Towns and Nature: Erie, PA: Donjon Shipbuilding

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Erie, PA: Donjon Shipbuilding

Gene Polaski posted
Indiana Harbor undergoing repairs at DonJon Shipyard in Erie, PA after hitting a breakwall in Conneaut, OH several weeks ago. Photo from Erie News Now
Jeff Brandenburg It really doesn't take much damage to scrap a blade. Not to mention the terrible ride from all the vibration. Nicks and dents are enough to start the shakes. Boatnerd forum mentioned multiple holes, 125 foot crease in the hull, and both screws and rudders damaged. Not sure about that part. They had a challenge docking at Erie because of the damage on starboard screw. Wind driven event.

Facilities

Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair is equipped with a 1,250 feet by 120 feet by 22 feet (depth over sill) dry dock. The dry dock is longer than four football fields and is used to build, repair, convert, dry dock, and repower ships. It is one of only two dry docks on the Great Lakes capable of dry docking 1,000-foot Great Lakes Self-Unloading vessels.

The shipyard is located on 44 acres and has more than 200,000 ft² of production area including fully enclosed fabrication and assembly buildings, as well as 4,000 feet of pier space.

Satellite

The drydock was empty in the Google image, but this Bing image has a boat. The dry dock is also empty in the birds-eye view. From their news page, it sounds like the yard was dormant between 1972 and 2009. They help keep the facilities busy by building ocean going articulated barges. Barges and tugs can easily pass through the St. Lawrence Seaway to reach customers on the east coast.

safe_image for Great Lakes shipyards are bustling
[Donjon, FincantieriMarkBaker]

Jeff Mientkiewicz posted four photos with the comment: "Erie, PA 1/19/2022 "Michipicoten" and "Saginaw" at Don Jon shipyard."

1 of 5 photos posted by Jeff Mientkiewicz
Tug VICTORY arriving in Erie, PA for winter layup. She passes ITB PRESQUE ISLE on her way to her dock.
Mychel Seegull: Just the tug would indicate to me there is work to be done on the tug. Is it in DonJon???? great pictures
Jeff Mientkiewicz: Mychel Seegull Yes, at DonJon's, docked where the J.S. St. John is, and thanks!
[Some comments share my reaction that it has a rather scarry high center of gravity without a barge.]

1 of 5 photos posted by Bubba Dubs
H Lee White and tug Victory “high and dry” in Don Jon’s Erie Pa drydock.

Mychel Seegull posted
H. Lee White in drydock, Donjon shipbuilding Erie Pa.
Mychel Seegull also posted

1 of 4 photos posted by Lucibello Heavy Equipment photography
Donjon Marine Co., Inc. Manitowoc 4100 ringer offloading sections of cut up barges and boats at a scrap yard.

2 of 5 photos posted by Janey Anderson with the comment:

CHECK OUT THIS BEAUTY!
The freshly painted MCKEIL SPIRIT (cement carrier) is still in dry dock and will be ready to sail soon.
She has been at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, Erie, PA for her 5 year inspection - one of the only shipbuilding facilities on the Great Lakes that can accommodate the Great Lakes with a 1,000-foot dry dock.
May 12/23
Photo credit - Angus MacKay

Matthew Colie: Not a lot of CRP wheels on the lakes, they are kind of fragile. [I don't know what CRP stands for, but I assume it means a variable pitch propellor.]