Hamilton yesterday.

The big ship shifted to the Number 8 Shed berth to make way for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Nordic Prince which berthed at Number 6 Shed at 8.30 a.m.

US Navy weather forecasters yesterday morning determined Tropical Storm Earl to be a threat to the Island. Tracking showed the storm to be on a east northeasterly route heading straight for Bermuda.

Its maximum winds were pegged at 50 knots. Locally, Harbour Radio was saying wind speeds would increase to 35 knots today.

The high-sided Horizon is vulnerable to high winds in the narrow St. George's Town Cut. Already this year, she has decided not to enter the harbour five times.

In May, a wild squall caught her as she tried to exit the harbour for her return voyage to New York. Winds pushed her into an anchored yacht and almost Ordnance Island.

A subsequent investigation by the Ports Authority concluded the ship should strictly adhere to guidelines governing her movements in and out of St.

George's. The ship is not to move with winds gusting more than 25 knots.

The Horizon arrived in port on Monday with 1,327 passengers and returns to New York today.

She was followed by the Westward with 702 passengers which also returns to New York today.

The Meridian arrived at the West End pier on Tuesday with 702 passengers. She is to return to her New York berth tomorrow.

John S. Darrell reported the Nordic Prince in port with 1,006 passengers.

In other docksider news, John S. Darrell also reported the arrival yesterday morning of the liquefied propane gas tanker Mette Kosan from Houston.

The ship berthed at the Esso Ferry Reach Pier to begin pumping 840 metric tonnes of propane gas -- a process that will take her 12 to 14 hours.

A JSD spokesman said the gas arrived in the nick of time for Shell, whose stock was well depleted.

Mette Kosan last night was scheduled to move to Murray's Anchorage before sailing on to Carlton Pier, Bahamas at first light today.

On Hamilton's docks, Container Ship Management reported the arrival on Monday of the Oleander with 107 dry containers, 34 refrigerator containers, two boats and two cars. She left on Tuesday.

Meyer Agencies reported the Bermuda Islander in port on Monday with 70 dry containers and six refrigerator containers.

The Somers Isles steamed in on Monday with 56 dry containers and 12 refrigerator containers, 72 bundles of lumber and three bundles of PVC pipe.

Also this week, the Royal Navy's frigate Coventry was in port on Sunday for a refuelling stopover at HMS Malabar's Knuckles berth. The ship is scheduled to return on November 8 for three days.

And Cable & Wireless's cable ship Mercury returned to her Dockyard berth on Sunday for station duty.

US billionaire Mr. John Kluge's luxury yacht Virginian sailed from Penno's Wharf yesterday bound for New York.

TIGHT FIT -- Bad weather will keep Horizon from risking passage through Town Cut this week.