Recent Photos, Part II

Below are photos of PHILIP R. CLARKE's departure on April 26. Photos of recent visits by JOSEPH H. THOMPSON and H. LEE WHITE will be posted this week.

---

CLARKE unloading after sunrise.


Another view


This is CLARKE's first visit of the 2015 season.


Letting go lines.


CLARKE starts to back away from the Old Ore Dock.


Bow view.


Turning for the channel.


At the piers.


Close up.


A wave from on deck.


Stern view.


Heading out.


Next stop: Two Harbors, MN to load iron ore.

CALLAWAY, ANDERSON VISIT

Steamer CASON J. CALLAWAY arrived in Erie at 2100 on Thursday evening and proceeded slowly into the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Cedarville, Michigan. This is the first time CALLAWAY has delivered cargo to the port of Erie since 1994, although the vessel spent the winters of 2005-06, 2007-08 and 2010-11 in the port.

CALLAWAY unloaded through the night, finished at 0535 and departed at 0615 bound for Stoneport and another cargo of stone. ARTHUR M. ANDERSON arrived at 2330, after slowing to allow J.S. St. JOHN to pass inbound, and proceeded to the Mountfort Terminal with stone from Calcite. This is the ANDERSON's first visit to the port in at least 25 years. ANDERSON, famous for being the last ship in contact with the ill-fated EDMUND FITZGERALD before the latter's sinking on November 10, 1975, spent the night unloading her cargo of stone before departing at 0745 bound for Cedarville, and the stone cargo awaiting her there.

With the visits from these two sisterships, as well as their sister PHILIP R. CLARKE in late August and fleetmate JOHN G. MUNSON in June, four steamships have now visited the port of Erie in 2014. This is the most in over a decade, and, with steamships on the Great Lakes an unfortunately dying breed, a rare treat for boatwatchers in a port that had not seen a steamship deliver a cargo since AMERICAN FORTITUDE in 2008, although CALLAWAY has spent the winter in layup here since then.

---

CASON J. CALLAWAY backs away from the Old Ore Dock this morning.


ARTHUR M. ANDERSON unloads in the darkness.


Turning to line up for the channel.


Passing the ANDERSON.


Close up.


Between the piers.


Stern view.


CALLAWAY passes Coast Guard Station Erie outbound.


Heading into the sunrise.


ANDERSON departs the Mountfort Terminal to turn in Presque Isle Bay.


Another view.


ANDERSON prepares to head outbound.


The 1952-built steamship glistens in the morning sunlight, which came out long enough for her departure.


Lining up for the channel.


ANDERSON, about an hour and a half behind her sister, prepares to head out.


Close up.


Stern view.


Passing the lighthouse.


Clearing the piers.

PHILIP R. CLARKE Visits

PHILIP R. CLARKE arrived in Erie early this morning and docked at the Old Ore Dock to unload stone from Cedarville. CLARKE departed at 0930. This is CLARKE's first visit to Erie since spending the winter of 2006-07 in Erie.

---

PHILIP R. CLARKE unloading at sunrise.


Another view


Departing.


Another view of the 767-foot long steamer.


Stern view.


Outbound.

Video: PHILIP R. CLARKE Departing Erie, April 27, 2003

In this video, the PHILIP R. CLARKE is shown while departing Erie after unloading a little more than 27,000 tons of salt from Fairport Harbor at the Mountfort Terminal at 0915 hours on Sunday, April 27, 2003.

---

Historical Arrivals: April 27

April 27, 2003: PHILIP R. CLARKE arrives with salt from Fairport Harbor for the Mountfort Terminal.

CALLAWAY Departs, Doesn't Get Far; PRESQUE ISLE to Depart Saturday

CASON J. CALLAWAY, after a three-hour delay from her original planned departure time, departed Erie at 1830 this afternoon bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load taconite. The crew of the CALLAWAY had spent most of Friday completing last minute fit-out tasks before departing the Old Ore Dock and proceeding slowly past fleetmate PRESQUE ISLE. The vessels exchanged three long and two short whistle blasts - a master's salute - as CALLAWAY picked up speed to get a run for the ice outside Erie harbor.

The CALLAWAY's captain, having been in contact throughout the day with the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker GRIFFON, intended on heading east to Long Point to find a track of open water before turning west for Southeast Shoal and the Detroit River. As of 1845, ice permitting the crew hoped to reach Long Point in 2.5 hours, Southeast Shoal at 0700 Saturday, and run up through the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers during daylight Saturday.

At around 1850, the CALLAWAY told the PRESQUE ISLE that they were making good time and encountering no problems with the ice as they reached a speed of 9 miles per hour. This changed quickly when the vessel hit a windrow of ice, and the vessel came to a halt by 1930 hours in a position of 42' 11.6 N, 80' 02.1 W, about two miles east of the Erie harbor entrance. The vessel has called the GRIFFON for help. The GRIFFON is currently en route to try and break the CALLAWAY free.

CALLAWAY'S departure drew a large crowd to the South Pier this afternoon, including a photographer from the Erie Times-News.

Meanwhile, PRESQUE ISLE is planning to depart tomorrow at noon for Two Harbors.

---

CALLAWAY at dock at 1645 hours. The vessel did not have to shift forward to take on ballast, as the PHILIP R. CLARKE did last March, thanks to dredging performed in December by Lakeshore Towing.


Coming around the PRESQUE ISLE.


Turning into the channel.


Passing her fleetmate PRESQUE ISLE.


Outbound.


Another view.


CALLAWAY picks up speed on its way out.


Churning water as the 1953-built steamer picks up speed.


Heading for the lake.


Into open water as ice looms ahead, underway for the new season.


Janet Campbell of the Erie Times-News photographs the outbound CALLAWAY.

Layup Update

Both of the Great Lakes Fleet vessels due to winter in Erie, the CASON J. CALLAWAY and PRESQUE ISLE, should be arriving on January 17. The PRESQUE ISLE will spend the winter secured at the Mountfort Terminal, while the CALLAWAY will be at the Old Ore Dock.

The CALLAWAY is due for her five-year survey this winter; however it is possible that Great Lakes Fleet, the vessel's owners, will seek an extension of her drydocking survey until next winter, as the PHILIP R. CLARKE, which spent the winter in Erie last year and also received the extension, will be spending the winter at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for drydocking.

CLARKE Departs

The PHILIP R. CLARKE departed Erie today at 5:00 p.m. bound for Sandusky on her first trip of the season. After spending the morning undergoing final preparations, the CLARKE's crew winched her forward at 11:30 to ballast, because the water near the stern where she had been was too shallow for the vessel to ballast. The CLARKE finally got underway at 5:00, saluting fleetmate PRESQUE ISLE and onlookers on the South Pier on her way out to begin a new season.


CLARKE at her layup dock at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.


Stern view.


Shifting forward to ballast at 11:30 a.m.


Passing the PRESQUE ISLE on its way outbound, 5:00 p.m.


Entering the channel


Final approach to the Erie channel.


Chief Engineer John Bellmore (Left) and another Clarke engineer enjoy the view as the vessel departs.





For more photos of the CLARKE taken today, visit my Webshots album.