TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 Arrive

Tug/barge unit W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 arrived in Erie at 0930 this morning, turned in Erie harbor and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to unload 5,500 tons of Kraft paper loaded in Thunder Bay. The unit will likely begin unloading on Sunday morning.


W.N.TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 inbound.


A closer view.


W.N. TWOLAN.


Side view.


Stern view.


TWOLAN pushes the barge into Erie harbor.


Another view.


Into Erie harbor and beginning to turn.


Turning.


Turn completed, the TWOLAN powers the barge toward the Mountfort Terminal.


Note how the barge appears lightly loaded due to the lack of lumber in this load.


The tug W.N. TWOLAN.


Another view of the TWOLAN as the unit approaches the dock.

FORTITUDE in port; LAUD due

AMERICAN FORTITUDE arrived in Erie at 0600 this morning and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Calcite. The vessel finished unloading and departed at 1230 hours this afternoon.

On Wednesday the SAM LAUD is due in at 0300 with stone from Cedarville.

Unloading continues on the W.N. TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132.


McALLISTER 132 at dock this morning.


Unloading.


FORTITUDE unloading at 0830.


Overhead view.


Finished unloading at 1230 hours.


Swinging in the boom.


Dock boss releases the lines.


Backing away from the Old Ore Dock.


Turning into the harbor.


Rounding the Mountfort Terminal, passing W.N. TWOLAN and J.S. St. JOHN.


Close up.


AMERICAN FORTITUDE lines up for the channel.


Passing the Mountfort Terminal.


Between the piers.


Close up of the FORTITUDE's bow.


Stern view.


Outbound into Lake Erie.

Erie Times-News article elaborates on TWOLAN's visit

According to an article in today's Erie Times-News, the W.N. TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132 are new business for the port of Erie, and should be arriving every two weeks. The article mentions that Ray Shreckengost, speaking at the State Transportation Commission meeting in Hermitage last week, noted that Lake Erie Biofuels, like Great Lakes Feeder Lines an Erie Management Group company, has approached the port about shipping 1.5 million gallons of biodiesel per month to Europe through the port. Seeing as how there are no existing facilities to load a tanker here, I'm not holding my breath on the biodiesel being shipped out. Also of note is that at one time Great Lakes Feeder Lines had desired to ship containers through the port of Erie, yet has to date not debuted its service on the Great Lakes.

The article, however, fails to mention the new Cruise Boat Terminal that won't see any cruise ships until 2010 at the earliest, and that the port is asking for money for a new terminal for the proposed fast-freight ferry and more money for a high-speed ferry to replace the small, passenger-only ferry they have under construction.

AMERICAN FORTITUDE Due

AMERICAN FORITUDE, the former COURTNEY BURTON, pays her first visit as such to Erie when she arrives tomorrow at 0530 with stone from Calcite.

Unloading on the McALLISTER 132 appears to have not gotten far on Sunday and is stopped for Labor Day. The barge, pushed by W.N. TWOLAN, will be in port for several more days unloading.

Unloading begins on McALLISTER 132

Unloading begnan this morning on the barge McALLISTER 132 at the Mountfort Terminal to lighter her 4,907 tons of lumber and paper products. This morning the paper products were being unloaded. If the unloading goes well the W.N. TWOLAN will push the barge out of port sometime on Monday.


McALLISTER 132 at dock this morning.


Jitney unloads part of the paper cargo.


At the dock.

Unloading.


Overhead view.

W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 Cargo

According to Tom Stewart of Thunder Bay, the W.N.TWOLAN and her barge McALLISTER 132 have a cargo of Lumber and paper products for the Mountfort Terminal. This will be the first inbound shipment of lumber since September, 1995, when the tug AVENGER IV and barge CHIEF WAWATAM brought in a load for Hammermill, docking at the Mountfort Terminal.