Sunday, August 31, 2008

More Information on POINT COUNTERPOINT II

POINT COUNTERPOINT II remained in port at West Dobbin's Landing today. Unconfirmed reports state that the vessel may be spending the winter here. The 1976-built floating ampitheater is 191 feet long and 38 feet wide. The vessel's registered owner is the American Waterways Wind Orchestra of Mars, PA.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

CALUMET, POINT COUNTERPOINT II ARRIVE

American Waterways Wind Orchestra's self-propelled barge POINT COUNTERPOINT II arrived in port this afternoon at 1530 and docked at West Dobbin's Landing. I'm not sure at the moment why the vessel is in port.

At 1730 this afternoon the CALUMET slowly worked its way into the port amidst throngs of pleasure boaters enjoying the Labor Day Weekend. The CALUMET docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload a cargo of stone from Cedarville, Michigan.




POINT COUNTERPOINT II inbound.


Stern view.


In the channel.


CALUMET underway in Lake Erie.


Stern view.


Stern view.


Turning.


CALUMET turns for the channel.


In the channel.


Yes, this pleasure boat is as close to the bow (within 15 feet) as it looks.


Turning in Presque Isle Bay to line up with the ore dock.


On approach to the Old Ore Dock.


Approaching the Old Ore Dock.


Another view.


At dock.


POINT COUNTERPOINT II at dock.


Bow view.

Friday, August 29, 2008

TWO DUE

CALUMET, with stone from Cedarville, is expected to arrive Erie tomorrow at 1600.

Transiting the Welland Canal upbound today bound for Erie is the American Wind Symphony Orchestra's self-propelled ampitheater barge POINT COUNTERPOINT II. The vessel stopped in Port Colborne for the night and should transit Lake Erie tomorrow bound for Erie.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Biodiesel Update

CLIPPER KATJA is currently downbound in the St. Lawrence Seaway system carrying what appears to be the last load of biodiesel out of the port for a while. Tentatively, the next biodiesel tanker will be arriving in late September; however this will be a load nearly twice as large as the last few.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

KATJA DEPARTS

CLIPPER KATJA just called Sarnia Traffic and reported that they are out of Erie with an ETA for Long Point of 2345, and 0225 for the Welland Canal. The KATJA's next stop is Becancouer, Quebec for fuel.

KATJA Set to Depart

CLIPPER KATJA finished loading this afternoon at around 1800, at which time Lakeshore Towing's tug FLATTOP removed the oil-containment boom surrounding the vessel. CLIPPER KATJA should depart sometime tonight laden with biodiesel for Rotterdam.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

KUBER, KATJA IN PORT

Tug VICTORY and barge JAMES L. KUBER arrived in port this morning at 0400, mooring at the Mountfort Terminal to unload stone from Calcite. About two hours later, CLIPPER KATJA anchored outside of the port to wait for the KUBER to clear the dock.

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER departed the Mountfort Terminal this morning at 1000 and moved over to the Old Ore Dock, where the unit unloaded until 1500 today.

CLIPPER KATJA arrived and turned in Erie harbor following the KUBER's departure from the Mountfort Terminal and secured there to load biodiesel. The tanker should be in port about 48 hours or so.




VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER unloading at the Mountfort Terminal.


Departing the Mountfort Terminal.


Turning.


KUBER unloading at the Old Ore Dock.


CLIPPER KATJA inbound.


Another view.


Passing.


Stern view.


Turning for Erie harbor.


Turn complete, the KATJA approaches the Mountfort Terminal.


Another view.


Coming alongside.


Docking.

Monday, August 25, 2008

TWO DUE TUESDAY

Tug VICTORY/barge JAMES L. KUBER, with stone from Calcite, are expected in Erie at 0130 on Tuesday to unload.

CLIPPER KATJA is expected to arrive to load biodiesel at around 0700 on Tuesday.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

CLIPPER KATJA UPDATE

CLIPPER KATJA, the next biodiesel tanker expected in the port, is due in Erie sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday. After unloading in Clarkson, Ontario, the KATJA sailed for the Port Weller anchorage at the north end of the Welland Canal, where the crew is currently cleaning the vessel's cargo tanks in preparation to load biodiesel.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Lakeshore Towing Working on Water Intake Rehab

Lakeshore Towing tugs FLATTOP, DON HENRY, towboat TITAN, and barge 501, in conjunction with Marine Services of Erie's tug LOW BIDDER and crane barge, spent today working on the rehabilitation of water intake cribs off Beach 2 for the Erie Water Authority.

I will have a more thorough report tomorrow.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

CLIPPER KATJA Update

CLIPPER KATJA, the next biodiesel tanker expected in the port of Erie, is due at Clarkson, Ontario to unload about about 0430 Friday. The KATJA is currently expected in Erie on August 26 or 27 to load for Rotterdam.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Historical: August 20

On this date in 1981, JEAN PARISIEN of Canada Steamship Lines arrives at the Codan Corporation dock in Erie (currently the Mountfort Terminal) to load coal, departing later in the day with 28,000 tons; this 28,000 tons represents the largest load taken out of the port, which is a record that stands to this day.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Monday, August 18, 2008

GRAYFOX Departs

USNSCS GRAYFOX departed CG Station Erie this morning at 0800 bound for Cleveland, Ohio.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

GRAYFOX in Port

USNSCS GRAYFOX arrived in port today at noon with an escort from USCG 25573. The GRAYFOX stopped at the North Pier near the Coast Guard station and will be moored there overnight before departing tomorrow.




GRAYFOX at dock.


Stern view.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

USNSCS GRAYFOX Due

U.S. Naval Sea Cadet training ship GRAYFOX, based in Port Huron, Michigan, is due in Erie tomorrow at 1030. The GRAYFOX is on a training cruise of the Great Lakes and is making Erie its first port of call.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Thursday, August 14, 2008

CLIPPER KATJA Update

CLIPPER KATJA, the next biodiesel tanker, is currently expected in Mississauga, Ontario to unload on August 21. The KATJA will sail for Erie after that and should arrive in Erie sometime between August 24 and 26.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

SONGA PEARL DEPARTS

SONGA PEARL departed Erie this morning at 0945 bound for Montreal, and eventually for Rotterdam, Netherlands. The fifth load of biodiesel shipped through the port departed onboard the PEARL, which was drawing 7.98 meters of water upon departure. The PEARL was due at Long Point at 1045 and at the Welland Canal at 1415 today.




SONGA PEARL departing the Mountfort Terminal this morning.


Anothre view.


PEARL slowly works away from the dock.


Stern view.


Passing the lighthouse.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

SONGA PEARL TO DEPART WEDNESDAY

SONGA PEARL continues to load biodiesel at the Mountfort Terminal today and should be departing tomorrow morning bound for Rotterdam. Crews continue to work feverishly to get the biodiesel offloaded from railroad cars into the tanks on the SONGA PEARL.




SONGA PEARL loading at the Mountfort Terminal Tuesday evening.


Another view.


Bow view of the loading.


Yacht QUICK RELEASE, of Port Colborne, Ontario, at Wolverine Marina.

Monday, August 11, 2008

SONGA PEARL ARRIVES

SONGA PEARL arrived in Erie in ballast from Sarnia this morning at around 0530, turned in Erie harbor and docked at the Mountfort Terminal. Shortly thereafter Lakeshore Towing deployed the oil-containment boom around the vessel and following Coast Guard inspection loading of the biodiesel, produced by Lake Erie Biofuels, began this morning.

The 2008-built SONGA PEARL will be in Erie until sometime tomorrow loading biodiesel.




SONGA PEARL at the Mountfort Terminal this morning.


Another view.


With the railcars full of biodiesel next to her, the PEARL loads.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

SONGA PEARL ETA

SONGA PEARL is due in Erie at around 0130 Monday morning. The vessel will begin loading biodiesel after a Coast Guard inspection at 0600, which should put the PEARL out sometime on Tuesday.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

SONGA PEARL DUE; LIMNOS in Port

SONGA PEARL is currently discharging in Sarnia and currently expects to be finished at 0600 Sunday morning. After finishing, the tanker will depart for Erie and is expected to arrive to load biodiesel at around 0600 on Monday.

Canadian Coast Guard ship LIMNOS arrived in Erie harbor this evening at 1800 to collect water samples from Presque Isle Bay. After completing that task, the vessel departed for Long Point Bay about an hour later.

Friday, August 8, 2008

SONGA PEARL UPDATE

SONGA PEARL is currently unloading at Imperial Oil in Sarnia and is currently expected to arrive in Erie sometime on Saturday night or Sunday morning to load biodiesel.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

CORNELIUS in Port; KING B Launched

ADAM E. CORNELIUS arrived in port at around 0400 this morning and docked at the Mountfort Terminal, where the vessel suffered numerous weather and mooring-related delays while unloading stone from Calcite.

This afternoon the CORNELIUS moved over to the Old Ore Dock and finished unloading for departing at around 1700.

Actor Steve Smith, best known for his role as Red Green on PBS, had his new houseboat KING B. launched at Erie Shipbuilding today after being trucked here from Kentucky. The boat will be stored at Wolverine Marina for several weeks.

Apparently, KING B. was going to be lifted in by the Port Authority's TravelLift, but the weight distribution of the vessel would have tripped the lift's overload alarm. As such, Erie Shipbuilding was chosen to make the lift.




ADAM E. CORNELIUS unloading at the Old Ore Dock.


Backing away.


Another view.


Outbound.


Stern view.


Clearing the lighthouse.


KING B. in the West Slip.