Barge A-390 Due for Drydocking

Andrie's barge A-390, pushed by tug BARBARA ANDRIE, is due in Erie later this week for drydocking. The duo will probably arrive late on November 15 or early on the 16th after unloading cargo at Monroe, Michigan.

BARBARA ANDRIE/A-390 were last in Erie on November 15, 2005, when the unit arrived and docked at Erie Shipbuilding LLC for engine repairs to the tug. The duo departed five days later.

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BARBARA ANDRIE/A-390 inbound Erie on November 15, 2005.

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The museum ship COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER was moved from its dock in Toledo, Ohio downriver about a mile to a new berth on October 27, by two tugs from Great Lakes Towing Company. Here, tug MISSISSIPPI arrives to hook up to the SCHOONMAKER.


Tug NEBRASKA, the bow tug on the tow, arrives.


The tow of the 1911-built SCHOONMAKER gets underway. The former WILLIS B. BOYER of Cleveland Cliffs, it was returned to its original name last year and given its new paint scheme.


Taken from the Martin Luther King Jr. bridge across the Maumee River, the SCHOONMAKER tow moves downriver. Donors to the project were invited to ride downriver on deck of the SCHOONMAKER.


Close up of the COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER.


Stern view. The white tug to the right of the photo, the PRAIRIELAND of Geo. Gradel Company, stood by the tow to assist with docking the SCHOONMAKER.


A closer stern view of the SCHOONMAKER.


Another stern view of the tow.


NEBRASKA and MISSISSIPPI begin to work the SCHOONMAKER over to the side of the river, so that it can be backed into its dock.


Further downriver, the tugs are positioning the SCHOONMAKER to back it to dock.


SCHOONMAKER will be the centerpiece of the Great Lakes Historical Society museum scheduled to open in late summer 2013.


PRAIRIELAND pushes as the tow moves toward its dock.


In Port Huron, Michigan, later that afternoon, Canfornav's EIDER was downbound with a cargo of canola from Thunder Bay, Ontario bound for Veracruz, Mexico.


EIDER comes under the Blue Water Bridges, linking Port Huron, Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario.


Stern view.


A few minutes later, KEN BOOTHE SR./LAKES CONTENDER power upriver against the current. LAKES CONTENDER is loaded with coal from Toledo, Ohio for Burns Harbor, Indiana.


Turning to head into Lake Huron.


Another view of the duo, which has been in operation for about six months.


Stern view as the duo heads into Lake Huron.


The 2012-built BBC BALBOA is on its first trip to the Great Lakes, and is shown while upbound at Marine City, Michigan, loaded with windmill blades for Muskegon, Michigan.


Stern view of the BBC BALBOA.

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On November 3, Grand River Navigation's new tug-barge unit DEFIANCE/ASHTABULA arrived in Buffalo to deliver its first cargo after spending all year undergoing conversion for Great Lakes service at Sturgeon Bay.


Tug WASHINGTON assists the duo downriver at 1600 that afternoon. The ASHTABULA would lose its bow thruster coming around this turn, so it was fortunate for the tug's captain that the WASHINGTON was assisting the duo downriver.


Another stern view.


WASHINGTON and the 7,200-horsepower tug DEFIANCE.


WASHINGTON comes around to push on the bow of the ASHTABULA.


Pushing.


WASHINGTON is now on the other side in an attempt to keep the DEFIANCE/ASHTABULA from hitting the west bank. The duo would move across the river to the east side and moor to work on the bow thruster.


Mooring alongside Buffalo's Visiting Ship's Dock.

EDMUND FITZGERALD - 37 Years Later

1910 hours tonight, November 10, marks 37 years since the sinking of the EDMUND FITZGERALD, of Columbia Steamship, on Lake Superior with all hands. Twenty-nine men died when the ship sank in a fierce November storm. The FITZGERALD was being followed by the ARTHUR M. ANDERSON and disappeared both from view and from radar during a snow squall about 1910 hours. When the squall let up, the FITZGERALD was gone to the bottom of Lake Superior.

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.

Tall Ships Erie visitor sinks

HMS BOUNTY, which visited Erie in 2010 as part of Tall Ships Erie, reportedly sank today off North Carolina's Outer Banks. U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crews have rescued 14 of 16 crew members on board.

BOUNTY, which was used in Marlon Brando's Mutiny on the Bounty as well as both Pirates of the Caribbean movies, was headed south from Connecticut to St. Petersburg, Florida.

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BOUNTY inbound Erie on September 9, 2010.


Stern view.

KUBER VISITS; THALASSA DESGAGNES DEPARTS; ANOTHER VESSEL DUE FOR REPAIRS

Tug VICTORY and barge JAMES L. KUBER arrived in Erie at 1300 on Tuesday and docked at the Mountfort Terminal. KUBER spent the afternoon unloading stone before backing out at 1815 bound for Sandusky, Ohio to load coal.

THALASSA DESGAGNES, after three days in drydock for bottom repairs, began backing out of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair at 0730 this morning, turned in the harbor and departed at 0830. The DESGAGNES is bound for Montreal, Quebec in ballast.

Meanwhile, another vessel is due for Donjon for repairs in the near future. Although there is no word on what vessel it is, it may be SEDNA DESGAGNES, which remains aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Reportedly, the closest Canadian shipyard, Seaway Marine & Industrial in Port Weller, Ontario, is too busy with government contracts to perform drydockings.

I will update when I learn more.

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VICTORY/KUBER inbound.


Another view.


VICTORY.


Stern view.


Stern view of the VICTORY/KUBER.


Docking.


VICTORY backs the KUBER into the channel.


Backing past Coast Guard Station Erie.


KUBER is the second vessel to back out of port this year. JOHN J. BOLAND did so in August.


Sunset.


One final look at the KUBER.


THALASSA DESGAGNES backing out of Donjon this morning.


Turning for the channel.


Lining up.


Outbound.


Another view.


Close up of the cabins of the 1976-built chemical tanker. THALASSA began life on the ocean before being salvaged by Desgagnés after an accident on the St. Lawrence River in 1993, and becoming the first tanker of the Desgagnés fleet.


Outbound.

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER DUE

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, laden with stone, are expected in Erie tomorrow at around 1230 hours.

THALASSA DESGAGNES ARRIVES FOR DRYDOCK

Groupe Desgagnes' tanker THALASSA DESGAGNES arrived in Erie at 0630 this morning and was put into drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding. The vessel is in for unspecified repairs after spending several days moored in the Welland Canal for repairs. It is unknown at this time how long the DESGAGNES is expected to be in drydock.

The 1976-built THALASSA DESGAGNES is the first Desgagnes tanker to ever visit the port of Erie. Desgagnes' general cargo ships, such as CATHERINE DESGAGNES, frequently loaded pig iron here in the 1990s, and more recently SEDNA DESGAGNES visited to load refinery components for Korea in 2009. Ironically, SEDNA DESGAGNES went aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway last night, while upbound with steel products for Chicago, and may require drydocking for repairs.

I will update when I learn more about the THALASSA's visit. THALASSA also is the first tanker to ever be drydocked in Erie.

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THALASSA DESGAGNES in drydock this afternoon.


THALASSA DESGAGNES downbound in the Welland Canal below Lock 2 on September 17.


Another view.


Stern view of the tanker.

LAKESHORE TOWING COMPLETES PURCHASE OF MARINE SERVICES OF ERIE

Lakeshore Towing Services announced today that they have completed the acquisition of the assets Marine Services of Erie in a deal that closed Wednesday. The deal includes a 26' foot tug, LOW BIDDER, a 50' crane barge, another crane and various other pieces of marine construction equipment.

The purchase allows Lakeshore Towing to expand its marine construction abilities by adding the new cranes and barge to the fleet. LOW BIDDER becomes the fifth vessel in Lakeshore's fleet, and the 50' crane barge becomes the fifth barge in the fleet.

After a minor refit, LOW BIDDER is expected to enter service almost immediately. The vessel will have its wheelhouse painted red while retaining its black hull. A name change is not expected for the vessel.

Lakeshore Towing is Erie's source for marine construction and marine towing. The company also runs Wolverine Park Marina and the fuel dock at Presque Isle Marina. Current projects include construction of a boat lift at Niagara Pier and work at Bay Harbor Marina. For more information on the company, visit their website.

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LOW BIDDER working on the Erie Water Authority intake cribs off of Beach 2 on October 13, 2008.


The purchased barge is shown working on that day.

CALUMET DUE

CALUMET, loaded with stone, is expected in Erie at 2030 tonight.

NEAH BAY in Erie

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter NEAH BAY arrived in Erie and anchored in Presque Isle Bay on Thursday morning, before moving to the east side of Dobbin's Landing at 1800 on Thursday. The vessel had been scheduled to move at 1600 but engine problems delayed the NEAH BAY from getting underway.

NEAH BAY departed Erie at 1000 this morning, outbound for the lake, and then returned an hour later, mooring at the north face of Dobbin's Landing.

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NEAH BAY turning .


In the channel.


Close up.


The 140-foot long tug passes upbound.


Stern view.