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Erie Shipbuilding has completed it's first new ship since opening nearly two years ago. The Witte 4003, a scow or barge, will be officially launched next Wednesday. CLICK FOR VIDEO  A tugboat will move the $5 million ship through the St. Lawrence Seaway to it's new home in New Jersey. And the same company is also purchasing six smaller deck barges, now under construction at the shipyard. Erie Shipbuilding has been repairing and renovating ships since it began operations in October 2005, but new ship construction has been the company's focus. Ned Smith, Erie Shipbuilding C.E.O. said, "Our main target is new construction. We want to have a consistent work force over the whole 12 months year after year. So we get to build our credibility with people to show them we can do it and this scow does exactly that for us along with the six deck barges we're now constructing." And the new construction means more jobs. Employment had doubled from 65 to 130 in the past six months.

Paul Wagner