Ferry Surfing and other Weekly News Bits

Surfing videos from Halifax Harbour have city hall a bit worried



McNabs will be easier to explore
A work crew has just started to restore Garrison Road, the main walking trail that runs from one end of the Halifax Harbour island to the other.

Ottawa not ruling out financial aid for Yarmouth-Maine sea link
federal government won’t rule out investing in a ferry connection between Yarmouth, N.S., and Maine until a study is completed in February

Shipyard completing $36-million contract
A METEGHAN RIVER shipyard is finishing up a lucrative contract to deliver 18 aluminum catamarans to England, where they will service wind fields in the stormy North and Irish seas.

Svitzer Bedford Returns

the Svitzer Bedford arrived back in Halifax on Dec 26, She suffered an engine room fire and was abandoned on Oct 28 while on route from Quebec City for Becancour Quebec.

UpDate:


Re-Attaching the Tire Bumpers today. She assisted Atlantic Concert away from Fairview Cove that evening.

Weekly News Bits

New Vietnam Service, with A New Vessel:
The first Eastbound (inbound) vessel to call Cai Mep will be the OOCL America voyage 28E01 on January 9, 2010. The first Westbound (export) vessel to call Cai Mep was the OOCL Oakland voyage 16W50 sailing from the Port of Halifax on December 16, 2009.

Shipping line adds 10th vessel and Port of Halifax gets new connection with Vietnam

Sewage Issues:
Halifax sewage plant shows signs of life and Halifax mayor to brave harbour again

Ferry Issues:
Atlantic Vision ferry back in the waterafter the completion of repairs to a hole in the stern.

Tourism operators fret as ferry service between N.S. and Maine scuttled


ShipBuilding:
N.S. awards first contracts for restoration of famed schooner Bluenose

Shipyard could get busy building large training ships in Meteghan River that could deploy the remote controled fast-attack simulators like a swarm of bees

Naval Refit Contracts to Create 335 Shipbuilding Jobs

weekly news bits

Fishing boat sinks, 3 rescued, 1 missing


Halifax businessman proposes harbour hovercraft
Jay Hasson, a metro businessman, recently bought two hovercrafts and he thinks they could be used as a Bedford ferry service. He's asking Halifax Regional Council to support his idea in principle.

Stevns iceflower

Seems this Tug was converted to the Fjord Saguenay back in
March 2009 she was repainted and renamed at halifax shipyards then.

She now returns as a new build.

Weekly News Bits

The 92nd Aniversary of the Halifax Explosion.
The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture announced Friday that all photographs, films and archival records on the 1917 disaster have been re-digitized for their website http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/explosion/default.asp

News coverage of commemorations:
Survivors, residents mark anniversary of Halifax Explosion

Ottawa issues tender call for soil cleanup on McNabs
The soil remediation project was prompted by an old oil pipeline exposed when hurricane Juan tore through. The 240-metre pipeline has been oozing bunker C oil since the storm hit metro. The pipeline was part of a navy fuelling depot that supplied vessels and forts in use on the island during the Second World War


Port of Halifax signs MOU with Vietnamese port The MOU recognizes that the Port of Haiphong is a gateway or “border port” for trade between Northern Vietnam and South East Asia, and the Port of Halifax is a gateway port for Canada and North America

Rowan Gorilla III not departing

as of 1223, the tow out was canceled, and the towing vessels are returning to the dock.

Weekly News Bits

CN Rail Strike News
Its now over, however Halifax was affected.

Canadian Ports Weathering CN Strike
Strike Hits Halifax Railcar Supply - Ship schedules not disrupted, but train delays hamper some port operations
Strike Delaying Trains at Halifax - daily train service was delayed by 16 hours on Nov. 29, the second day of the strike. In turn, that delayed some shipments until the evening of Nov. 30

Tracking boosts port business Software keeps containers from dwelling around. (and you can look them up online Here )

Rowan Gorrilla Departing

Taken from my blackbery, around 8:30am
Maersk Challenger, Hebron Sea, and Ryan Leet take up their towing positions.

Weekly News Bits

Move over, Thomas: Theodore the tugboat makes stop in Ports."Theodore Too" made a quick stop in the Port City on Thursday while on its way to Boston for a goodwill tour that seeks to thank Bostonians for their help in providing relief during a maritime disaster that leveled Halifax in 1917.

Coast Guard drops search for missing Halifax sailorHubert Marcoux, 67, had hit high seas, strong winds on the way to Bermuda earlier this month and failed to arrive as planned a week ago

Halifax Shipyard lands refit of HMCS IroquoisHMCS Iroquois will arrive at the yard Dec. 15 for a major refit. The vessel will be in the yard until late 2010.

In September, Halifax Shipyard was awarded a contract to build nine midshore patrol boats for the Canadian Coast Guard. The first vessel will be delivered in 2011 and the rest of the boats will be in service in 2013. Earlier this year, the yard landed a $60-million contract to build an offshore supply vessel for EnCana Corp.’s Deep Panuke natural gas project. Construction of the vessel will employ up to 200 people. And in 2008, the shipyard landed a $549-million contract to extend the life of seven of the navy’s Halifax-class frigates. That program is underway and will last until 2017.

Weekly News Bits

Prof challenges senator’s port remarks
en. Stephen Greene’s recent suggestion to move container facilities from the Port of Halifax to the Strait of Canso may have been provocative, but a Saint Mary’s University professor says there may be inaccuracies in the senator’s statements

CCGS Hudson Circumnavigated the North and South America 40 years ago.
Covered Previously (Hail, hail to the good ship Hudson
) and A voyage of real discovery

Aecon Fabco gets council OK for ship dismantlingTown council voted 4-1 to approve a bylaw amendment that would allow Aecon Fabco to dismantle the Canadian Navy destroyers HMCS Gatineau and the HMCS Terra Nova at the local shipyard


we also have the report of the TSB into the Capsizing Fireboat 08-448B Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia 17 September 2008

CCGS Hudson

Hail, hail to the good ship Hudson
The Chronicle herald writes

EXT THURSDAY, exactly 40 years will have passed since the Hudson, Canada’s biggest and most famous scientific ship, set out from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth to begin what the mathematician, physicist and oceanographer Peter Wadhams calls "one of the last of the great globe-spanning multidisciplinary oceanographic expeditions."

Departing

Atlantic Elm towING out the former HMCS Gatineau, heading for Pictou to be scrapped.
image clipped from http://www.halifaxwebcam.ca/

Sold for Scrap

The Chronicle Herald reported today that

A DARTMOUTH company has won a contract worth more than $4 million to remove, dismantle and dispose of two mothballed warships tied up in Halifax Harbour.

Aecon Fabco won the tender to dispose of the former HMCS Terra Nova and HMCS Gatineau with the lowest bid

The company plans to tow them to its Pictou shipyard for dismantling.The ships should be towed out of Halifax by December, said Lianne LeBel, a Defence Department spokeswoman.

On A tug

In September of 2008 CelebrateCanada2010.ca was launched in preparation of Celebrating Canada in 2010. This year long celebration in which the Celebrate Canada pavilion will be manned by Tim Van Horn and Heide Van Loon as it travels across Canada to a diverse range of venues such as schools, first nations settlements, small town events, larger cultural festivals, and a number of high profile national events

On Day 170, They went on a trip with Switzer Bedford to move a tanker.

More Here

Weekly News Bits

Move the port of Halifax out of Halifax? It was a topic of discussion.
Cargo business must ship out
Making the most of trade and transport assets

HMCS Fredericton Sailed for the Persian Gulf/Horn of Affrica:
Canadian navy frigate deploys on 6-month counter terrorism mission

EnCana hopes to resume pipeline laying after boat damaged in N.S. storm

The HMCS Kootenay explosion

40 years ago today, one of the worst Canada's worst peacetime naval tragities occured. During A routine high speed pass, HMCS Kootenay suffered a gearbox explosion killing 9 crew, and injuring several more.

Addtional Coverage and Background:
CBC Archive Footage of Kootenay (with Saguney and Bonaventure
HMCS Kootenay survivors mark 40th anniversary
Hazegray's Account of the Explosion
Taking stock of Canada's worst peacetime naval disaster

Weekly News Bits

News Bits - Now Weekly!



Captain's log, star date 1791 - Vintage views of Canada for sale
the logs of Capt. William Hope will come to auction and offer Canadian museums and collectors a chance to capture some rare, vintage views of this country.

CN official denies putting Halifax behind B.C. port in priority
The Port of Halifax is not taking a back seat to Prince Rupert, B.C., in terms of commitment from CN, a senior railway official said Tuesday

Full scale marine security and safety exercise planned for Halifax harbour
A full-scale regional marine safety and security exercise is planned for Halifax harbour on Wednesday

SeaJacks Kraken Departs

Seajacks Kraken was loaded abord the Dockwise Swan at Anchorage 1. She is next chartered for work in the North Sea.

UPDATE:

Atlantic Condor

Atlantic towing has published the Spec Sheet ( Here in Pdf) for the Deep Panuke Suply vessel, to be Named Atlantic Condor.
She is currently under construction at Halifax Shipyards as A Rolls Royce UT 755LN Design.
Image From the Spec Sheet PDF.

Offshore Update

The Seajacks Kraken returned to halifax after comleting work off Deep Panuke. Her next stop will be the North Sea, and will likely be picked up by a dockwise vessel in the coming weeks after her avipods are taken off.

The Rowan Gorilla 3 returned to port today form the Sable project. after a few weeks in port, she will be off to work at Deep Panuke.

The Calamity Jane, a Pipe layer laying pipe for Deep Panuke is also tied up at Halterm.

M/V MSC Nikita & M/V Nirint Pride

Halifax Regular Nirint Pride was Struck and Heavily damaged (though not as badly) as MSC Nikita, at the intersection Point of The Lane Outward From Rotterdam & The Lane For South Bound Traffic.

more from Cargo Law

Nato In Town

Several European Countries have ships at the Dockyard today, Including Belgium (Lobelia), UK (HMS Quorn) Denmark (Thetis).
Photos to follow, Hopefully later today. image from Mac's Navy Links

News Bits

Charting our coastal waters
An article about the CHS charting Process

Halifax harbour whale-watchers sight shark
Sharks off Halifax? glad the waters to cold to swim :)

Service ‘opens doors’ to Vietnam
"K" Line is adding Weekly wendsday service to Vietnam.

Moved..

Sorry for the lack of Updates as of late. I have moved, and have been renovating.
As im now higher, AIS coverage should be well out into the approaches, as well I have a view of the basin, so expect new phot angles too.
A More regular volume to return in September.

Tall Ships

Algoma Dartmouth

As reported at Shipfax, the Samistal Due is to be renamed the Algoma Dartmouth, and begin bunker service in Halifax.

Here she is, earlier today.

Tall Ships Arriving

The Amistad Arrived in port this afternoon, and tied up for the start of tall ships, the bulk of which are expected tomorrow, from Boston. Expect lots of coverage over the coming days

Note I cheated, the photo is from the Amistad's visit last summer for Africville commemorations.

USS Mahan Visits Port

USS Mahan arrived this Morning and is tied up at Navy Jetty "Charlie"
Photos to (hopefully) follow

Australians in Port

The Australian Navy vessels HMAS Sydney and HMAS Ballarat are currently tied up at Navy Jetty "Bravo" next to the casino.
they arrived from St Johns Nfld. (photos to follow)

See http://wwwshipshots.blogspot.com/for pics of the St. John's Visit.

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race

The Bi-Annual Marblehead to halifax Ocean race departs this Sunday at 1300. The record time is 33 hours, so expect arrivals Tuesday.

for more details, see http://www.marbleheadtohalifax.com/

A new site I put together - It collects realtime data about the harbour - weather, tides and reported arrivals and departures. If there is something missing, please let me know.

Halifaxshippingnews.ca

News Bits

Georges Island to be open to public next year
Parks Canada intends to open the national historic site to the public, and plans starting the necessary work Aug. 1, the agency said Tuesday in papers filed with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry. - To be open by March 2010

Sailor picked up by container ship south of N.S.
the man was picked up by a container vessel, the Maersk Missouri, Sunday about 420 kilometres south of Halifax.

Tall Ships Update:
Tall ships fest will bring fireworks, re-enactments

Pearl Mist Update

The Pearl Mist, Built at halifax Shipyards, is currently at Shelburne Ship Repair, another Irving-owned yard, where it’s being prepared for cruising.

From: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1128312.html

MSC Cruises Adds Halifax in 2010

from: Travel Agent Central:

MSC Announces New Itineraries

MSC Cruises announced that MSC Magnifica, currently under construction, will be sailing a series of fall foliage cruises from New York and Quebec in 2010..
After arriving in New York, the ship is scheduled for four more itineraries, including a 10-night roundtrip cruise that leaves New York City on September 22 and makes calls in Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec, Halifax and Newport.

Louis St Laurent out of Nova Dock

Bluenose II

has been in town for the past few days and has been giving harbour tours.

Cherry Out of Drydock

She departed yesterday afternoon, and is now tied up at Pier 28

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea state who has the right of way. Everyone below you on this list must give way to you. In Halifax, a container ship usually falls under #6

1. Not Under Command
2. Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre
3. Constrained by Draught
4. Fishing
5. Under Sail
6. Under Power
7. Seaplane

Lets also remember the Red Green Principle "Im in my van, he's in his pinto, who has right of way?" - this principle is how merging works in NYC - im bigger so i have right of way.



Dont do this.. Despite what the colregs say, the Red green Principle wins.

Pilot Boarding

Or rather disembarking from the Ellen Knutsen, who stopped into halifax for bunkers and supplies a few weeks ago.
some day ill get a shot at the pilot station - alas i came close once, but they boarded on the offshore side of the ship.

June 8, Off Chebucto Head

The Pilot boat about to board the pilot on the Inbound Atlantic Companion, Dockwise Target at Anchor, and HMCS Corner Brooke outbound.

George's Island

Alas I was in PEI this past weekend, and Thus Missed Georges Island... But I went last year.
Here are some Pics:

George's' Island Light

Inside the Lower battery:

View to Citadel Hill:

Laid Up Ship Update

The Shipwatcher Spotted the Maria Desgagnes in the St Lawrence seaway,
Last week, and the Georgia S is currently outbound from anchorage 12 for Point Tupper.

The Sewage Plant

This is a blog about the comings and goings in the harbour - since January this has included raw sewage which is once again being dumped into the harbour since a power interuption caused a failure at the halifax sewage plant, filling it with sludge.

For those who want the latest, I suggest keeping tabs Via Google News

Allow me to add my $0.02 about the situation:

To the Mayor Peter Kelly - Last summer you took credit for the plant cleaning up the harbour, now you must also wear its failure. Do your Job, Read the report, find out what happened and how to prevent it, and most of all, GET IT FIXED, as in Yesterday.
If it takes a year to fix, then either your not working hard enough, or you built a flawed system, and should fire the people responsible, and resign yourself.

Lets hope the Chronicle Herald can get to the bottom of this.

news bits

Canada’s eye on the sea
A look inside Canadas Maritime Inteligence establishment

Halifax, Odessa ports team up
As part of a plan to offset Declines in container traffic with break bulk.

No money for peeling Peggys Cove lighthouse
Looking a bit Battered, but still functional tourists think the Lighthouse is less then Picturesque.
UPDATE:
Peggy's Cove lighthouse to get paint, repairs

Ships may plug in while in port
Your boat likely has had a shore power connection for years - now the big ships do too.

Halifax prepares to host tall ships
Their coming - July 16-20

Halifax Gateway Council elects new board

M/T British Courtesy to Machine Shop Wharf

arriving at halifax shipyard today.

M/V Cherry under tow by Switzer Bedford

to the Scotia Dock, at Halifax Shipyards.

HNOMS Roald Amundsen Returns

The Norwegian naval vessel HNOMS Roald Amundsen arrived in port this afternoon.
This is the ship's second visit this year

Ocean Bertrand Jeansonne

Arrived in Halifax today and is tied up at Pier 24. Groupe Ocean usually operates in the St Lawrence around Quebec - so she is possibly bound for the Scotia Dock, as it is an Irving Built Tug. (same design as the Atlantic Oak, and Larch.

UPDATE: She's Brand new from the East Isle Shipyard in PEI, in Town for trials.

Seajacks Kraken is Back

Seajacks Kraken returned this morning to anchorage 7, it had been jacked up to the east of Halifax off Lawrencetown (Thanks to a good AIS hit) Before jacking up, it was seen very close to Cable Wharf

NT Dartmouth - Now in Red

Nt Dartmouth Spent a few days out of the harbor and came back repainted.. Alas still no AIS.

Before


After

news bits

Melfi Marine to drop Hailfax port for Montreal
After almost 16 years Melfi Marine is dropping Halifax as a port of call in favour the Port of Montreal.

Cruise season over for Halifax-built ship
Pearl Seas Cruises said it had to cancel the remainder of the 2009 Eastern Canadian and St. Lawrence Seaway cruises because of deficiencies with the Pearl Mist recently discovered during sea trials, quality issues and construction delays.

Picton Castle’s odyssey over
The Picton Castle returned to Lunenburg at Saturday after completing its circumnavigation of the Atlantic Ocean

Departures

Departing Today:
The Seajacks Kraken

(sorry, shot into the sun)
also The German Navy ships departed this morning, and the Chilean Tall Ship Esmerelda is scheduled to depart tonight.

Dockwise M/V Target

Formerly a Crude Oil Carrier, modified now as a Submersible heavy lift vessel.

Rowan Gorilla III

coming to its final Position, just off anchorage #5

Dockwise M/V Target

Arrived with a drilling platform Rowan Gorilla 3 to Anchorage 1. Currently with 8 cables (8/10ths of a nautical mile) of Anchor Chain (Rode)

The rig will complete six months of work for Canadian Natural Resources starting in the third quarter of 2009. The work was valued at $55 million.

Kraken Ready to Depart?

The Seajacks Kraken has unjacked itself today. Perhaps ready to depart for the Sable Gas Field?

B.E. “Esmeralda”

arrived in halifax from Quebec today.
The ship is open to the public Tuesday from 3 p.m. top 5 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A welcome ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday.She departs Thursday for Boston.

German Visitors

The german navy has 2 ships in port:

F219 FGS Sachsen


A1412 Frankfurt Am Main