CLIPPER LOYALTY Arrives

CLIPPER LOYALTY spent about six and one-half hours this morning anchored off of Port Colborne, Ontario awaiting a lake pilot and finally got underway at 1120 hours this morning. LOYALTY arrived off of Erie at 1530 and slowly proceeded through the channel before turning in the harbor and docking at the Mountfort Terminal at 1630. Biodiesel loading was to begin sometime this evening.

LOYALTY arrived in port drawing about 7 meters (23 feet) of water. The vessel is partially loaded already with jet fuel from Hamilton, Ontario and will probably not be in port very long. The LOYALTY will likely be here 24 hours or less.

This is the CLIPPER LOYALTY's second visit to Erie to load biodiesel (the first was in August 2009) and is the first load of biodiesel to leave the port this season. CLIPPER LOYALTY is the only tanker to have visited Erie twice to load biodiesel.

This is also the first biodiesel tanker to arrive in Erie since November 27, 2009, when HARBOUR CLOUD arrived in ballast.

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CLIPPER LOYALTY inbound.


Another view.


Close up.


Close up with Hero BX in the background.


Another view of the LOYALTY.


Crew member on CLIPPER LOYALTY unrolls a chain on the vessel.


Stern view.


Another view.


Silhouetted by the late fall sun.

HARBOUR CLOUD Arrives in Erie

HARBOUR CLOUD arrived in Erie today at 0725 on one of the Fall's coldest days thus far. The vessel, which had spent the previous four days anchored off of Port Weller for tank cleaning and awaiting pilotage, turned in Presque Isle Bay and docked at the Mountfort Terminal to load biodiesel. This is the tenth load of biodiesel from Hero BX (formerly known as Lake Erie Biofuels) to be shipped out of the port since 2007; one load went out in 2007, seven went out in 2008, and two have gone out in 2009. This is likely the last load to go out of the port this season, as the St. Lawrence Seaway will be closing in less than a month.

Lakeshore Towing put the oil containment boom around the HARBOUR CLOUD this morning at 0930 and loading commenced shortly thereafter. Loading should take more than 24 hours to complete.

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HARBOUR CLOUD inbound Erie on a windy Friday morning.


Another view.


Close up of the 2004-built HARBOUR CLOUD, on charter to the Clipper Group.


Stern view. Note that the CLOUD's stack is painted completely black. .


Turning in Presque Isle Bay.


Turning. Note how close the vessel is to the green buoy in the foreground.


Turning.


Turned and heading for the Mountfort Terminal.


Docking.

MANISTEE Due; Another Load of Biodiesel to be Shipped

MANISTEE, with stone from Cedarville, is due in Erie at 1300 on Friday.

Another load of biodiesel is scheduled to be shipped from Hero BX (formerly Lake Erie Biofuels) through the port of Erie on November 24. The tanker HARBOUR CLOUD is due in Erie on the 24th and will be departing the following day. The HARBOUR CLOUD is currently on its way to Clarkson, Ontario to unload before sailing for Erie.