Erie Trader - A Humorous Salute for Duluth

Here is the articulated tug-and-barge combination of the Clyde S. VanEnkevort (tug) and Erie Trader seen arriving in Duluth, Minnesota on the afternoon of April 30, 2024. They were hauling in a load of limestone they picked up at Stoneport, Michigan and were to discharge it at the C. Reiss Terminal in West Duluth. After unloading, they moved over to the Burlington Northern 5 dock in Superior to load taconite (iron ore) pellets. They departed Superior on May 1, bound for Toledo, Ohio.
We got a rather odd captain's salute from the Clyde S. VanEnkevort as she made her way in through the Duluth shipping canal. Instead of using one horn to blow all three blasts, they switched to a different horn for the final blast. It sounded kind of strange... like a trumpet player hitting the wrong note at the end of a song. Having heard both horns in the same salute, I have to say my preference is for the second horn!
The arrival of the Clyde S. VanEnkevort and Erie Trader was actually the first half of a "two-fer," where two ships pass under the Aerial Lift Bridge for the same lift. The second ship was the classic laker John G. Munson, who you can glimpse at the beginning of the video. I was going to include both ships in the same video, but decided the Munson deserved her own video. This was especially so because I shot a lot more footage of the Munson, following her to the dock to watch her unload. It would have ended up being an abnormally long video... and KZbin tells me that most viewers only have a 3-4 minutes attention span. (But since you're reading the video description, I know that probably doesn't describe you!)
The 740-foot barge Erie Trader began her life in April 2012 as the Lakes Contender, while the 135-foot tug Clyde S. VanEnkevort began her life as the Ken Booth Sr. in February 2011. Both were built at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair in Erie, Pennsylvania. They were specifically designed to work with each other and not mate with any other tugs or barges. Both are owned by VanEnkevort Tug and Barge of Escanaba, Michigan. They were leased by the American Steamship Company until 2017, when the lease ended and their operation went to VanEnkevort Tug and Barge. At the time the lease expired, they obtained their current names... though observant viewers will spot the old names of both the tug and barge in the metalwork. The Erie Trader can carry 38,500 tons of cargo and has a 1000-horsepower diesel-driven bow thruster that helps her maneuver in port. The Clyde S. VanEnkevort is powered by twin 5,400 HP MaK diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers.
The main advantage of the articulated tug-and-barge combos is that they can operate with smaller crews than traditional lake freighters. Tug crew sizes are typically 15-18 compared to the crews of 25-30 on traditional lakers. The tugs also have the flexibility to detach from the barge for maintenance, refueling, and even occasional ice breaking duties.
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[@sjoeld57]

It was built here in Erie 12 years ago, and that's about the age when our voice changes. 😊

[@1Long2Short]

Those awkward teen years are next!

[@comradeyuri8492]

For those of who can remember, the barge and tug colors remind me of the Cleveland Cliffs ships of yesteryear.

[@scottburns2600]

I think the powers that be dropped the ball with that horn design. Even the horn itself doesn't like it!😅

[@pixie706]

I dont think I have seen or heard her before but thanks to my good attention span I now know lots about this duo. Thank you 😊😊

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks! Appreciate it whenever someone reads the comments. 🙂

[@jackienaturelover9761]

What a nice video. Thanks for sharing. Love seeing the Erie Trader.

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks Jackie! 🙂

[@BL-jt3qt]

I'll go with a strange, humorous Salute being better than no Salute at all. I'm betting that the Crewman that sounded the Salute got some interestesting comments from his Crewmates though. But as always, a great catch and info from yoou. Thank you for sharing. 👍

[@1Long2Short]

“What button are you pressing, captain?” 😆

[@leehanna4929]

Definitely not the usual salute! I usually read your description before the video, watch it, and read the comments. Occasionally make one of my own. Thanks for sharing.

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks Lee!

[@april906outdoors3]

Maybe it’s a little whistle envy…their own version of the two-tone whistle like the James R. barker? 😊

[@ojlott]

Another work of art. I seem to hear jets(maybe fighters)but I only see gulls?

[@1Long2Short]

Thanks! Yes, you tend to hear fighter jets much more often than you actually see them. 🙂

[@TOTALCAMARO]

That’s a December and January sounding horn. lol 😂

[@gregmctevia5087]

Very cool.

[@tuxedotservo]

2:25 at the end there, I think the horn went through puberty 😉 Voice got a bit deeper...

[@cris_261]

Lucky for Erie Trader that the Munson was following, and not Michipicotin. The later would have passed Erie Trader and Co. in one of those, "you have to pick up the pace, time is money!" moves. 😉

[@Wagonman5900]

First, happy Memorial day. Second, I read the description before watching any of your videos. Third, please tell me you were in Duluth last weekend to see the Michipicoten and the Masabi Miner leave

[@1Long2Short]

Thank you! Happy Memorial Day to you too. I know I can rely on viewers like you to read the description and watch the full video. 😉 I caught the Mesabi Miner’s arrival last Saturday, but I needed to head home before the Michipicoten departed. I kick myself for missing the two ships meeting at Rice’s Point. Normally I would have stuck around, but I was totally exhausted after being up most of the night. I did catch the Michipicoten arriving at 1am with lightning in the background. 😁

[@Wagonman5900]

@@1Long2Short An all-nighter will wipe you out, so I don't blame you. I look forward to seeing the results. The Michipicoten left Saturday evening, and Miner left Sunday evening. They both blew clean captain's salutes on the way out.

[@1Long2Short]

We got a good salute from the Miner on the way in. I didn’t pick up any of that racket from the north pier… just the occasional USAF Thunderbird F-16 flying nearby!

[@user-oq5kw4mv5r]

Maybe one was from the barge part and the other from the tug

[@asn413]

is it normal for such a vessel to use a tug for propulsion?

[@1Long2Short]

The barge is unpowered so it relies on the tug to go anywhere. 🙂

[@RickyMikrot]

Rickymikrot superior theprtisthelongestshiponthegreatlakesifanyonedidnotknow