnkevort Tug & Barge at the former Erie Shipbuilding facility in late 2008. The tug was laid down as CLYDE VanENKEVORT, named for Erie Shipbuilding owner Dirk VanEnkevort's father, one of the pioneers of the articulated tug-barge (ATB) trades on the Great Lakes. The tug was designed to push a 740' bulk barge to be named ERIE TRADER.

However, the economy collapsed and Erie Shipbuilding, quite simply, ran out of money to complete construction of $50 million duo for VanEnkevort's interests. The yard closed in late January 2009 and work on the duo stopped.

In December 2009 the Erie Western Pennsylvania Port Authority and Donjon Marine of Hillside, New Jersey announced Donjon's purchase of Erie Shipbuilding's assets, including the ATB under construction.

The tug was named KEN BOOTHE SR., after the former President of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair after he died suddenly in June, 2010. The barge was originally known by Donjon as SEAJON ENTERPRISE, to honor the partnership between Donjon Marine and Seacor, with whom Donjon partnered in the shipyard.

Donjon made quick work of the tug, which was floated a year and a day (December 22, 2010) after Donjon's announcement of the purchase of Erie Shipbuilding. The tug was fitted out and sat idle at Donjon's yard awaiting her barge throughout 2011, though Donjon offered it on the spot charter market. Interlake Steamship looked at the tug to push its barge PATHFINDER this winter while their tug DOROTHY ANN was having work done at the Rolls-Royce Great Lakes Marine Service Center in Cleveland. In the end, Interlake decided to pass and laid both the DOROTHY ANN and barge PATHFINDER up for the winter.

The newly-named barge LAKES CONTENDER finally emerged from drydock on January 8, 2012 after being delayed a day for weather. Sea trials for KEN BOOTHE SR./LAKES CONTENDER were conducted on March 29, after being delayed a day for weather.

The following is a long, photographic look at the construction process of the tug and barge from initial construction to completion. Watch Erie Shipping News this week for coverage of the christening.

Tomorrow, I will post video of the tug KEN BOOTHE SR. when it went on sea trials in March, 2011.

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The new tug, then named CLYDE VanENKEVORT, with construction halted in early 2009.


Another section of the tug.


CLYDE VanENKEVORT welded into the stern.


Looking forward.


The house and cabins of the tug.


KEN BOOTHE SR. floating in drydock on Saturday, September 18, 2010.


NEW YORK pulls the KEN BOOTHE SR out of drydock on December 22, 2010.


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.


Approaching the dock.


Pulling on the tug.


This 135-foot long, 10,700 horespower tug is a near-sister to the JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT.


NEW YORK pushes the BOOTHE into position.


Lowering a gangway onto the KEN BOOTHE SR.


KEN BOOTHE SR. behind the CASON J. CALLAWAY at Donjon on January 23, 2011. Note that the CALLAWAY had only arrived three days earlier and the ice was already stable enough to be walked on.


Another view.


With the CALLAWAY.


Close up.


Straight on.


Another view of the 10,700 horsepower tug.


BOOTHE SR. inbound after sea trials on Monday, March 21, 2011.


Another view of the new tug.


Outbound for its second day of sea trials on Tuesday, March 22, 2011.


Another view as the tug clears the channel.


BOOTHE returns later in the day.


Inbound.


Passing the Coast Guard Station.


KEN BOOTHE SR. has engines capable of producing 10,700 horsepower.


Stern view.


Passing another tug-barge unit assembled in Erie.


Approaching the West Slip.


Into the dock.


The tug's articulated pins have been retracted for now.


Docking.


KEN BOOTHE SR. awaits the completion of its new barge in the West Slip on October 8, 2011.


Close up.


Stern view.


Approaching the West Slip with the new barge in tow on January 8, 2012.


APALACHEE works hard.


Straightening out.


Getting ready to approach the West Slip.


Inbound the West Slip.


Close up of the LAKES CONTENDER.


APALACHEE working to straighten the LAKES CONTENDER.


Working to dock the barge.


Another view.


BOOTHE SR. and her barge in the late afternoon sunlight.


The barge is 740 feet long and capable of carrying 38,000 tons of cargo.


LAKES CONTENDER in the late afternoon sun.


BOOTHE/CONTENDER backing away from Donjon for sea trials on March 29, 2012.


Backing around MANITOWOC.


Turning for the channel.


Outbound.


Stern view.


Clearing the piers for the first time.

NEAH BAY in Erie

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter NEAH BAY arrived in Erie this afternoon at 1730 hours and anchored off the Bicentennial Tower. The NEAH BAY will remain in port at least overnight.

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NEAH BAY arriving.


Another view.


At anchor in Presque Isle Bay.

MANITOWOC Departing

MANITOWOC will be departing Erie in approximately one hour, at around 2045 hours.

MANITOWOC To Depart

Latest word is that MANITOWOC will be departing Erie sometime today or tomorrow to begin the 2012 shipping season. I will update when I hear more.

BOOTHE/CONTENDER DEPART FOR SEA TRIALS

KEN BOOTHE SR. and barge LAKES CONTENDER departed Erie at 0900 this morning on sea trials, after being delayed a day. The duo was still out on trials at 2100. After returning to port, the duo will undergo final fitting out before christening at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair on April 10. I will post more photos Saturday.

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BOOTHE/LAKES CONTENDER outbound.


Stern view.

BOOTHE/CONTENDER TO BEGIN SEA TRIALS

KEN BOOTHE SR. and barge LAKES CONTENDER will be getting underway for the first time together sometime on Thursday morning, heading out for sea trials. Trials were supposed to begin today but conditions were deemed too windy for the vessel to back away from the dock and around the MANITOWOC. Watch for updates throughout the day.

TWO DEPART LAYUP

PRESQUE ISLE departed winter layup last night at 2100, turning in Presque Isle Bay and departing Erie for Two Harbors.

EDGAR B. SPEER departed this morning at 0730, also bound for Two Harbors to load iron ore. SPEER saluted onlookers on the pier while passing through the channel.

Though SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE have departed, work continues at Donjon on the CLEVELAND ROCKS, CALUMET, MANITOWOC and KEN BOOTHE SR./LAKES CONTENDER. CALUMET reportedly will be in drydock between three and four weeks.

At some point, Port City Tug's tug BRADSHAW McKEE will arrive in Erie to pick up the barge CLEVELAND ROCKS. The CLEVELAND ROCKS is the second barge to undergo modifications at Erie's shipyard to fit that tug; as SUSAN W. HANNAH the tug was paired with the barge MEDUSA CONQUEST which underwent modifications at Erie Marine Enterprises in 1992. Those modifications were not successful, resulting in a lawsuit against Erie Marine and the barge modifications to the CONQUEST being completed at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.

Below are photos of the SPEER's departure, and of the moves at Donjon last Tuesday.

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SPEER passing the APALACHEE and MANITOU while departing the Old Ore Dock.


Turning at the Mountfort Terminal.


Outbound.


Close up.


Close up of the cabin. Notice the light underneath the radar is on, activated when saluting.


Stern view.


Outbound. The SPEER has spent the past three winters in Erie.


MANITOU standing by to pick up the stern towline on the CALUMET.


APALACHEE pulls the CALUMET away from the shipyard.


Turning.


Pulling away from the shipyard.


Anchoring the vessel in the harbor.


APALACHEE and MANITOU head back to the shipyard.


Close up.


Another view.


APALACHEE standing by.


Pulling the MANITOWOC, freshly painted, out of drydock. MANITOWOC had hundreds of feet worth of steel plating replaced inside, necessitating a six-week stay in drydock.


Anchored in the bay.


MANITOWOC waiting in the bay.


APALACHEE starts to move the CALUMET.

PI, SPEER DEPARTURES SET

PRESQUE ISLE should depart sometime late tonight, likely after midnight.

EDGAR B. SPEER is due to sail at 0700 Saturday morning.

I will post photos of all of the week's activity sometime tomorrow.

Departure Delayed

PRESQUE ISLE will not be departing until later tonight or tomorrow morning and EDGAR B. SPEER will not depart until Saturday.

I will update as I know more.

Departure Times

PRESQUE ISLE will depart during the morning tomorrow. EDGAR B. SPEER may be delayed until Saturday. I will update as I learn more.

SPEER, PRESQUE ISLE TO DEPART FRIDAY

PRESQUE ISLE and EDGAR B. SPEER are both scheduled for departure Friday.

I will post when I know the vessels' departure times.

MANITOWOC to Float, CALUMET to be drydocked; SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE Depart Friday

MANITOWOC is scheduled to be floated from drydock at Donjon later this morning and CALUMET will be moved into drydock.

EDGAR B. SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE will depart layup on Friday.

NIAGARA Drydocked at Cleveland

U.S. Brig NIAGARA was drydocked at Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland on Monday to repair wood rot in the bow of the Brig. The NIAGARA was placed onto the Shipyard's floating drydock, FAVORITE, on Monday afternoon and is expected to be there through the end of the month.

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Standing by in the Old River of the Cuyahoga River awaiting the drydock's preparation on March 5.


Flooding the drydock.


Moving into drydock.


In position and beginning to pump out the drydock.


On the drydock March 6.


Close up of the plywood-covered bow.


Later that day, the plywood has come off.


Close up.


Friday, March 9, 2012 on drydock.


Another view of the NIAGARA on drydock this morning.

Brig NIAGARA Arrives in Cleveland

U.S. Brig NIAGARA arrived at Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland at 1630 this afternoon, docking across the river from the facility to await dock space. The NIAGARA will move across the river tomorrow after DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER depart the shipyard's facility and will be drydocked Monday morning.

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NIAGARA arriving.


Passing McKeil Marine's tug JOHN SPENCE, in layup at Great Lakes Shipyard.


Turning. NIAGARA will moor next to the green barge at Cargill Salt.


Proceeding into dock.