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.

SPEER; PRESQUE ISLE ON FINAL TRIPS

Both of the vessels scheduled to spend the winter in Erie, the EDGAR B. SPEER and PRESQUE ISLE, are on their last trips of the season before laying up in Erie. The PRESQUE ISLE is due into Two Harbors, Minnesota at 1600 hours on Friday to load taconite pellets for Conneaut, where the vessel is scheduled to arrive on the 12th at noon. That should put the vessel in Erie, assuming no delays, sometime on Wednesday, January 13.

EDGAR B. SPEER, meanwhile, is due in Superior to load taconite for Conneaut on Friday evening, which will reportedly put the vessel in Conneaut next Thursday and in Erie on Friday or Saturday. All of these times are subject to change and likely will, depending on ice and weather. Last year both the PRESQUE ISLE and ROGER BLOUGH were delayed for nearly two days due to adverse weather conditions and ice.

Below is video of the HARBOUR CLOUD arriving in Erie on November 27, 2009 to load biodiesel.

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THOMPSON Departs

JOSEPH H. THOMPSON/JOSEPH H. THOMPSON JR. departed at 0130 this morning bound for Stoneport, Michigan. This is the duo's first visit to Erie since 2007.

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HARBOUR CLOUD loading.


JOSEPH H. THOMPSON/THOMPSON JR inbound.


JOSEPH H. THOMPSON/THOMPSON JR inbound.


Another view.


Stern view.


Passing the HARBOUR CLOUD.


Docking.


Securing the vessel at the dock.


The first few tons of stone come off the boom at 1619.

THOMPSON Arrives; HARBOUR CLOUD Departs

JOSEPH H. THOMPSON and tug JOSEPH H. THOMPSON JR. arrived in Erie at 1530 this afternoon with stone from Cedarville, Michigan. The duo slowly passed the HARBOUR CLOUD, which was still loading at the Mountfort Terminal, and docked at the Old Ore Dock at around 1600 to unload. The pair is still unloading at this time.

HARBOUR CLOUD is currently departing the Mountfort Terminal loaded with biodiesel bound for Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Photos will follow tomorrow sometime in the morning.

THOMPSON Revised ETA

JOSEPH H. THOMPSON is now due in Erie at around 1500 on Sunday. The THOMPSON will dock at the Old Ore Dock as the HARBOUR CLOUD continues to load at the Mountfort Terminal.

JOSEPH H. THOMPSON Due; HARBOUR CLOUD Loading Continues

Barge JOSEPH H. THOMPSON and tug JOSEPH H. THOMPSON JR, with stone from Cedarville, is due in Erie at 0900 on Sunday morning.

HARBOUR CLOUD continues loading today and should be departing sometime tomorrow.

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.

HARBOUR CLOUD Underway

HARBOUR CLOUD has just gotten underway from her anchorage off of Port Weller and is currently inbound the Welland Canal. The vessel is looking to arrive in Erie at around 0600 on Friday to load biodiesel.

HARBOUR CLOUD Remains at Anchor

HARBOUR CLOUD remains at anchor off of Port Weller, Ontario and is now expected in Erie sometime tomorrow or Friday. I will update when I learn more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

HARBOUR CLOUD Remains at Anchor

HARBOUR CLOUD remains at anchor off of Port Weller, Ontario cleaning its cargo tanks before proceeding to Erie to load. I have no idea at this time when the vessel will arrive in Erie.

HARBOUR CLOUD BOUND FOR ERIE

The second biodiesel tanker of the season, the Bahamian-registered HARBOUR CLOUD, departed Clarkson, Ontario at 1500 today bound for Erie to load. The HARBOUR CLOUD should be arriving in Erie sometime on Monday.

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.