New owner of Erie Shipyard promises growth

Through an agreement with the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority and the acquisition of the assets of the Erie Shipbuilding, DSR will engage in shipbuilding and repair on its 44-acre site on Lake Erie, Pennsylvania. The acquisition adds shipbuilding and repair to Donjon’s existing spectrum of marine services, including dredging, salvage, heavy-lift, and towing.

DSR’s facility, equipped with 385m by 37m by 6.7m dry dock, is the largest shipyard of its kind on the Great Lakes. The facility includes 1,230m of pier space and more than 200,000 square ft. of production area, with fully enclosed fabrication and assembly buildings housing fully automated cutting, fabrication, and coating equipment sufficient to build and maintain everything from deck barges to ocean-going ships.

Before Witte decided to buy Erie Shipbuilding, he was its biggest customer, purchasing 11 barges in recent years. He liked the company’s products, but also realized it was in financial trouble. He studied its prospects, then offered to buy it. “I think the core of the business is the people I have found here in Erie,” Witte said. “We have the experience to operate this business successfully.”

Witte is cautious about making projections related to employment growth just yet. Currently, DonJon Shipbuilding and Repair employs about 35 people. He’d like to boost employment to about 150 if and when the company is ready.