1-13 Friday the 13th of January brought in a nasty winter storm that caused a
temporary suspension of dredge operations. Gale force wind and white out
conditions sent the tugs to the wall at the Cargil Pier as water levels came
up on the Eastern Basin of Lake Erie.
1-11 The Algoma Progress is currently passing C.I.P. 16 on her way to Buffalo at 7:25am. If I had
to guess I'd say she was headed for the Gateway Metroport in Lackawanna to load salt, but I
really don't know.
I went down to check out the new park around the Union Ship Canal during early
January. They were not quite done yet, but it sure was coming out nice and
well worth a quick visit. There are interpretative sign panels to show you
what it used to look like back in the Hanna Furnace days. Even the design of
the truss work on the new pedestrian bridge is a throwback to the look of the
cranes that once unloaded lake freighters there. They also did a nice job with
the layout of bike trails, walking paths and fishing piers. My favorite item
that I saw was along the old ore dock. Original artifacts have been kept in
place like the dock wall bollards, the tracks for the bridge cranes, and some
taconite pellets to hint back at the original use of the property. It’s
amazing to stand there dockside and envision a bustling waterfront industry of
furnaces, ships, and trains in what has now become a quiet place to drop a
line and spend a relaxing afternoon. Time really does flow on like a river,
leaving the past behind as a memory in it’s currents and eddies.
1-7 Luedtke dredge operations were still going on into early January since
there was no ice to deal with yet. Only one rig was running during the first
week of the month. At that time they were concentrating on the reach of the
Buffalo River between Turning Basin #2 (Republic Steel) and the CSX CP Draw
Bridge, just South-West of Red Jacket Point. This area was highly contaminated
with all kinds of nasty stuff left over from the old Buffalo Color plant that
was once located there.
12-31 The Army Corps added more tonnage to the dredge project and Luedtke has
been back at it again this past week. I spotted one dredge rig in the area
of the CSX River Bridge (CP-1) on Thursday afternoon (29th).
12-29 I saw the stern house lights of the American Mariner out on the
Western horizon line of the lake this morning around 5am. She would
have departed Buffalo somewhere around 3-4am to have made it that far
West by that time.
12-28 The Mariner was still here this evening, once she leaves, that will probably be it for commercial vessel tranists on the year. Thanks to all my reporters for another fine season of boatnerding. As always it was lots of fun. Have a happy & safe New Years.
12-26 The American Mariner pulled in with grain for General Mills at 9:30 PM this evening.
12-26 Late update. She just poped back up again, East of Long Point,
with an ETA of 9:30 pm for Buffalo.
12-26 The Mariner was headed East on Lake Erie, roughly abeam of Point Au Pins
this morning around 8 am, but has since dropped off the AIS & and was no where
in sight near Buffalo this evening. She could arrive @ any time.
12-23 It looked to me like the dredge operations were winding down since all of
the Leutdke equipment was tied up at the Cargil Pool Elevator Pier this
afternoon.
The tug Jacklyn and her barge were in position and ready to take on their
bridge load at the Gateway Metroport dock on the Union Ship Canal this
afternoon. A hardware problem has delayed the placement of the new pedestrian
bridge at the park there. This will be the first cargo loaded onto a vessel in
the Union Ship Canal since Hanna Furnace shut down in 1982.
12-17 The American Mariner was Westbound on the lake and roughly abeam of Long
Point this morning by 8:05 AM.
12-15 Jay saw the Mariner arrive for General Mills @ 2:30 am.
12-13 Late update, I found the Mariner on the weather report page, seems that
she's roughly 1/2 way across Lake Huron @ 6:20 PM today. She'll probably
arrive on the morning of the 15th.
12-13 I don't know exactly when they departed but the Nickelena was upbound on
the St. Claire River today and the tug Ohio was docked in Toledo at 6:19 PM,
so I'm guessing they left yesterday.
There was no sign of the American Mariner on the AIS pages today, I don't
know where she is at this time.
12-11 All was quiet along the waterfront this morning. The Ohio & the Nickelena
were both tied down & sitting at their respective docks @ 11am. At this point
I'm not sure why the boiler tow isn't underway by now because it's sunny and
nice outside, unless the wave height out on the lake is an issue, but I don't really know.
12-10 It was bone rattling cold to be taking pictures down by the lake today,
but, oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do. The tug Nickelena was sitting at
Burnette, all set & ready to go, but nothing was happening there this morning.
I'm guessing they're waiting for perfect weather to depart.
The large G-tug Ohio arrived off Buffalo around 9AM. She brought barge WITTE
1407 into the North Entrance and then switched out of towing gear off the
Buffalo Port Terminal in the Outer Harbor. After taking the barge on the hip
along the Port side, she headed for the Gateway Metroport Main Dock in
Lackawanna to load air compressor equipment for delivery to Ohio.
12-8 There should be a dimmentional cargo arriving soon for the
Gateway Metroport Main Dock.
Rob mentions that the boiler at the Burnette Trucking dock may
be loaded as early as tonight in an attemp to beat the incoming snow storm.
Paul mentioned that the Mariner is due to load grain again for Buffalo.
The new pedestrian bridge for the Union Ship Canal redevelopment
will be delivered to the Gateway Metroport in 3 pieces, and then
transferred to a barge. It will then be taken up the canal and assembled
in place for installation.
12-7 Remember Pearl Harbor
12-7 Jason spotted the tug Nickelena and her coming in this morning. They tied
up at Burnette Trucking (the old Penn-Dixie dock) on the Buffalo River around
3 AM. She had previously been holding outside the harbor so that the American
Mariner could depart the General Mills Frontier Elevator at about 2 AM.
12-4 The American Mariner has cleared Detroit @ about Noon today
so I'd guess at an overnight/early AM (5th) arrival here for General Mills.
12-4 The Canadian Olympic is on her way out of Lackawanna at 8am.
If anyone is available:
Wednesday the 7th, Nicholson Hall (not Oldman as I previously stated) will be
loading up that boiler on a barge along the Buffalo River at the Burnette
Trucking dock (formerly the old Penn Dixie Dock), it's up to whoever can get
down to get the shots because by the time I get out of work, it will be dark out.-BW
12-3 4:33 PM As of this afternoon the Leudtke dredge operations are now located
just above and just below the CSX Main Line River Bridge.
12-3 8:45 AM - This just in from Paul:
The Bristol Bay is working with a barge outside the break walls.
2-3 Jay spotted the Canadian Olympic coming in around 6:42 AM. The AIS is
currently showing her backed into the Lackawanna Ship Canal and moored at the
Gateway Metroport Main Dock along the South East end of the apron. Rob
mentioned that the ship was in ballast before arriving so she must be here to
load something, probably blended coal for Hamilton or maybe Nanticoke.
Has anyone heard anything about any dimensional cargo loads being shipped out
of here any time soon?
I noticed Gateway Metroport's large crawler crane parked on the Union Ship
Canal side of the property with a large area of the dock there cleared out as
if they intend to do something big. The huge boiler that Oldman Boiler Works
is building for the steel mill in Chicago looks to be nearly ready to ship
over on Ganson St.& I was wondering if these two things are related. Maybe
it's going to be trucked over there & loaded on a barge or something?
12-2 Breaking news story:
The Marine Leg tower of the GLF Elevator collapsed late this afternoon and has
partially fallen into the Buffalo River.
http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/144465/37/Partial-Collapse-of-Tower-Attached-
to-Grain-Elevator-in-Buffalo-River
12-2 Late update: Apparently, the Canadian Olympic is on her way to Buffalo out
of Hamilton. I have no idea what the cargo is at this time, but I'd say she
will probably show up late tonight or early on the morning of the 3rd,
possibly for Gateway Metroport?
The Rebecca Lynn was still moored at the Noco Product Terminal in Tonawanda
this afternoon.
The Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay was off Dunkirk and headed Eastbound at 3:49 PM.
12-2 I got this report in today:
Brian;
American Mariner departed Duluth around midnight on 12/2. Assuming the
weather is fair for the trip I would say that puts them here late on the 5th
maybe early on the 6th if they hit traffic. -Jay
12-1 The Rebecca Lynn looks to be docked @ the Noco Product Terminal in Tonawanda as of 5:48pm today.
11-30 Charlie spotted the Rebecca Lynn on the AIS just outside the North Entrance
and on her way in at 9:53pm.
11-29 Paul says the Mariner should be coming with grain later this week.
The Invincibe-McKee Sons looks to be backing out of the City Ship Canal
at this time (9:40pm).
Jay says the English River departed at 7:15am.
11-29 Jay spotted the Invincible-McKee Sons on the AIS headed for Buffalo.
They should be here by noon.
11-27 Paul said that the Rebecca Lynn - A-397 just departed the
Black Rock Canal, switched out of pushing gear, and was headed
for the North Entrance with the barge on the wire.
11-21 Jay spotted the Rebecca Lynn A-397 tug-barge departing this morning.
They were in town at least 6 days and I'm not sure why.
11-15 7:02 PM The Rebecca Lynn - A-397 tug-barge is currently at the Noco
Product Terminal in Tonawanda.
11-15 The Manitowoc was unloading sand on the City Ship Canal at 6AM this
morning. Rob also spotted the Adam E Cornelius at Gateway Metroport later
on today. Jay says it came in around 10 AM, about the same time the
Manitowoc was leaving.
11-14, 10 pm, The Manitowoc is currently passing Long Point &
bound for the Buffalo Main Entrance Channel. If I had to guess,
I'd say she is headed for the Sand Supply Co. on the City Ship
Canal. As far as I can remember, this is her first trip to Buffalo
under her current name. I haven't seen her here since the
Norton days.
11-13 Per Rob W. - HCJ departed ADM around 5:30 pm
under the guidance of the tug Washington. They are now on their
way out to Lake Erie
11-12, 8:39 pm, The Jackson is passing Point Abino at this time &
should be arriving for ADM shortly.
11-5 Jay spotted the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock backing in around 12 noon today.
11-4 The tug-barge Invincible-McKee Sons arrived today for the Sand Supply
Corp. Landing at about 1:30 PM. They will be departing some time tonight.
11-3 I just checked the AIS vessel update page for any traffic out there,
specifically the Eastern end of the lake and just happened to click on the tug
Kathy Lynn. Someone on board has a sense of humor today because their
destination was just listed as "Strip Club". I needed a good laugh.
Brian,
Cuyahoga departed the ADM elevator at about 11:30am.
Toward the end of the offload there was a great deal of radio
chatter back and forth asking them to slow down, as they were
offloading faster than the elevator could handle. Once the offload
was complete there was a very brief delay to correct a problem with
a sticking hatch. Once that was corrected, the unloading boom was lowered
and they departed unassisted.
Aside from some time spent negotiating the turn at Ohio street there passage
down the river went relatively quickly. They were also in radio contact with
Luedeke team dredging at the mouth of the river. The tug Karl Leudeke
offered to either assist Cuyahoga around the scows, or nudge them out of
her way. I do not believe either were necissary. Cuyahoga was in the open
water of lake by about 1pm.
Jay
11-2, 9:45 pm, It looks like the Cuyahoga is now being towed up the
Buffalo River stern first to the ADM Standard Elevator.
11-2, 8:30 pm, The Cuyahoga is currently on the way in for Buffalo
but I don't know where they're going at this time.
11-1, 8:20 PM - The Rebecca Lynn A-397 is headed out of the Black Rock Canal, near the Entrance Channel at this time.
10-31 The Rebecca Lynn - A397 tug-barge were still @ the Noco
Product Terminal in Tonawanda this evening.
10-30 The Rebecca Lynn - A-397 tug-barge is Eastbound and down on Lake Erie off
of Mentor, Ohio for Tonawanda. She should be arriving later this evening.
10-29 The English River was unloading at LaFarge today. She will be departing
some time around 10 PM.
10-25 The Mariner should be arriving around mid-night tonight.
10-25
The Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Griffon spent the morning off Buffalo.
They appeared to be doing some aid to navigation work, but at around
11:30am came right up to the harbor entrance. One of the USCG fast rescue
boats headed out in her general direction, but I can not say for sure they met.
The Buffalo Police boat also entered the the Coast Guard Station shortly after.
I do not believe that was related though.
It was just nice to do a morning's boat watching from lighthouse point.
Jay
10-24 The Mariner should be here by the night of the 25th barring any weather delays.
10-19 Paul spotted a vessel out on the lake tonight, holding just
outside the breakwall. It turned out to be the tug-barge Michigan-Great
Lakes. They arrived here from the Welland Canal to wait for the weather
to calm down before heading West on the lake. Waves were up to 6 feet
and the wind was coming from the East instead of the West, making
the protected area off Buffalo an ideal place to drop anchor. These unusual
weather patterns have been happening a lot lately with storms coming up the
East coast and the swirling West over New York state. Ships very rarely
wait on weather in Eastern Lake Erie. I also noticed on the AIS that the
Phillip R Clarke was sitting in the lee of Long Point, just west of the land
mass before heading across the lake to Ashtabula. I've never seen that before.
10-15 The gale force winds were whipping the lake into a frenzy today. The
dredge operations were suspended and all 3 tugs were tied up at the Cargil
Pool Elevator Pier hiding from the wind.
Here's a short clip on the accident at the Bailey Ave. Bridge:
http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/Bridge-Inspector-Hurt-After-Fall-131555438.html
This recent article in the paper sparked my interest:
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/police-courts/police-blotter/article590622.ece
Years ago my uncle had given me an old harbor chart of Buffalo and I
immediately noticed that Bailey Ave. was listed as a draw bridge with a side
notation stating the dimensions of the draw section. After driving over the
span back then, I didn't see anything that told me visually that this was or
had ever been a lift bridge so I wrote it off to a misprint of some sort and
barely ever gave it another thought. After reading this article, I decided to
take a closer look. Upon further inspection I can now say for sure that the
current Bailey Ave. Bridge was formerly a lift span. You can clearly see a
line break in the street deck at the mid-span pier where the bascule leaf
would have risen away to the North side of the Buffalo River. The sidewalk
railing in this area has a separation and the framework below this has movable
bearing pads where they rest on the center pier. I also noticed access hatches
on the sidewalk, presumably above the old lift mechanism located inside the
North abutment/approach pier. No visible remains of any sort of control tower
could be seen since the areas to either side were heavily overgrown.
This section of the river was straightened and channeled back in the 1920's
with the thought that vessel traffic would eventually find it's way up past
Bailey Ave. Referencing my old chart, the Bailey Ave. bridge has a horizontal
clearance through the draw of 90-feet with the navigable section justified to
the North side of the channel. This was the narrowest of the lift spans to
cross the river with the next smallest being 97-feet down at the CSX CP Draw
bridge. Heavy industry was developed as far upstream as the Buckeye Terminal
(Mobil Oil) but no further dredging was ever completed above the DL&W Rail
Road's City Branch lift bridge. The federal channel ended below this section
so the Bailey Ave. and DL&W bridges were never put to use for the passage of
vessel traffic. Since the time of the original construction, utilities have
been hung under the bridge such as pipe and cable runs helping to disguise the
underside of the structure. Learning about this lost piece of Buffalo's
maritime history was a surprise to me and I'm glad I decided to look a little
closer at the Bailey Ave. bridge. I often wonder what this section of the
river would look like today if the further expansion of industry had created a
need for shipping activity that far upstream.
10-13 AIS is showing the Manistee departing the Buffalo North Entrance at 8:23 Am.
10-12 The Manistee is Eastbound on the lake, just about abeam of Point Abino,
and headed for the Sand Supply Co. Landing on the City Ship Canal at 7:30 PM.
10-10 The H. Lee White is currently Eastbound through C.I.P. 16 at 3:40 Pm
& headed for the Gateway Metroport Main Dock on the Bethlehel Slip at
Lackawanna. I'd guess at a roughly 6 Pm arrival.
10-9 The Jackson departed around 10 PM on the night of the 8th. She is a real
speedster, since she's already on Western Lake Erie at 8:42 AM today.
10-7 The Jackson is abeam of Point Abino at 9 pm tonight & should be here within the hour.
10-5 The Jackson was downbound & almost all the way across Lake Superior at 9pm tonight.
I'd guess on a Friday evening/ night arrival for ADM in Buffalo.
10-4 The Jackson looks to still be in Duluth today.
The Mariner is Westbound on the lake and abeam of Long Point at 7 pm.
10-1 Paul spotted the Jackson on the list to load grain @ Duluth on the 2nd.
It seems as though the Mariner was not on the move last night as she is currently tucked up
inside the Colchester Anchorage at 9:40 Am waiting for the weather to improve. It's about a
12 to 15 hour transit time, down bound for Buffalo once she departeds headed East.
9-30 The American Mariner is Eastbound on the lake, off Point Pelee. I'd guess
on an overnight/early Saturday (Oct. 1st) morning arrival for General Mills.
The English River has been in port all day unloading bulk powdered cement at
the LaFarge Terminal on Ohio St.
9-28 There's something out there headed for Buffalo at this time (10 PM).
Seaway Long Point was advising another boat about it, but I couldn't make
out what exactly they were saying back & forth due to garbled radio reception.
9-27 Paul spotted the Adam E Cornelius out on the lake tonight, headed to Gateway Metroport in Lackawanna.
Apparently I skipped a week somewhere and have been living in October.
The last two posts should read 9-24 & 9-25 respectively.
Wow, welcome back to reality.
10-2 Charley spotted the American Mariner on a list to load
grain at Duluth last week. I just saw her on an AIS website
down bound, south of the Soo. I'd have to guess at Tuesday arrival
here in Buffalo.
Dan spotted the Rebecca Lynn in the notch of the A-397 and departing
Buffalo this afternoon.
10-1
Here are two of Jr's videos from today, he got better as he went along:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL6BSkohRqo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAtnE7nwxo
10-1 The Rebecca Lynn - A-397 tug-barge combo arrived at 10 AM this morning
for the Noco Product Terminal in Tonawanda.
One dredge was located off the Cargil Superior elevator and the other was
working near General Mills today.
9-18 The English River is currently (6:50 PM) upbound in the Welland Canal for
Buffalo. I'd guess on a late night arrival for LaFarge.
9-13 I got this report today from Dave during the early afternoon:
Brian,The Manistee was coming in at 12:00 pm today for what
i assume would be the sand dock.A bit of a traffic jam with all
the dredge equipment, and the Mariner at General Mills.
9-12 late update: The Jackson finally departed at 10 pm. They called
into Seaway Long Point stating that they were headed for Sandusky.
The Seaway reported back that the American Mariner was headed
eastbound on the lake with an ETA for Buffalo of 0:45 on the morning
of the 13th.
9-12 I took a look around the harbor this evening. The Mariner
was not here yet as of 8:00 pm.
The Jackson was ready to depart ADM and the tug crew
was on duty, but they were still unloading & nothing was
happening at that time.
The #10 dredge was working up above S. Park Ave. & the #17
was in the Watson Basin. Both Leudtke tugs were running their
scows around this evening.
Paul said that the Invincible-McKee Sons backed out & departed
at about 12 noon today. I missed it again!
9-11, 9:41 pm The Jackson is on the way in at this time for the
ADM Standard elevator.
9-11 4:15 PM The McKee Sons must be headed for the Sand Products Co. landing on
the City Ship Canal. She was in Brevort, Michigan on 9-8 so it's looking like
a sand load.
The Mariner is about 1/2 way down Lake Huron this afternoon. I'd guess at a
evening arrival at General Mills on Monday the 12th.
There's a slight chance of a conflict in traffic there with these two boats,
but it's hard to say at this time, it basically depends on how fast the
Invincible - McKee Sons gets in and out of town tomorrow. If the dredge rig
#17 is back at it again tomorrow, it will complicate things evening more
because last week, before they temporarily shut down dredge operations, they
were working right off the sand unloading apron on the City Ship Canal.
9-11 I noticed on the AIS that the tug-barge Invincible - McKee Sons is
eastbound on Lake Erie with a destination of Buffalo. They are due to arrive
some time early on the morning of the 12th, but I don't know what dock they're
headed for.
The Herbert C Jackson Herbert C Jackson has disappeared off the AIS vessel
tracking web sites this afternoon. I'd have to guess, based on her previous
position this AM, that they should arrive some time late this evening.
9-10 At 9 PM this evening the Jackson was still downbound above the St. Clair
River so I'd guess it will be about a day from now until she arrives for ADM.
The Mariner was headed East on Lake Superior this AM, but has now dropped off
the AIS web sites, so I would guess at a (roughly) Monday (12th) arrival at
General Mills for her.
9-8 Paul spotted the American Courage headed for Gateway Metroport
in Lackawanna this evening.
9-5, 3:55 pm: It looked to me like dredge operations have wound
down for Labor Day. The two tugs, along with the #10 dredge (with
her boom secured on deck) were tied up at the Cargil Pier & the #17
was tied up out by the Lucille II at the disposal facility.
I also noticed something weird about the Rebecca Lynn. The AIS sites
show her taking an unusual corse down Lake Erie by hugging the
North shore just off Long Point. I've never seen that before.
9-5 The Rebecca Lynn departed Buffalo with the barge A-397 in ballast
for the Rouge River in Detroit at 8:15am this morning.
9-4, 3:30 PM:
The #10 derrick boat is now positioned above South Park Ave, and the #17 is
in the City Ship Canal. Both are dredging away and the tugs are running up and
down from them to the lakefront when needed with their loaded or empty scows.
9-4 I got this report from Paul yesterday around 10:30 AM:
The scow/tug just went up the Creek.
I see that Herb is scheduled to load on 9/8 at CHS 1.
The American Mariner is expected to arr Duluth on 9/7; doesn't say why.
9-3 The Rebecca Lynn was Eastbound on the lake this morning and on her way to
Tonawanda. Possible ETA of about 4:30 PM this afternoon.
9-2, 4:40 PM: I spotted the tall ship Pride of Baltimore II back at the
Central Wharf today. They were in town for tours over the Labor Day weekend.
9-2 The Luedtke tugs Krista S. and Ann Marie are now both in town with two
separate dredge rigs and a small fleet of dump scows. They are set to go pedal
to the metal dredging the Buffalo River and City ship Canal shortly.
8-31 I got a report last night saying that the English River came in around
7:30pm. I noticed this morning that she is showing up on the AIAS sysytem
web sites as still being here at this time (7:30am).
8-30 The Luedtke tug Ann Marie was eastbound & down for Buffalo at 9:20 pm.
She was approaching Dunkirk at that time. I would guess she probably has the
pump out barge Lucille II in tow.
8-28 Today's Buffalo News has an interesting article on the grain elevators &
scoopers but it's not available on line yet.
The new Buffalo Waterfront book is $24.99 plus $5.00 S/H & 8.75% Sales Tax
(only if you're a New York State resident). Send check or money order to:
Lower Lakes Marine Historical Society
66 Erie St.
Buffalo, NY 14202
716/849-0914
You can pick it up in person and avoid the shipping charge Thusdays &
Saturdays at the museum from 10 am to 3 pm.
8-25 I spotted a few scows, a work platform barge, & a small dredge rig tied
up at the Cargil Pool Terminal Elevator pier this after noon. I did not see any
tug so I'm guessing that they went back up the lake to go get the pump out
barge since that's the last remaining piece of equipment that needs to show
up before they can start dredging.
8-23 I got this in today:
Brian,
I saw the Tug Anne Marie at about 10:00 this morning along with a
dredge and smaller tender tug. They were already running the crane
through the motions at that time near the South Entrance.
Also the crane that has been on the deck of Jacklyn's barge has been
replaced by an excavator with a very long boom.
Jay
Paul also spotted the passenger boat Grande Mariner at the
Erie Basin yesterday, the 22nd.
8-21 The Cleveland-Cleveland Rocks arrived last night around 11 PM for the Sand
Supply Co. landing on the City ship Canal. They unloaded sand and departed by
backing out stern first around 11 AM this morning.
Bruce overheard a tug of unconfirmed name bringing in two empty dump scows
this morning as well. They were seen rafted to the Cargil Pool Terminal
Elevator Pier this afternoon but the tug that brought them was long gone.
8-20 The tug-barge Cleveland (X2) is on her way Eastbound on the lake for
Buffalo and passing Dunkirk at this time (6:46 PM).
8-19 Jay spotted the Rebecca Lynn headed in with her barge this
morning. Paul then spotted them heading out around 2:45 pm, so it
must have been a partial load.
The book I have been working on for Lower Lakes Marine Historical Society is
hot off the press. It's called The Buffalo Waterfront, a History in Pictures.
The book measures roughly 8.5" X 11" with black & white photos printed on
glossy, thick stock paper in a local print shop in Rochester. It's over 200
pages of comparison views of the lakefront with old and new pictures. Many of
them are rare and never published images of ships, rail lines, and industry. I
personally did the photos and photo captions for the project. If anyone is
interested please let me know. The price is just $24.99. Thanks!
8-8 While switching cars at our account in Tonawanda this morning I
noticed the Rebecca Lynn departing the Noco dock around 8 am with her barge A-397.
Paul saw the English River head out at about 9:30 pm on the night of the 7th.
8-7 The mystery ship from last night turned up to be the English River.
She was unloading at the Lafarge cement plant on Ganson St. this morning.
7-29 The Rebecca Lynn departed Noco at about 1 PM this afternoon with her barge
A-397, locked through upbound at Black Rock, and then moored at the Upper
Guide Wall around 2:45 PM. When I left at about 3 PM the captain had asked the
lockmaster if it was ok that they stayed there for awhile to wait out a rain
storm he was tracking on radar as it came in off the lake. The wind and waves
were kicking up pretty bad out by the harbor at that time as well.
Here is a short video that Jr. shot with his Ipod as the tug-barge arrived at
the Lower Guide Wall and then entered the lock chamber at Black Rock around 2:45 PM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSQub7RV9MU
7-28 I took a ride down to the harbor this evening to see if the Cleveland-Cleveland Rocks was still
here but they had already departed. The entire pile of the high clay content sand was gone, so I
don't think they'll be back to load again unless more comes in, or if Sand Products decides to ship
something else out. The regular sand storage area does seem to have two different types of sand
remaining that was brought in by boat since the piles have a slight variation in color.
Much to my surprise, the Rebecca Lynn was still on her way up to the Noco Product Terminal in
Tonawanda at 6:00 PM this evening. They must have been at anchor somewhere for most of the
day because they were due at the break wall around 2AM this morning. Haze, wind, or some other
factor may have had a roll, I don't really know.
7-27 The Rebecca Lynn - A-397 tug-barge is Eastbound on the lake for Tonawanda.
They should arrive some time early in the morning on the 28th.
7-27 The tug-barge Cleveland - Cleveland Rocks arrived this afternoon for the
TDX Gypsum Dock (West Shore Coal Wharf) around 5:37 PM. They came in bow first
this time to facilitate loading the barge differently than they did last week.
7-21 Jay spotted the Bristol Bay departing at 4pm. They
headed upriver from the visiting ship's dock to the Watson
Basin, winded, and then headed out to the lake for Cleveland.
The Cleveland-Cleveland Rocks was in today's Buffalo News twice,
once on the picture page & again in the local news section (7-20).
-Brian
7-20 Paul spotted the Cleveland-Cleveland Rocks heading
out for the lake at 8:30 pm tonight. She is currently (8:37)
passing the inbound cutter Bristol Bay out near the Traffic Buoy.
I was down at the dock earlier this evening and confirmed that
they loaded the high clay content sand from the Sand Supply operation.
This product arrived here by railcar to the Gateway Metroport, was
then trucked to the Sand Supply Landing, and then loaded into the boat.
7-19 Jay spotted the tug-barge unit Cleveland-Cleveland Rocks at anchor off
Buffalo Harbor this morning. They were waiting for the American Mariner to
depart General Mills before heading in. Paul then saw the Mariner back out
around 12:30 PM. The Cleveland-Cleveland Rocks came in after the Mariner
departed. Tom saw the tug-barge back herself up the City Ship Canal to the TDX
Gypsum dock (The old West Shore Coal Wharf) at 2 PM and tied up along the
timber crib pier face there.
I'm not exactly sure what they were here to load but they are parked right
next to a pile of crusher run asphalt millings that are left over from the Rt.
5 resurfacing project. This product is also near the Sand Supply Co. landing
so they may be loading one, or the other, or maybe even both? I don't really
know but I can say for sure that there hasn't been a boat tied up there in
about 10 years, and it's also the first time I've ever seen this particular
combo here in Buffalo.
Brian's Top 5 Craziest things overheard down at the waterfront while out
watching the Mariner & Manistee today:
5 "Hey, look at that big barge"
4 "Is that a dredger?"
3 "That's an ore boat, he's headed to Republic Steel"
2 "That's a Navy ship son!"
1 "It's full of Cheerios"
7-17 The American Mariner materialized out of the haze covering Lake Erie at
6:30 PM this evening and headed inbound for the General Mills Frontier
Elevator on the Buffalo Ship Canal.
7-17 The Mariner is off Cleveland at this time and should be here late this
afternoon or early evening.
The Manistee made it in overnight and is currently unloading sand on the City
Ship Canal.
Rebecca Lynn departed with haer barge around 5 AM this morning.
7-16 The Manistee is Eastbound on Lake Erie, roughly one third of the way here
at 2PM today. I would guess at about a 1 AM arrival for Buffalo on the 17th.
The Rebecca Lynn & the A-397 were quietly unloading at the Noco Product
Terminal in Tonawanda at 9AM this morning. The barge was drawing 13 feet at
that time so they will probably head out this afternoon or evening.
7-15 The Mariner is currently downbound @ the Soo around 7pm.
I'd guess at a evening arrival on the 17th.
7-12 From Paul: I see that the American Mariner is due to leave Duluth tomorrow around midnight for GM Buffalo.
7-12 I got down to the lakefront around 7:30 this evening just in time to see the English River on
her way out the North Entrance after having departed LaFarge Cement. The captain had to blow
the horn a few times to get all the pleasure craft out of way as they cleared the harbor piers.
Paul spotted the Rebecca Lynn departing today around 11:30 am.
7-10 I got this report today:
The Rebecca Lynn was headed down the river to one of the asphalt docks today
at noon. -Dave R
6-1 Jay spotted dredge equipment for the Buffalo River Remediation Project
starting to arrive at the Cargil Pool Elevator Pier on the Outer Harbor on
July 1st. The tug KRISTA S. came in with two scows that afternoon and then
departed to go get more. The dredging operation will ramp up during July with
an expected completion of some time in the Fall.
Vessel traffic seemed to have already been in a “Summer Slump” by early June.
This down period usually starts about a month later as cargo orders drop off
until the “Fall Rush”. The early drop in activity must be an indicator of some
sort of a still sagging economy.
6-29 The sailing ship Pride of Baltimore II was tied up @ the Central Wharf this evening.
6-24 Paul spotted the English River departing around 12 noon.
6-23
English River arrived around 6am. -Jay
6-19 The tug-barge unit Rebecca Lynn - A-397 is currently at mid-lake and on
the way to Tonawanda with asphalt. They're just East of Cleveland at 9:45 AM
and she's doing 7 to 8 knots so I'm guessing on a mid-to-late afternoon
arrival off the North Entrance.
6-14 The American Mariner is on her way in at the Fairway Buoy for the
General Mills Frontier Elevator at 11pm.
Rebecca Lynn & her barge were unloading @ the Noco Product Terminal in
Tonawand this evening also.
6-9 I got this message from Jay on the evening of the 7th:
Rebecca Lynn entered the Black Rock canal at 4pm. At 6:10 she had arrived at the Noco dock.
6-6 It looks like a rare Buffalo visitor snuck in below my boatnerd radar this
weekend. The American Courage must have gotten in and out of town overnight
last night sometime. She was Downbownd @ Detroit late Friday night with
stone for Gateway Metroport in Lackawanna and is now upbound on Lake Erie near
Cleveland @ this time. I would assume that this was her first trip here under the
new name & ownership. In 25 years of watching boats in Buffalo I have
never seen this one. Thanks to Jay for the tip off.
6-5 I'm way behind again but here's an overdue update:
5-30 9pm The English River is currently anchored just outside the outer buoy.
It's full and sitting low in the water. I assume it is waiting for the end of
Memorial Weekend. -Dan S.
5-31 The English River came in around 6:30 am. -Paul
English River is in. I 1st noticed them at Lafarge at about 2:30pm. -Jay
5-28 I've been busy this week and I'm falling way behind on these updates, but
better late then never. It seems pretty quiet out there this weekend, not much
on the lake & not much in the Welland Canal at this time.
Anyway, Paul sent me this on Tuesday the 24th at 6:30 AM:
The Manistee has just backed herself out of the Creek and is headed out the NE.
5-23 Paul spotted the Rebecca Lynn & her barge coming in the North Entrance this morning.
They are currently docked at Noco in Tonawanda as of 9pm.
He also spotted the Manistee coming in around 6 pm for the Sand Supply Landing.
5-22 The Jackson should be leaving some time late this morning or early this
afternoon if everything is going normally.
The Canadian Progress was Westbound on Lake Erie, roughly abeam of Port
Colburne at 8 AM. My guess is that she departed Lackawanna some time early this morning.
Make that Gateway, not gayeway. Ipods are hard to type on. Geeze.
5-21 The Herbert C Jackson arrived this afternoon for the ADM Standard Elevator. Pictures tomorrow.
The Progress was still at Gayeway as of 10pm.
5-21 2:19 pm The Canadian Progress is passing the Fairway Buoy
at this time and on her way to the Gateway Metroport in sunny Lackawanna.
5-20 Wow, I *think* I just heard a radio broadcast that's been bouncing around in deep space for
about 40 years. The Algowood just arrived off the Soith Entrance on their way to what the captain called the "Bethlehem Steel Ore Dock". Obviously he's talking about the Gateway Metroport Terminal in Lackawanna. That was cool to hear anyway.
The Mariner should be here around 1am on the morning of the 15th for General Mills.
5-6 Paul spotted the Washington brining the English River in at 8AM on the
morning of Wednesday, the 4th of May. Jay saw the cement boat unloading at the
Ganson St. LaFarge Plant later in the afternoon.
4-30 The US Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock was tied up at the Visiting Ship's
Dock (North Pier) this morning. She was in town to do some Aids to Navigation
work in Buffalo Harbor this weekend.
4-23 H. Lee. White unloaded stone at Gateway Metroport Saturday morning.
She departed at 1 p.m. and was passing Long Point around 5 p.m.
4-21 The American Mariner was tied up at General Mills around 5:30 AM today.
4-20 I got this report in today:
Brian,
English River is offloading at Lafarge. Looks to have come in, in the early am
hours, but is likely stuck here until the winds come down, as the city will
not open the bridges.
Breaker was returning from the intake crib at about 11am.
Am. Mariner had not arrived as of 2pm, but I am hearing reports of sustained
winds at 38knots off Dunkirk, so i suspect they are having a slow go of it.
-Jay
4-19 The American Mariner was passing through Lake St. Claire this evening. I
would guess on a arrival in Buffalo some time on the evening of the 20th.
4-16 The Jackson was unloading wheat at the ADM Standard Elevator at 10 AM on the 15th.
4-14 9:45 PM: I'm not sure if the Jackson has arrived yet or not. I do not see
her listed on any of the vessel passage pages.
The American Mariner is in Duluth and loading grain (I'm assuming for
Buffalo) at this time. She is listed to take fuel so there will some delay in
her departure there.
4-12 9 PM: The Herbert C Jackson was downbound at the Soo this evening. That
should put her into Buffalo sometime on the evening of the 14th.
4-12 The first vessel transit of the 2011 season was the Samuel D. Champlain -
Innovation on Monday the 11th. They were spotted tied up at the LaFarge Cement
plant on Ganson St. at 5:30 AM. By early afternoon they were gone.
4-6 The first boat of the new season for the Gateway Metroport should be
arriving some time next week. They have a stone cargo on the way, but I don't
know who is bringing it yet.
4-4 The Buffalo News had a short article on the upcoming dredge project.
Note: I'm pretty sure the writer meant to say "City Ship Canal", not "Union
Ship Canal".
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/buffalo/article384034.ece
4-2 The Herbert C Jackson is on the schedule @ Duluth to load grain on April
7th. She was due in Buffalo for the ADM Standard Elevator in about two weeks or so.
2-24 While switching hopper cars at the Lake & Rail Elevator today, I noticed
the Fireboat Cotter on her way up the river around 10 AM. I have no idea how
far they went up the crick or what time they came back down.
2-17 Jay reports the Fire Tug Edward M Cotter was out breaking ice today. They
made it up the river as far as the CSX CP-1 bridge (NYC River Bridge). She was
due to make a run all the way up to the Buckeye Product Terminal within the
next few days. The city was trying to clear snow from the South Park Ave. Lift
Bridge today in anticipation of the Cotter's trip up stream.
His videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/Tark9m?feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/ZFWhBcv66wo
There's an awesome shot of the Great Northern (Pillsbury Mutual) elevator on
the Buffalo Ship Canal in the Feb. 2011 Railroad Model Craftsman magazine.
Very rare since it shows the original 3 Marine Legs that were toppled by a
tornado in 1927. There's lots of boats in the photo too.
1-8 The Canadian Progress is currently inbound for the Buffalo South Entrance
Channel for the Gateway Metroport in Lackawanna, more than likely with road
salt. They are about an hour out and will arrive around 6PM this evening.
Dave R. spotted a boat at Gateway on the night of the 7th.
Some closing thoughts on the year:
2011 may bring the start of a massive environmental dredging project on the
Buffalo River. Contracts are to be awarded in the spring for phase one of two
phases that will eventually remove up to 230,000 cubic yards of silt along the
entire length of the navigation section of the Buffalo River & also the City
Ship Canal. The first part will involve navigation channel related dredging of
contaminated bottom material, and then the second phase will involve shore
side dredging. The total amount is roughly 3 times that which is normally done
for the bi-annual maintenence dredging.
On a side note, I noticed on the last windmill trip, while outbound for the
lake, the captain on the tug SELVICK referred to what I always
called “Republic Steel” as the “Wylie” dock. This is a reference to the E.W.
Wylie company out of North Dakota that is trucking the windmill parts to
Buffalo.
12-31 I hope this note finds everyone well. I *think* we are just about done
for the season here in Buffalo. There will probably be a few ice breaking
missions for the Fireboat Cotter over the winter, and maybe an odd boat run or
two with salt or something, but for the most part, I figure we will have to
wait for Spring for more frequent action around the harbor. I enjoyed the
current season while it lasted, and I'm looking forward to next year. I hope
the windmills keep rolling out of Buffalo by boat, the tug-barge vessel
activity at the WYLIE (Republic Steel) dock has been fun and exciting this
Fall. Thanks to all my spotters out there, and Happy New Year to you and your
family. -BW
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