Erie Shipbuilding LLC
Encyclopedia
Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair LLC (DSR) is a United States
shipyard
located in Lake Erie
port of Erie, Pennsylvania
. The shipyard was founded by Dirk VanEnkevort in October 2005, when he took over the lease of the former Litton Industries
property from the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority for a price of $500,000 per year. In 2009, it was purchased by J. Arnold Witte, Sr., the CEO/owner of Donjon Marine Co., Inc.
The shipyard is a major employer in Erie County
, currently employing nearly 200 people.
During the first winter in business, the shipyard, which employed about 60 people full-time, completed the following projects:
In the yard's second winter in business, it completed miscellaneous repairs on the steamer Philip R. Clarke, as well as beginning construction on a 245 feet (75 m) dump scow
for Donjon Marine, christened the Witte 4003. In addition, they constructed six 165 feet (50 m) deck barges for Port Albany Ventures and Donjon Marine, the PAV 101, PAV 102, PAV 103, Sue B., Witte 1401, and Witte 1402. In 2008, the company began construction on a 740 feet (225.6 m) barge
to be named Erie Trader and 135 feet (41.1 m) tug
to be named Clyde VanEnkevort after the father of Dirk VanEnkevort. The tug and barge will mate together to create an 840 feet (256 m) cargo ship.
Erie Shipbuilding recently equipped their facility with metalworking
robot
s to help with the shortage of skilled shipbuilders.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
located in Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
port of Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
. The shipyard was founded by Dirk VanEnkevort in October 2005, when he took over the lease of the former Litton Industries
Litton Industries
Named after inventor Charles Litton, Sr., Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States, bought by the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2001.-History:...
property from the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority for a price of $500,000 per year. In 2009, it was purchased by J. Arnold Witte, Sr., the CEO/owner of Donjon Marine Co., Inc.
The shipyard is a major employer in Erie County
Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
, currently employing nearly 200 people.
During the first winter in business, the shipyard, which employed about 60 people full-time, completed the following projects:
- Conversion of the steamer Buckeye into the barge Lewis J. Kuber
- Repowering of the tug Joseph H. Thompson Jr.
- Miscellaneous work on the steamer Cason J. Callaway
- The five-year inspection, painting, and miscellaneous work on the barge Joseph H. Thompson
In the yard's second winter in business, it completed miscellaneous repairs on the steamer Philip R. Clarke, as well as beginning construction on a 245 feet (75 m) dump scow
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
for Donjon Marine, christened the Witte 4003. In addition, they constructed six 165 feet (50 m) deck barges for Port Albany Ventures and Donjon Marine, the PAV 101, PAV 102, PAV 103, Sue B., Witte 1401, and Witte 1402. In 2008, the company began construction on a 740 feet (225.6 m) barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
to be named Erie Trader and 135 feet (41.1 m) tug
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
to be named Clyde VanEnkevort after the father of Dirk VanEnkevort. The tug and barge will mate together to create an 840 feet (256 m) cargo ship.
Erie Shipbuilding recently equipped their facility with metalworking
Metalworking
Metalworking is the process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large scale structures. The term covers a wide range of work from large ships and bridges to precise engine parts and delicate jewelry. It therefore includes a correspondingly wide range of skills,...
robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s to help with the shortage of skilled shipbuilders.