FRONTENAC Departs

After two days of floating in the flooded graving dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair waiting on weather, FRONTENAC began warming her engine this morning in preparation for departure. The 1967-built bulk carrier had been on the blocks at Donjon since October 23 for her five year survey. With the survey complete it's time for the FRONTENAC to get back to work.

At around 0945, the day's window of opportunity for weather opened and the ship began moving slowly out of the graving dock into Erie harbor. After leaving the dock the ship, which had drafts of only 15'6" forward and 18'3" inches aft, began to ballast as it headed outbound. FRONTENAC departed at 1015 this morning bound for Ashtabula, Ohio to load. 

However, unable to get into Ashtabula this afternoon, the FRONTENAC is currently downbound for The anchorage behind Long Point to wait out weather. The vessel's crew reported winds of up to 45 knots. FRONTENAC's first two trips will be from Ashtabula to Quebec City, and she will then return to Hamilton to load ore from the shuttered US Steel plant there and take it to Quebec City.

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FRONTENAC in the graving dock this morning, starting to work her way slowly forward.


Turning the corner around the Mountfort Terminal.


Picking up speed, FRONTENAC lines up for the channel.


Another view. 

Another view of the 729' long bulk carrier.


In the channel.


Stern view. Note the amount of water being kicked up by the vessel's propeller.


A view with the pierhead lighthouse.


Outbound for Ashtabula. Note the waves on the lake.

FRONTENAC Ready to Emerge

FRONTENAC is positioned in the graving dock at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair and will reportedly be emerging from drydock tomorrow. 

I will provide updates as I am able.

FRONTENAC Floating

FRONTENAC is now floating in the drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, and will likely be departing when the wind dies down.

FRONTENAC Arrives, is Drydocked; WITTE 2301 Emerges

At 0745 this morning, Lakeshore Towing's tugs LOW BIDDER and DON HENRY, along with towboat TITAN, entered the graving dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair and hooked up to newly built hopper barge WITTE 2301. A few minutes later, with DON HENRY on the stern and leading the tow, the trio emerged from the dock and moved the barge to the West Slip, moored across from McKEE SONS. By 0915 the tow was complete and the barge was moored at the dock.

FRONTENAC departed Nanticoke shortly before 1000 this morning after unloading taconite pellets and arrived in Erie at 1300. After a short stop at the Mountfort Terminal while the dock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair was prepared, FRONTENAC turned in the harbor and backed into the graving dock at 1530 today.

FRONTENAC's drydocking is different than the previous few drydockings at Donjon - VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, barge A-390 and THALASSA DESGAGNES have all been drydocked bow-in. This is the first drydocking done for FRONTENAC's owner, Canada Steamship Lines, in Erie since the winter of 1996-97 when MANITOULIN, JEAN PARISIEN, and LOUIS R. DESMARAIS were drydocked here. Of note, MANITOULIN has been scrapped and the other two vessels have been renamed since then; FRONTENAC, however, has carried the same name since being built in 1967.

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LOW BIDDER works WITTE 2301 west toward the slip in the rain this morning.


Coming around tug INVINCIBLE.


LOW BIDDER and DON HENRY line the WITTE 2301 up for the dock.


LOW BIDDER leading the tow.


WITTE 2301 is similar to the three hopper barges built for Sterling Equipment this summer.


Passing a mooring line to the dock.


DON HENRY holds the stern off the dock.


FRONTENAC inbound.


Another view between the piers.


This is believed to be 1967-built FRONTENAC's first visit ever to Erie.


The vessel is here for her five-year survey.


Passing the Coast Guard Station.


Stern view.


Approaching the Mountfort Terminal.


Close up.


FRONTENAC docks at the Mountfort Terminal.

FRONTENAC Underway; WITTE 2301 Emerges

FRONTENAC is currently departing Nanticoke bound for Erie. The vessel should be arriving around 1300.

Lakeshore Towing's tugs completed moving the new hopper barge WITTE 2301 from the drydock to the west side of the West Slip, next to McKEE SONS, at 0915 this morning. WITTE 2301, built for Donjon Shipbuilding's parent Donjon Marine, is similar to the three new hopper barges just built for Sterling Equipment.

FRONTENAC Update

FRONTENAC continues to unload in Nanticoke at this time; I will post when the ship gets underway.

Lakeshore Towing's tugs LOW BIDDER, DON HENRY and towboat TITAN are currently moving a new hopper barge out of Donjon's graving dock and will be docking it behind FARRELL 256 on the east side of Donjon's yard to make room for FRONTENAC.

FRONTENAC Inbound Nanticoke

FRONTENAC is currently inbound Nanticoke to unload and should be in Erie sometime tomorrow morning for drydocking.

At 0730 Lakeshore Towing will move the new hopper barge out of drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair.

FRONTENAC Waits

FRONTENAC is currently at anchor behind Long Point for weather before docking at Nanticoke to unload. There's no ETA to Erie at this time for the vessel.

The new hopper barge in the drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair was not moved this morning due to weather. I will update when I learn more as to when the move may take place.

FRONTENAC Due for Drydocking

FRONTENAC is currently downbound in Lake Superior, and per her AIS is due in Nanticoke to unload taconite pellets on Monday at 0030. The vessel will then proceed to Erie, where she will be drydocked at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair. McKEE SONS will be shifted across the West Slip to the cruise terminal and FRONTENAC will dock in McKEE SONS' spot until the drydock is ready.

In preparation for drydocking FRONTENAC, a newly built hopper barge will be moved to the east side of Donjon on Monday morning.

VICTORY/KUBER Due

VICTORY/JAMES L. KUBER, with stone from Cedarville, is expected to arrive Erie at 2200 on Thursday.

FRONTENAC's drydocking will be occurring in about three weeks, after Donjon Shipbuilding finishes the final hopper barge for Sterling Equipment. HERBERT P. BRAKE, which is currently on shore at Donjon, will be taking the barge out of Erie prior to FRONTENAC's arrival.

Donjon Update

With winter layup only a few months away, Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair is busy finishing up tasks and looking forward to what the company hopes will be a good winter season.

Chivers Construction is beginning work at this time on replacing the Holland Street dock wall; the $5 million project is expected to be completed by next spring, though the east side of the slip is expected to be completed by mid-January to allow Donjon to dock vessels there.

Donjon's tug HERBERT P. BRAKE is expected to return to Erie on Sunday or Monday to pick up the third, and final, hopper barge being built for Sterling Equipment.

Perhaps the best news for Great Lakes shipping comes with the news that Canada Steamship Lines' FRONTENAC, which has spent all summer in layup at Sarnia due to a lockout at the U.S. Steel plant in Nanticoke, Ontario, is expected to arrive at Donjon on September 21 for a five-year survey. There had been some question as to the future of the 1967-built FRONTENAC, the oldest self-unloader in the CSL fleet, due to the arrival over the past year of four new self-unloaders built in China for lakes service. Those four are, in order, BAIE ST. PAUL, WHITEFISH BAY, THUNDER BAY and BAIE COMEAU.

Return to Erie Shipping News for updates.