Portland Harbor

Portland Harbor
Taken from the Casco Bay Bridge

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

NCC Sudair leaving..

The tanker which arrived a couple days ago, NCC Sudair, has left the Gulf dock and is now exiting the harbor.


It will pass the tankers Asphalt Eagle, and Seaborn, which both arrived today.

Seaborn entering, Asphalt Eagle docked

Yesterday the tanker "Asphalt Eagle' arrived and anchored at 'Anchor B' which is right near spring point. The tugboat Roderick Mcallister, along with a barge, is there refueling it at the moment. Currently, the tanker 'Seaborn' is on its way in.. Its being escorted in by both Andrew and Iona Mcallister with the Spring Point Pilot boat out ahead. Also, the tugboat Fournier Girls has almost made the turn past Bug Lighthouse which I think means it will be docking at the Portland Pipeline crude oil dock. Docking there requires 3 tugboats and taking a tanker past Portland Pipeline and going under the Casco Bay bridge only requires 2 tugboats. I would think the fact Fournier Girls has come out already and is heading right for it makes me think its definitely going to the pipeline. Also the fact that its 240m almost gaurantees it because I have only seen the other docks have tankers that are under 200m, where as the Portland Pipeline dock takes in Ships of around 240-275m.

Here is Seaborn's track of entry, and info about the ship:



Here is Asphalt Eagle anchored at 'Anchor B'.

Also, the tankers New England and Nicolaos both left yesterday.

Monday, September 20, 2010

New England, Nicolaos, NCC Sudair at the Harbor

The tankers 'New England', Nicolaos, and NCC Sudair are currently at Portland Harbor. Nicolaos is docked at Portland Pipeline, it has been here once before, unfortunately I didn't get to see it. NCC Sudair is anchored by sprint point at 'Anchor B' which is its official name. The New England was docked at the Motiva Terminal, however it just moved to the Exxon Mobile dock! Both Andrew and Iona Mcallister escorted it there. The New England has come tons of times, along with its sister ships, Noreaster, Great Eastern, and Acadian. They all have the 'Irving' logo on their smoke stack.

What a weekend! Explorer of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas

Last weekend, on Saturday, the cruise ship Explorer of the Seas came to Portland! This was the 2nd time it has come this season. Explorer of the Seas is the largest cruise ship coming to Portland for the 2nd year in a row, it carries just over 3000 passengers. It left Saturday night but it will also be coming back on October 2nd, and I plan on getting a video of it. Also, Jewel of the Seas came on Sunday..another huge cruise ship. It carries 2,758, the 2nd most this season behind Explorer of the Seas. It will be coming back next Sunday, the 26th, and also on Sunday, October 3rd. I saw this ship last year, and I got a video of it docked. It also left, all cruise ships that have come always arrive early in the morning and leave that night. I am planning on getting a video of Jewel of the Seas this Sunday. Both of these ships docked at the Maine State Pier.

Here are the rest of the other big cruise ships scheduled:

Carnival Glory- 9/22 (I saw on the 15th, and I have a video)
Enchantment of the Seas- 9/25 (Ive seen it this season, and I have a video)
Jewel of the Seas 9/26 (I saw last season, but only have a video of it docked)
Carnival Glory- 9/29
Summit- 9/30 (Ive seen it this season, and I have a video)
Arcadia- 10/1 (Never seen before!)
Explorer of the Seas- 10/2 (Ive seen it this season and last season but I don't have a video)
Jewel of the Seas- 10/3
Carnival Glory- 10/4
Norwegian Spirit- 10/8 (Never seen before!)
Enchantment of the Seas- 10/9 (My birthday :D )
Jewel of the Seas- 10/10
Carnival Glory- 10/11
Celebrity Summit- 10/14 (Ive seen it this season, and I have a video)
Explorer of the Seas- 10/16
Jewel of the Seas- 10/17
Norwegian Spirit- 10/22
Jewel of the Seas- 10/24
Crystal Symphony- 10/29 (Ive never seen before!)

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Anette on its way..

The cargo ship Anette, sister ship of Jutta, is going to be arriving shortly. I have seen this ship only once before. Cargo ships are very rare at Portland Harbor. I have seen Jutta several times though, it is the most common cargo ship at Portland Harbor. Jutta and Anette dock at the Sprague terminal. I know from my friend (who works for Winslow Tugboat Company) that Jutta unloaded Kaolin Clay one time.

3 Tankers Update..

All 3 tankers anchored out at sea side by side have all moved. First, the tanker Valtamed came in and docked at the Portland Pipeline crude oil dock. Then, the tanker Ocean Chariot came in yesterday and anchored at "Anchor B" which is right near spring point lighthouse. The 3rd tanker, Montigny, also came in yesterday and docked at Portland Pipeline. Valtamed left overnight, and Ocean Chariot unanchored and went under the Casco Bay Bridge and went to the ExxonMobile dock. So currently Montigny is at Portland Pipeline and Ocean Chariot at ExxonMobil, and Valtamed gone, and that's not even including the 3 cruise ships that arrived!


Here is the 2 "vessel tracks" of Ocean Chariot and Montigny. You can see they were both anchored near each other out at sea. The one with the curl is Montigny, and the one that you can see goes through the harbor all the way to ExxonMobil is Ocean Chariot.

I got a great video of Carnival Glory!


Here is my wonderful video of Carnival Glory leaving Portland last night at 7pm!

Enjoy!

And its also been uploaded to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoEBf1BXsYM

Cruise ships Aurora and Celebrity Summit arrived this morning

Heres the cruise ship Aurora, one of the biggest ones of the season along with Celebrity Summit. Aurora is anchoring at "Anchorage B" by spring point lighthouse to wait until Celebrity Summit leaves. Aurora and Celebrity Summit both arrived about a half an hour ago.

Celebrity Summit has come to Portland probably over 5 times this season. Its docked at the Maine State Pier. It is also one of the biggest cruise ships of the season.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Carnival Glory docked at Maine State Pier!

Heres a picture of Carnival Glory at the Maine State Pier! One of the biggest cruise ships of the season, Carnival Glory arrived at 8am this morning and is leaving at 6pm. Carnival Glory brings in 2,758 passengers to Portland! This picture is a screenshot I took of the 'Auto Europe Harbor Cam'. To the left you can see a coast guard ship too. Normally the Portland Mcallister tugboats dock at the Maine State Pier, but when a cruise ship comes they move down towards the Casco Bay Bridge until it leaves. Tomorrow Aurora will be arriving in the morning and leaving at 6pm.


Here is Carnival Glory's "vessel track" a feature exclusive to marinetraffic.com

Amazing! 3 Tankers Anchored side by side!

9:00am- As you can see, there are THREE tankers anchored out at sea right near each other! Marine traffic says they are 1 mile apart each. This is amazing! I have only seen 2 at a time before. The Tankers are Clio, Ocean Chariot, and Montigny! Who knows when they'll come, this is really strange! Also, Carnival Glory has just docked at Maine State Pier.

7:20am-Carnival Glory arrives! Montigny on its way?

Scheduled to dock at 8:00am, Carnival Glory, one of the biggest cruise ships of the season, heads for the Maine State Pier where it will be docking.

Here is Carnival Glory's "vessel track" a feature exclusive to marinetraffic.com !

Scheduled to arrive tomorrow, another huge cruise ship, Aurora, will make its way into Portland. Currently its at Boston.

The Tanker Montigny appears to be making its way for Portland. Its heading right towards the 2 other tankers anchored out at sea, Clio and Ocean Chariot. I am curious if it too will anchor out at sea. 3 Tankers waiting to enter the harbor.. strange...


Here is Clio, a tanker I have seen once before over a year ago! It came in yesterday.

Here is the tanker Ocean Chariot. It has been anchored for around 4-5 days! The longest I have ever seen one anchored out there.. who knows when it will becoming in..

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Valtamed vanishes, Coast Guard Ship on its way. Ocean Chariot remains anchored.

9:00 am- Coast Guard Ship labeled '626' is on its way to Portland Harbor this morning.. I have seen many coast guard ships and I think I have seen this one before.


9:00am- I was shocked to see this morning that Valtamed, which was anchored out at sea next to Ocean Chariot yesterday, has disappeared from the map! The only thing I can think of is that maybe it had something urgent to do or something. Just doesn't make sense though.. Ocean Chariot has been out at sea now for atleast 3-4 days. Weird. Also, the tug/barge 'Freedom Service' left yesterday.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Ocean Chariot, Valtamed, anchored out at sea

Forgot to mention, the tugboat/barge named Freedom Service is docked at the Motiva Terminal. Freedom Service has come to Portland Harbor several times.
10:30 am- Valtamed on the move. Could it be heading to Portland?
11:55 am- False alarm, its staying put.


The 2 tankers Ocean Chariot and Valtamed are both anchored out at sea this morning. They've been there for a couple days. Valtamed will be going to Portland Pipeline crude oil dock (all of the ships that are 250-275m dock there. Ocean Chariot is 183m meaning it could be docking at a couple different places such as the Gulf, Global, Mobile, or Motiva docks. I cannot say when these 2 tankers will be arriving but it will probably be today or in the next few days. No idea which will come first.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Sidsel Knutson leaving this morning, Eagle Express arriving

1:50pm - Turns out Eagle Express docked at the turner island dock aka Motiva terminal I think. Sidsel Knutson is long gone now.
Here you can see Sidnel Knutson's 'vessel track', a feature exclusive to marinetraffic.com
10:00am- A SHOCKING NEW DEVELOPMENT: the tanker Eagle Express is no longer anchored and is making its way towards Portland Harbor. Turns out the tugs will have another job to do after all! Eagle Express is only 180m long, and so it will not be docking at Portland Pipeline because the ships that dock there are 250-275m.
Here, Sidsel Knutson has made its way under the Casco Bay bridge with the tugs following. Once Sidsel Knutson gets around the curve and past buglight park, the tugs head back to the Maine State Pier, where they dock. Sidsel Knutson is now heading to Ferrol.
Sidsel Knutson has now unmoored, and with the help of Iona and Andrew Mcallister, it will make its way under the Casco Bay Bridge, and head further East past buglight park before turning 90 degrees and heading South.
Heres the Spring Point Pilot Boat preparing to lead Sidsel Knutson out of the harbor. The grey symbol is the Portland Pilot boat, which is rarely active. I dont know why that is.

Here, Andrew Mcallister and Iona Mcallister are both undocking Sidsel Knutson. Sidsel Knutson was only here for about a day and a half. I am very disappointed because I was going to get a video of this ship after school today. And also I have seen Jasime Knutson before.

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