TWOLAN, McALLISTER 132 DEPART

At around 1330 this afternoon, under overcast, threatening skies, the tug W.N. TWOLAN shifted astern of barge McALLISTER 132 and hooked up to the barge. The TWOLAN, after nine days in port unloading paper products, followed the U.S. Brig NIAGARA out of port at 1400 today, bound for Sarnia, Ontario and eventually for Thunder Bay.

The tug was only in front of the barge due to the repairs completed to the PRESQUE ISLE last week; the repairs required the tug to move to make room for the cofferdam, barge 502 and PRESQUE ISLE.

---

TWOLAN backs away from the barge.


Turned and headed for the stern of McALLISTER 132.


Stern view.


Turning for the McALLISTER 132.


Brig NIAGARA passing.


NIAGARA departing Erie.


TWOLAN slowly moves the McALLISTER 132 away from dock.


Outbound.


Tug pushes the barge.


Stern view outbound Erie.

McALLISTER Unloading Continues

Unloading continued today on the McALLISTER 132, a week after it was started at the Mountfort Terminal. As of this evening the barge appears to be empty; however, the W.N. TWOLAN has yet to take the barge in tow and depart.

I will update when I learn more about the vessel's departure.

McALLISTER 132 Unloading Continues

Unloading on the McALLISTER 132 continues today and the lumber barge, propelled by the tug W.N. TWOLAN, should be out sometime this weekend, bound for Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Unloading Continues on McALLISTER 132, PRESQUE ISLE Due Out Saturday

Unloading continues today on the McALLISTER 132, and the tug W.N. TWOLAN is still expecting to depart tomorrow with the barge.

PRESQUE ISLE repairs are expected to be finished later this week and the vessel should depart Saturday.

Repairs Continue on PRESQUE ISLE; McALLISTER 132 Unloading

Repairs continued today on the PRESQUE ISLE; after the discovery of another leaking seal, the repairs are expected to take longer than originally thought and the PRESQUE ISLE will likely not depart before Friday.

W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 continued unloading today and are expected to be out of Erie on Wednesday. The tug apparently will tow the McALLISTER 132 through the channel, and is expected to need tug assistance to get off the dock.

---

W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 and CLIPPER LANCER at the Mountfort Terminal at 0630 on Saturday.


Close up of the tug.


CLIPPER LANCER.


Stern view of the TWOLAN and McALLISTER 132.


CLIPPER LANCER awaits the finalization of paperwork related to the biodiesel shipment before departure.


LANCER clears the piers at 0845.


With the McALLISTER 132 and TWOLAN turning in the background.


Close up of the LANCER.


CLIPPER LANCER turns in line with the channel at buoys 3 and 4.


Side view.


Stern view.


The LANCER is loaded with about 5,000 tons of biodiesel bound for the Netherlands.


Another view.


Underway and picking up speed, 2.5 miles from Erie piers. In about five hours the LANCER will be arriving in Port Colborne to begin her downbound voyage through the Welland Canal.


PRESQUE ISLE about two miles from the piers.


Wide-angle view as the vessel approaches buoys 1 and 2.


The tug PRESQUE ISLE, providing the propulsion.


Lining for the channel.


Passing the outer buoys.


Stern view.


PRESQUE ISLE enters the piers.


This view gives a good look at how much room a 105-foot wide vessel takes up.


At the other end of the piers and approaching the dock at the Mountfort Terminal.


Turning.


Approaching.


Sliding alongside.


With the cofferdam in the background.


Another view.


TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 at dock.

PRESQUE ISLE Repairs Continue

Crews from Lakeshore Towing and Erie Sand & Gravel worked all day today to install the cofferdam on the PRESQUE ISLE to facilitate repairs on the starboard shaft seal. The repairs are to be undertaken during the night, and the cofferdam will be removed tomorrow and placed on the port side.

Meanwhile, unloading continues on the McALLISTER 132. Both the McALLISTER 132 and PRESQUE ISLE are currently expected to depart on Wednesday.

Photos from yesterday will come tomorrow.

LANCER Departs; PRESQUE ISLE Arrives

CLIPPER LANCER finished loading at around 0030 this morning, at which time Lakeshore Towing crews aboard towboat TITAN removed the oil boom from the ship. The LANCER departed at around 0845 this morning upon completion of paperwork related to the export of biodiesel to Europe.

After the LANCER's departure from the dock, W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 departed the dock, turned in Presque Isle Bay and docked facing east at the Mountfort Terminal. TWOLAN, to facilitate the arrival of the PRESQUE ISLE and istallation of the cofferdam on the PRESQUE ISLE, moved in front of the McALLISTER 132, which began unloading immediately.

PRESQUE ISLE arrived in port at 1015 this morning and slowly worked her way into the Mountfort Terminal. Crews from Erie Sand & Gravel, Great Lakes Electrical Services and Lakeshore Towing spent the afternoon hard at work installing the cofferdam. It's unknown at this time how long repairs will take.

Photos will follow tomorrow.

TWOLAN ARRIVES, LANCER LOADS, PRESQUE ISLE WAITS

W.N. TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132 arrived in port this morning and docked at the Mountfort Terminal, immediately astern of the CLIPPER LANCER, which continues to load biodiesel and should be finished around 0300 Saturday.

The PRESQUE ISLE, meanwhile, is anchored tonight about ten miles north of Erie waiting for the LANCER to finish and depart before entering the harbor for repairs. Once LANCER departs, the TWOLAN and barge McALLISTER 132 will depart the dock, turn in Erie harbor and wait for dock crews to shift the cofferdam forward before docking on the east end of the Mountfort Terminal, and the PRESQUE ISLE will dock on the west end of the dock for repairs.

PRESQUE ISLE is currently due to dock at around 1000 tomorrow morning.

---

CLIPPER LANCER loading this morning.


TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 inbound.


Stern view.


Passing the LANCER.


Close up.


A busy Mountfort Terminal on Friday evening.

CLIPPER LANCER Arrives; PRESQUE ISLE, TWOLAN Due Friday; Meet the Ship Modelbuilders

The tanker CLIPPER LANCER departed the anchorage at Port Weller, Ontario last night at around 2230 hours and began upbound through the Welland Canal bound for Erie, after the crew spent the previous two days at anchor cleaning the cargo tanks in preparation for the biodiesel load waiting in Erie.

The LANCER arrived in port today at 1600, slowly turned in Presque Isle Bay and docked at the Mountfort Terminal.

The CLIPPER LANCER joined the cofferdam built for the PRESQUE ISLE at the Mountfort Terminal today; the cofferdam was towed over there this morning by Lakeshore Towing's tugs FLATTOP and DON HENRY. The cofferdam is waiting to perform repairs on the PRESQUE ISLE's propeller shaft seals when she arrives in ballast from Conneaut at 1100 hours on Friday.

Also due on Friday is the tug/barge W.N. TWOLAN/McALLISTER 132 with lumber and paper products from Thunder Bay.

The Erie Maritime Museum invites the public to meet three of the area’s finest ship modelbuilders on Saturday, July 12, noon to 3 p.m. at the museum.

Allison Taylor, Skip Nagle and Pete Gonzalez have built, repaired and refurbished ship models on display at the museum. Their talents and skills have produced beautiful, musuem-quality work that honor ships and boats–some long gone--built in Erie and the region.

The public is invited to meet the men, see their work, ask questions, get tips, and talk about how to get involved in becoming a volunteer to help with work on various projects.

Erie’s history of boat building is a rich one and this event offers a chance to talk with three of the city’s finest model builders and hear first-hand what goes into building ship models.

The event will take place at the Erie Maritime Museum, 150 East Front St.

---

CLIPPER LANCER approaching Erie.


In the channel.


Passing.


Stern view.


Passing the Mountfort Terminal.


Turning in Presque Isle Bay.


CLIPPER LANCER approaches the Mountfort Terminal.