Harbel Tapper

The Bulk carrier Harbel Tapper was launched on 20 March 1981 from the Koyo Dockyard, Mihara, Japan.[1]Harbel Tapper was operated by L&C Shipping Lines, the dedicated shipping service of Firestone Natural Rubber Company. The ship, along with its sister ship the Harbel Cutlass, provided the only direct shipping service between Liberia and the United States. The ship typically completed six round-trip voyages a year, carrying both bulk liquid and dry cargo. On trips to the U.S., the ship carried liquid latex and block rubber. To Liberia and West Africa, the ship carried rice, medical supplies, vehicles, equipment, fertilizer and all the other supplies needed to support Firestone Liberia operations, as well as third party cargo. Harbel Tapper unloaded directly into terminals in Fall River, Massachusetts; Baltimore; and Savannah, Georgia. In addition, the ship also called at the ports of Norfolk, Virginia, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, where it then loaded rice for West Africa.[2]

History
Liberia
Name: Harbel Tapper
Builder: Koyo Dockyard, Mihara, Japan
Launched: 1981
Completed: 1981
In service: 1981
Out of service: 2011
Identification: IMO number: 7900596
Fate: Retired in 2011
General characteristics
Class and type: Bulk carrier
Tonnage: 9,232 tons
Length: 142 m (466 ft)
Beam: 22 m (72 ft)
Draught: 6.3 m (21 ft)

Events

In 1983 Harbel Tapper was involved in a ship collision with the United States passenger vessel MV Yankee in Rhode Island Sound.[3]

In 1986 Harbel Tapper appeared briefly on-screen in the Hollywood film Mosquito Coast starring Harrison Ford.

In September 2000 Harbel Tapper was involved in a ship collision with the Greece registered tanker Olympic Breeze in the Gulf of Mexico, both vessels sustaining damage.[4]

Harbel Tapper's last journey in 2011 was to take part in the humanitarian relief shipment to earthquake-devastated Haiti coordinated by the Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC (FSNR) teammates and the vessel crew. During this mission, the ship had to survive an attack by pirates and an outbreak of cholera that afflicted the island at the time.[5]

Harbel Tapper then returned to its home port of Monrovia in Liberia where it has now retired. Harbel Tapper's sister ship Harbel Cutlass continues in active service.

References
  1. "Harbel Tapper (7900596)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  2. L&C Shipping, retrieved 02. 12. 2011
  3. Ship collision in Rhode Island sound, retrieved 02. 12. 2011
  4. Tanker, Cargo Ship Collide, retrieved 15. 12. 2011
  5. Ship delivers aid to Haiti Archived 2012-04-26 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 02. 12. 2011
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