KEN BOOTHE SR. FLOATED!

Great Lakes Towing's tug NEW YORK arrived from Ashtabula this morning and began breaking ice in Erie harbor in preparation for the move of the tug KEN BOOTHE SR from the drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair.

At 0800 the tug NEW YORK moved the WITTE 1406 to the east side of the shipyard across from the J.S. St. JOHN, and then moved the WITTE 1407 to the east end of the Mountfort Terminal. The movements will allow a vessel to be docked in the West Slip this winter.

At around 0930 shipyard crews removed the drydock gate, and at 1045 hours this morning the NEW YORK began to tow the tug KEN BOOTHE SR. out of the drydock, turning the tug in the harbor and backing it in to the north end of the West Slip. The BOOTHE will remain here all winter and is scheduled to be completed sometime in mid-February.

I will have video of this move posted tomorrow, along with video of the BELUGA ENDURANCE.

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NEW YORK and WITTE 1406 sit at the Old Ore Dock.


NEW YORK sits in the ice near the Mountfort Terminal.


NEW YORK turning at the West Slip. In a moment the tug will begin backing toward the WITTE 1407.


Backing toward the WITTE 1407.


Securing a line to the barge.


Pushing the barge out of the dock, bound for the Mountfort Terminal.


Stern view.


Stern view of the tow as it heads into icy Erie harbor.


NEW YORK pulls the KEN BOOTHE SR out of drydock.


Releasing the tow line.


NEW YORK backs around the KEN BOOTHE SR.


KEN BOOTHE SR. is the first powered vessel to be built entirely in Erie. Although PRESQUE ISLE and the STEWART J. CORT were assembled here, they were not completely built here.


NEW YORK swings the BOOTHE around.


Stern-on view as the NEW YORK moves the tug.


Approaching the slip.


Nearing the dock.


Close up of the NEW YORK.


Approaching the dock.


Pulling on the tug.


Close up.


This 135-foot long, 10,500 horespower tug is a sister to the JOYCE L. VANENKEVORT.


NEW YORK pushes the BOOTHE into position.


NEW YORK moves around the tug.


Turning.


Backing around to stop and dock for lunch.


Lowering a gangway onto the KEN BOOTHE SR.


Video of the NEW YORK moving the WITTE 1407.

WHITE Arrives

H. LEE WHITE arrived in Erie at 1000 this morning carrying a cargo of stone from Cedarville, Michigan. The vessel docked at the Mountfort Terminal and began unloading at 1115 hours. The WHITE is due to depart in ballast at 1600 today bound for Toledo, Ohio to load coal.

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BIG TONY leads the WHITE inbound.


Close up.


Stern view.


WHITE inbound.


Another view.


Stern view.


Swinging a crewman onto the dock.


Ready to unload.


WITTE 1406 and WITTE 1407 back at the West Slip.

I will post video of the WHITE's arrival later today.

OHIO Returns Barges; Departs

Great Lakes Towing's tug OHIO arrived in Erie at 1030 today towing the barges WITTE 1406 and WITTE 1407, which are returning from their charter to Alcoa and work in Cleveland.

OHIO docked both barges at the Mountfort Terminal in a strong north wind, and after a short stopover there lip and barges to their home base at the West Slip and departed for Buffalo, where the tug will take the barge CBC 1268, with windmill parts, in tow bound for Menominee, Michigan.

This is the OHIO's first visit to Erie since July 15, 2006, when it arrived to tow the LANSDOWNE to Buffalo. That tow departed the following day.

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OHIO, towing the WITTE 1406 and WITTE 1407, inbound this morning.


Another view.


Close up of the 1903-built OHIO.


WITTE 1406.


Stern view as the tow docks.


Stern view of the OHIO.


Docking.

WITTE 1406, WITTE 1407 in Cleveland

WITTE 1406 and WITTE 1407 were towed out of Erie last week by the tug SUPERIOR, bound for Cleveland. There, they met the salt-water vessel TRACER to offload parts for Alcoa, to be shipped up the Cuyahoga River. This is the second part of a shipment of press parts for Alcoa arranged by UTC Overseas, the first of which came into Erie on the FEDERAL POWER earlier this summer.

The barges were moved up the Cuyahoga River earlier this week to unload and should be returned to Erie sometime this weekend by the SUPERIOR. I will update when I learn more about their arrival.

SUPERIOR, WITTE 1406 Inbound Video

Below is video of the SUPERIOR and WITTE 1406 inbound Erie last Thursday morning.

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Video: SUPERIOR and WITTE 1406 Departing on Monday

Below is video of the SUPERIOR and WITTE 1406 departing for Cleveland on Monday evening.

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SUPERIOR Returns WITTE 1406; St. JOHN Develops Engine Problems

Sunrise on a beautiful Thursday found the tug SUPERIOR towing the barge WITTE 1406 through the channel and back into Presque Isle Bay. SUPERIOR took the barge alongside once in Presque Isle Bay and docked the 1406 back at the West Slip, ahead of barge WITTE 1407.

SUPERIOR then moved over to Dobbin's Landing before departing for Cleveland at 0850.

The SUPERIOR's departure was delayed a few minutes due to the J.S. St. JOHN's return to port at dead slow speed. St. JOHN was reportedly experiencing engine problems and returned to the Old Ore Dock for work.

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SUPERIOR alongside WITTE 1406 in Presque Isle Bay this morning.


Coming around and heading for the slip.


Approaching the slip.


Into the West Slip as the SUPERIOR slows the barge down.


Close up of the Great Lakes Towing tug SUPERIOR.


A crew member of the SUPERIOR swings a line from the WITTE 1406.


Stern view of the tow.


SUPERIOR at Dobbin's Landing prior to departing.


Another view.


St. JOHN inbound.


Stern view as the vessel limps into the harbor.


SUPERIOR outbound.


Close up.


Side view.


Stern view.