ERIE SHIPBUILDING COMPLETES SCOW

12 News is reporting tonight that Erie Shipbuilding Hull 101 was completed today. WITTE 4003 will be launched next Wednesday and tugged through the St. Lawrence Seaway to its new home in Hillside, New Jersey. Owner of the scow is Donjon Marine, who already have two similar scows named WITTE 4001 and WITTE 4002. Donjon owns eight tugs, four dredges, two dump scows, 12 hopper scows, three deck barges (in addition to six on order at Erie Shipbuilding) and several other vessels. For more information on the story, click here.

Port Authority's state money may mean good news for Erie Shipbuilding, Oglebay Norton for sale, RESERVE due for barge conversion

According to an article in today's Erie Times-News the state's recently passed budget includes $2.6 million for the Erie Port Authority. According to the article some of this money may be used to replace a door on the drydock at Erie Shipbuilding, and replace a dock wall there. I believe the dock wall in question is in the Parade Street slip immediately adjacent to Oglebay Norton's Old Ore Dock.

In other Erie Shipbuilding news, Hull 101, the new dumpscow under construction for an East Coast firm, should taste water for the first time during the second half of August.

Oglebay Norton on Tuesday issued a press release stating that the company, to "maximize shareholder value" is looking into a possible sale or merger of the company. Thursday they announced that they are reviewing New York private-equity firm Harbinger's $31.00 per share offer for the company.

No idea what this means for O.N. Minerals' Erie Operation, which has already been rumored in local maritime circles to be up for sale. What this means for the future of commercial shipping in Erie remains to be seen. I will continue to follow this situation.

Steamer RESERVE, a frequent Erie visitor, has two more trips before laying up in Menominee, Michigan for conversion to a barge.

Signs of Spring and Thing to Look Forward to

Spring is in the air in Erie harbor. Lakeshore Towing's towboat WOLVERINE is now back in the water and moored at their dock at Wolverine Marina.

Coast Guard Station Erie's 47-foot motor lifeboat, 47241, has been removed from the winter storage building on Station Erie's property, sporting her crew cut- the removal of her flying bridge that allows her to be stored in the building. Crews are busy preparing her for her return to the water.

CG Station Fairport Harbor's 47-foot lifeboat, 47283, was moored at Station Erie today. I'm not sure if she's there for repairs, or just a visit. In the past 47283 has come to Erie to be hauled out of the water for repairs.

Looking forward, some important dates for the shipping season:

April ?- Arrival of the first vessel of the season.
May 1- USCGC HOLLYHOCK will arrive to replace the winter buoys in Erie harbor (approximate).
June ?- Erie Shipbuilding's Hull 101 will be delivered to her owner.
August 27- Barring another dock-wall collapse, Erie's Cruise Terminal will open with the arrival of American Canadian Caribbean Line's GRANDE MARINER.
December 1- USCGC HOLLYHOCK will arrive to replace the summer buoys in Erie harbor (approximate).


47241 and 47283 at Station Erie

Erie Shipbuilding Media Mention

Erie Shipbuilding LLC is mentioned in the Ed Mathews column in today's Erie Times-News. The mention is about the 245-foot scow, Hull 101, that the yard is building. It also mentions that the company has contracts for six more barges. I'm guessing these are the $1,000,000 deck barges for the same firm as the scow, but I'm not sure. I'll have to find out.


Hull 101 under construction at Erie Shipbuilding.