TREGURTHA Arrives; WITTE 4004 Floated

For the first time in over 17 years, PAUL R. TREGURTHA arrived in Erie today. TREGURTHA arrived at sunrise and docked along the east wall of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair. The Queen of the Lakes will be drydocked on Monday morning.

Lakeshore Towing's tug FLATTOP and towboat DON HENRY removed the partially-completed WITTE 4004 from drydock at Donjon today, mooring the barge in the West Slip. The new dump scow will be completed after repairs to the TREGURTHA are complete.

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PAUL R. TREGURTHA approaching the East side of Donjon.


Using the bow thruster.


Sliding the wall.


Another view.


In position behind Donjon's WITTE 1407 and Lakeshore Towing's 501.


Overhead.


One sailboat in the background on the overcast Sunday morning.


Another view.


DON HENRY and FLATTOP moving WITTE 4004.


Lining up for the West Slip.


FLATTOP.


With towboat TITAN standing by if needed.


Bow view.


At dock this evening.


Bow view.


Tug MANITOU in port, moored behind FARRELL 256.


PAUL R. TREGURTHA at the east slip.

PAUL R. TREGURTHA DUE FOR DRYDOCKING

For the first time in well over fifteen years, the Queen of the Lakes, the PAUL R. TREGURTHA, is headed for Erie. TREGURTHA, the longest ship on the Great Lakes, seldom strays from her dedicated run from Superior, Wisconsin to the St. Clair Power Plant in St. Clair, Michigan.

It was on this run that the TREGURTHA went aground while downbound in the St. Mary's River on Wednesday morning. Three tugs, and over twenty-four hours after going aground, TREGURTHA was pulled free on Thursday morning, and anchored in the lower St. Mary's River for inspection. This inspection by divers found extensive damage to TREGURTHA's hull due to the rocky bottom in the St. Mary's River.

TREGURTHA is currently expected in Erie early tomorrow morning and will go to the east side of Donjon Shipbuilding, before being drydocked Monday morning. Of note, Erie's shipyard has been through four different operators since the last time the TREGURTHA was drydocked here. At the time, the yard was operated by Erie Marine Enterprises and has since changed hands to Metro Machine, Erie Shipbuilding, and Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair.

Keep checking Erie Shipping News for updates.

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PAUL R. TREGURTHA the last time she was frydocked in Erie.

BOLAND, R/V MUSKIE Arrive

JOHN J. BOLAND arrived in Erie this afternoon at noon and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to unload stone from Calcite. BOLAND unloaded and departed at 1900 this afternoon. In an unusual move, the BOLAND backed out of the harbor rather than turn in Presque Isle Bay.

BOLAND is the first vessel to bring stone to Erie in over a month, and was also the last vessel to do so when she visited on July 4.

JOHN J. BOLAND was passed at Buoy 5 by the R/V MUSKIE of the U.S. Geological Survey. MUSKIE is a new vessel, built last year at Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland, and will be in port for a couple of days before departing.

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JOHN J. BOLAND inbound.


Another view.


Close up.


Stern view.


Slowing to dock.


Landing a deckhand on the dock.


The last few tons come off the boom.


Backing between the piers.


Outbound.


Bow view.


Passing the lighthouse.


MUSKIE passes the Boland.


MUSKIE inbound.


Stern view.


Docking at Wolverine Marina.

BOLAND DUE; R/V MUSKIE Due; Information on FEDERAL YUKON

JOHN J. BOLAND is expected in Erie with stone from Calcite at 1200 tomorrow.

R/V MUSKIE, on its inaugural cruise of Lake Erie, will be staying over tomorrow night at Wolverine Marina.

FEDERAL YUKON is bringing in transformers in about two weeks. The units were built in Europe.

FEDERAL YUKON Due

FEDERAL YUKON, with project cargo loaded in Antwerp, Belgium, is expected in Erie on August 25.

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FEDERAL YUKON upbound in the Welland Canal on November 23, 2003. YUKON has been trading on the lakes since being built in 2003.

OHIO Loads First Heavy-Lift of Season from Port

Great Lakes Towing Company's big, 1903-built tug OHIO, towing barge MOBRO 2000, arrived in Erie at 1730 on Wednesday and docked at the Mountfort Terminal. Barge MOBRO 2000 was loaded with tanks assembled at the Mountfort Terminal on Thursday morning.

OHIO picked up two deck barges in Toledo on Tuesday and towed both eastbound; one barge was dropped off outside of Cleveland and towed into Cleveland's Great Lakes Shipyard by the tug SUPERIOR. OHIO and MOBRO 2000 continued to Erie.

These lime kiln tanks were manufactured by Pittsburgh Tank Company and trucked to the Mountfort Terminal in pieces, where they were assembled. Similar tanks were assembled at Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland and loaded onto the other deck barge. The six assembled here, and the others built in Cleveland, are bound for the Karn Power Plant in Essexville, Michigan, where they will be used in production of lime slurry.

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OHIO and MOBRO 2000 underway off Gull Point and headed for Erie.


The pretty, 1903-built OHIO. I'd like to thank some of the staff at Great Lakes Towing and crew of the OHIO for making this inside look possible.


Stern view of the tug.


Stern view.


On approach to the channel.


Turning for the channel.


Another view.


In the channel.


At Buoys 3 and 4.


At Buoy 5.


Between the piers.


Turning for the Mountfort Terminal.


MOBRO 2000 being secured and lashed down on Thursday.


Another view.


Looking forward from the pilothouse window.


The view of the barge from the pilothouse.


The crew's dinner.


Dockside view of OHIO and MOBRO 2000.


Looking from the MOBRO 2000 toward the OHIO.


Departing the harbor.


Tug OHIO.


Outbound.


Headed for Cleveland.


Between the Pierhead lighthouse, NIAGARA and OHIO, there are 400 years of maritime history in this photo.


Close up of the NIAGARA.

Tug OHIO in Port

Tug OHIO, towing barge MOBRO 2000, arrived in Erie yesterday at 1700, and loading of six tanks began at 0600 this morning. The tug and barge should depart sometime this afternoon bound for Cleveland to pick up another barge, and then for Essexville, Michigan.

TUG OHIO DUE

Tug OHIO, towing one empty deck barge, is expected in Erie at 1600 today to load tanks at the Mountfort Terminal.