Ryba Marine tug KATHY LYNN, Barges Visit Temporarily

Ryba Marine Contracting's tug KATHY LYNN, pushing empty scows CT 251 and CT 252 and spud barge CT 150 arrived in Erie at around 0400 Sunday and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to escape the rough waters of Lake Erie. The KATHY LYNN departed Rochester, New York on Thursday after completing a year-long dredging project there and was bound for Ashtabula, Ohio.

Once Lake Erie calmed, the KATHY LYNN and barges departed the Mountfort Terminal at around 0930, turned in Presque Isle Bay and departed for Ashtabula. The crew of the KATHY LYNN used one of the spuds on CT 150 as an anchor to turn on in the bay.

The last time KATHY LYNN was in Erie was May 30, 2008 when the tug brought CT 150 into Erie to load the crane that is now on the barge.

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KATHY LYNN labors to turn her consort this morning.


The tow.


KATHY LYNN at full power turning the barges.


Another view.


Turning and headed for the channel. Spud barge CT 150 is on the starboard side.


Clear of the piers. Note on the bow of the CT 251 the former name of the barge, WEEKS MARINE 251, is visible. Weeks Marine is based in New Jersey.


The 1944-built, former Army tug ST-693 at full power after turning to head for Ashtabula.


Tow heads up the lake.


Another view.


CT 150. The crane was yellow when it was loaded last May.


CT 150 loading its crane on May 31, 2008.

Tug KATHY LYNN Update; U.S. BRIG NIAGARA to be used in Documentary

Tug KATHY LYNN and barge CT 150 are in Rochester at the present time, and will remain there to complete dredging work on the Genessee River there. The barge loaded a crane at the Mountfort Terminal last weekend.

On June 11, Ric Burns' Steeplechase Films will be in Erie and use the U.S. Brig NIAGARA as a whaling vessel during filming of a documentary on Native American whaling practices. The gunports on the NIAGARA will be covered, allowing for the the vessel to appear to be similar to a whaling ship of days gone by.

KATHY LYNN Departs

Tug KATHY LYNN and barge CT 150 departed Erie at 0200 bound for Rochester, New York. I'm not sure what they're doing at the moment.

SIDSEL KNUTSEN is upbound for Oakville, Ontario, where the vessel is expected tomorrow to finish unloading. After that, the KNUTSEN is bound for Erie to load biodiesel.

KATHY LYNN, Barge Remain; PILGRIM Scrapping Begins; LADY KATE Under New Ownership

KATHY LYNN and CT 150 remain in port today. The crane was loaded onto the barge today and the duo is moored alongside, parallel to the dock. No word yet on when they will be departing.

As I first reported late last year, the fishing tug PILGRIM, which suffered a sinking in early 2007, is currently being scrapped on Port Authority property just east of Perry's Landing Marina.

LADY KATE, which I reported to be for sale last year, is now owned by Tim Sedney, owner of Rum Runners and one of the principals in the VICTORIAN PRINCESS dinner cruiser that operates on Erie's waterfront. With former owner Tom Macaluso's retirement, the VHF waves around Erie harbor will never be the same.

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KATHY LYNN and barge at dock.


PILGRIM undergoing scrapping.


Another view.


Stern view.


Zebra mussels on the hull.


A pile of scrap on the dock.


Looking onto the stern of the PILGRIM.


Underneath the hull.


The deck of the PILGRIM, covered in holes in the metal.

KATHY LYNN, CT 150 Loading Crane; SIDSEL KNUTSEN Due

Ryba Marine's tug KATHY LYNN and spud barge CT 150 remain in Erie today loading a crane at the Mountfort Terminal. I believe they're headed back to to Lake Michigan with this crane, as Ryba Marine is reported to be using KATHY LYNN on a dredging project in the Kinickinic River in Milwaukee.

During one of the attempts to load the crane, the crane got away from crews and narrowly missed hitting the warehouse on the Mountfort Terminal.

Meanwhile, the next load of biodiesel is scheduled to go out later this week aboard the tanker SIDSEL KNUTSEN. The KNUTSEN has been a frequent trader to the Great Lakes over the past few years, but is best known for colliding with and sinking the J.W. WESTCOTT in the Detroit River on October 23, 2001. The WESTCOTT, the U.S. mailboat servicing ships in the Detroit River, was completing a pilot change on the KNUTSEN at the time of the accident. The 1948 Erie-built WESTCOTT sank in the accident, killing two of the four people aboard the vessel at the time.

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KATHY LYNN with the barge alongside the Mountfort Terminal this afternoon.


Loading the crane.


Crane gets away from the crew working on loading.


Moving backwards. Note the man standing between the crane and the warehouse.


The crane is stopped. Note that the man standing between the crane and warehouse has wisely moved.