It was rough out there

Ryan Leat from the Deep Panuke platform, Dec 30
Images sent to me via twitter

Athabaskan tow troubles

Shipfax is reporting that the tow line parted today setting HMCS Athabaskan adrift of Scatrie Island, where the M/V Miner is grounded on shore.

Athabaskan was towed into Sydney by the backup tug Andre H, and is reported to be safe.
For more see shipfax http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2012/12/hmcs-athabaskan-tow-in-trouble.html

Addtional update from shipfax - there may have been contact and Athabaskan has been damaged. Read more here and Here which has addtional photos of the damage.

UPDATE 01/01/13: I have received confirmation from a source that there are punctures on the port side of the hull, near the Numbers. Shipfax has the photos

UPDATE 02/01/13: Shipfax is reporting Atlantic Towing will be completing the tow and has tugs in Sydney. They have a good synopsis here

CBC news is reporting "The Iroquois-class destroyer, which is currently docked in North Sydney, has at least seven holes in its hull along with several dents and scrapes. It also appears the ship's frame may be warped along the waterline.
The Royal Canadian Navy declined to comment to CBC News about the extent of the damage."
the story included this video of the damage

Update 12/30/12: CBC News is reporting:

Capt. Doug Keirstead, a spokesman for Maritime Forces Atlantic, said there was no one on the ship at the time, but there were people on the tug.

He said the line was reconnected with the help of a Cormorant helicopter from the airbase in Greenwood, N.S.

"One of the crew members who was on the tug was lowered down to Athabaskan to reconnect the line, as was a member of the tug's crew," Keirstead told CBC News on Sunday.

Athabaskan was in St. Catharines, Ont., for a refit. It was on its way to Halifax for the winter when it went adrift.

Once the line was reconnected, the ship was towed to Sydney to wait out the current winter storm. It's not known when it will resume the journey to Halifax.

Photo HMCS Athabaskan is towed into Sydney harbour to wait out bad weather. (Yvonne Leblanc-Smith/CBC)


Cape Breton post reports

The HMCS Athabaskan drifted in the North Atlantic for hours off Scatarie Island, which has been home to the wreck of the bulk cargo ship, MV Miner, for the past 15 months.
Capt. Doug Keirstead, a spokesman for Marine Forces Atlantic, said the tow line broke due to the poor weather in the region at the time.
There was no one on the Athabaskan at the time, said Keirstead, adding the immediate concern was for the safety of the crew towing the vessel to the Halifax naval dockyard.
“It was drifting at about 0.5 knots, so it was going very slow,” he said, Sunday.
“I do know that they were far enough offshore to allow the ship to be reconnected safely and efficiently, and of course be towed into Sydney at that point to safely avoid the poor weather.”
Keirstead said he was unsure of the exact distance from shore, but given the drifting speed of the Athabaskan, and the time it took to have a Cormorant helicopter fly from its Annapolis Valley airbase in Greenwood to help reconnect the tow line, the ship wasn’t in danger of running aground.
The commercial tugs, contracted by the Canadian Forces, pulled the Iroquois-class destroyer into Sydney harbour late Saturday afternoon.
The HMCS Athabaskan, which has been in service for the Canadian Forces since 1972, had been undergoing a refit in St. Catharines, Ont., and was being towed back to its home port of Halifax prior to the winter closing of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
It hasn’t been determined when the ship will resume its voyage to Halifax, Keirstead said.
He said it’s not unusual for a tow line to break.
“When we’re having to contend with severe weather conditions, which include high winds and rough seas, that can place a challenge on towing a vessel like that.”
It’s not expected there will be an investigation into the tow line break as it’s a “reasonably straight forward issue,” Keirstead said.
However, he noted the Canadian Forces always looks at lessons learned and how that can be applied to future tows.

Additional update from the Cape Breton Post:

The HMCS Athabaskan was tied up at the Osprey dock in North Sydney, Monday. The Canadian destroyer, which was being towed by two tugboats from St. Catharines, Ont. and had its tow line break off Scatarie Island, will remain in Sydney harbour until weather conditions improve, and then continue on with its trip to the port of Halifax. (additional image Steve Wadden, Cape Breton Post)

Don Merritt photos of the damage

Todays Arrivals

 (Above) Lady Cristina, for bunkers. She has been to Halifax before. (bellow)Peter Roenna, Owned by BBC Shipping, she is a sister ship to Nils B

Top 10 photos of 2012

Pilot Boat Outbound

Pier 42 Container Ops

Bunkering Brilliance of the Seas

BBC Plata Inbound

Boatbuilders

HMCS Preserver

Belle Poule and Etoile

Bluenose 

Working the Bowsprit

Disney Magic

Renate Schulte has a hole

The container vessel Renate Schulte has been laid up at halterm since before Christmas. What was originally thought to have been holiday related delay, turns out to be a hull repair. she reportedly has a 4x4 hole cut in her port side as the anchor came loose and cracked a plate. As a result of the crack, the bow thruster compartment flooded.

Thanks to Mac at shipfax for the tip that there was an issue with the vessel.

UPDATE: word is the original contractor walked away from the job in some sort of dispute. The work was supposed to be completed in Ireland.

Merry Christmas From Halifax Shipping News.

Tall Ship Caledonia Update

The tall ship Caledonia has spent the past several years in lunenburg. She was refit, and then her owner went bankrupt, leaving the vessel in the care of Caterpillar Financial Services, who financed the work. The vessel was moved to toronto, but appears to have not been sold.

I have been told that the vessel may have been moved to reduce the cost of maintaining her. Certainly fresh watter will be easier on the hull.As well electricty costs were cited - As the ship must be heated to keep condensation from forming and rotting the steal hull from the inside.

if you want to buy her, 12 million will do. details at tallship4sale.com.


Updated 28/12 2009 File Photo at Left

Tug Craig Trans Detained

The Tug Craig Trans arrived in Halifax Several days ago to wait out weather, it is being deatined for deficencies in the vessel and its accomidations. The crew apparently ran out of food 3 days out of Halifax.

CTV News Reports:
It came in out of the weather to the Port of Halifax,” says Michele Peverill of the Halifax Port Authority. “Transport Canada did an inspection and noted deficiencies that need to be repaired before it can leave port.”

Aboard the boat are eight Honduran sailors, who ran out of food and water three days ago.
“On the boat is, ah, right now, is no water, no food, it’s kind of tough on the boat right now. We get here, it’s better. We get a lot of help here,” says Chief Mate Pedro Andrade.
Help has come from the Mission to Seafarers.

“The first thing we did this morning was take breakfast onboard for them and some hot coffee. We supplied food again at lunchtime,” says Mission to Seafarers co-ordinator Maggie Wittingham-Lamont.

“There’s no water to bathe, we had a couple of jugs for drinking,” says Andrade.
Jim Stonehouse says his company, Atship, is fronting money, taking care of humanitarian needs and even took one crew member to hospital for a minor ailment.

Andrade says the tug was on its way to Montreal where it was assigned to pick up a ship for scrap.
The Craig Trans was built in 1944 in Florida and is registered in the landlocked South American country of Bolivia. It is owned by Vesta Shipping of New Jersey.
“A lot of things got to be touched up,” says Andrade.

Wittingham-Lamont says donations of money or lightly-used winter clothing would be appreciated from anyone who wants to help the crew.

Work Continues on Dorothea

Work Continues on the Dorothea. Now pulling planks that are out, into the ribs. Chips in the hull are also being epoxyied back into place.

The wedges are under a member which is bolted through the hull to pull everything in tight. The Planks are then screwed down tight into the ribs.

Traffic is Moving Again

Pilotage ops resumed this morning, as weather improved. Kiel Express and Atlantic Cartier, tied up at fairview, Don Juan left autoport, sanderling tied up, and Kometic Anchored for bunkers (above). 

HMCS Athabaskan on the way.

HMCS Athabaskan left Port Weller last night, crossed Lake Ontario today, and is now in the Saint Lawrence seaway. Athabaskan sailed to Port Weller for a scheduled work interval when the seaway opened in march, but the refit ran long, and she must now be towed to Halifax before the seaway closes inland of Montreal, Dec 31 for the winter.

The Tugs Ocean Delta (forward) and Andre H (Aft) have the tow. If Andre H Looks familier, its because she lived in Halifax for a number of years as Point Valiant at ECTug. They have a Halifax ETA on the 31st.

Photo Lynda Crothers HMCS Athabaskan Passing Wolfe Island at 1530

Photo Capt. Andrew Ferris  Meeting the HMCS Athabascan with tugs at Carleton Island

UPDATE 12/24: She is Off Rimouski PQ Today.

Nothing Moving Today.

With 21 foot seas reported in the approaches, the pilot boats are staying put. Pilotage ops are suspended,with updates every 2 hours. As a result Atlantic Cartier, and Kiel Express are paceing outside the harbour, and the car carrier Don Juan is staying put at autoport, despite being scheduled to leave yesterday evening. OOCL California is also ready to depart when weather improves.

Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron to host 2013 Disabled Sailing Event

The Mobility Cup is returning to Nova Scotia! The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron is the host club in 2013 for Canada’s national regatta for sailors with disabilities. Racing takes place from August 27th to the 30th, with arrival and practice taking place from August 24th to the 26th.

Vancouver’s Sam Sullivan founded the Mobility Cup in 1991 by inviting key individuals from other cities to take part in a sailing regatta, whether they had ever sailed before or not, in an effort to promote and grow the sport of disabled sailing. The initiative has been an outstanding success. New disabled sailing organizations began popping up in cities across Canada and the United States. The sport is now world-wide and has been key part of each Paralympics Summer Games since 2000 after being a demonstration sport in 1996.

Each year's Mobility Cup regatta remains a vehicle for initiating new programs or supporting existing ones. Mobility Cup 2013 at the RNSYS will be no different.

“The RNSYS is looking forward to hosting the 2013 Mobility Cup to help grow disabled sailing programs in the region,” says regatta chair Michael Archibald. “It will also be an important trial run for the International Federation of Disabled Sailors World Championships the Squadron is hosting in 2014.”

The Mobility Cup is recognized as Canada’s national regatta for sailors with disabilities. Through the use of innovative technology, Canada has become a leader in making sailing accessible to people with all forms of disability. Disabled people from across Canada and the US are invited to participate.

This is only the second time the regatta has taken place in Nova Scotia. The Dartmouth Yacht Club hosted the Mobility Cup in 2007.

Information about the 2013 Mobility Cup can be found at www.MobilityCup1013.ca

Sloman Hera

The Products Tanker Sloman Hera at anchor in the basin. She arrived yesterday evening. She is likly waiting her turn to tie up at Imperial Oil to load.

Pegasus

 
the Greek  crude oil tanker Pegasus spent the morning at anchorage 1 for bunkers. She departed for Las Palmas around 1300.

Work Continues on Dorothea

work continues on the NS Sea Schools Dorothea. More ribs were installed today.
Find out more about the Sea School at seaschool.org or condier supporting them here

HMCS Toronto, out of Nova Dock

HMCS Toronto was removed from the nova dock this morning. She was undergoing a brief pre-dpeployment work period.

Windsor on trials in Basin

HMCS Windsor was spotted on trials in the basin this afternoon.
Photo from a reader via the Facebook page

DND Press release:

HMCS Windsor Returns to Sea

NR - 12.022 - December 14, 2012
OTTAWA – Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarine (HMCS) Windsor returned to sea yesterday at Halifax, N.S., officially marking the completion of a deep maintenance cycle known as an Extended Docking Work Period.

“HMCS Windsor’s return to sea is a key milestone and her crew now embarks on another challenging journey as they focus on operations at sea,” said The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “I commend the outstanding efforts of Windsor’s crew, our Fleet Maintenance Facilities and of industry that have brought us to this point.”

“Over the next few months, Windsor will conduct additional crew training and trials on her path to high readiness,” said Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, Commander Royal Canadian Navy. “This milestone builds on the achievements of HMCS Victoria and is another important step towards the Victoria-class Submarine Fleet achieving steady state.”

With the completion of the Extended Docking Work Period, HMCS Windsor will now conduct a series of sea trials, crew training and certifications to prepare for future operations, a process known as the Tiered Readiness Program. HMCS Windsor’s Tiered Readiness Program will closely resemble the one conducted by HMCS Victoria, the first Victoria-class Submarine to become operational and weapons certified to fire MK 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes.

The Victoria-class Submarine Fleet continues to progress towards steady state when three of four submarines will be available for operations. This will include a high readiness submarine available on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, HMCS Windsor and HMCS Victoria respectively, with a third submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, available at standard readiness. HMCS Corner Brook will rotate into an Extended Docking Work Period in 2013. An Extended Docking Work Period provides the submarines’ 200-plus systems with the maintenance and upgrades needed to conduct operations on behalf of Canadians.

DND Photo

See http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=3979 for the current status of all 4 submarines.

CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. Launch on the 15th

Reports are that the launch of CCGS Corporal Teather C.V., the third hero Class Mid Shore Patrol Vessel, will happen the morning of Saturday, Dec 15.

Updates (and a more recent photo) to Follow.

Everything Old Is new Again NOVIA for Melfi

As depicted in the oil painting* Above, Novia arrived today for Melfi Lines. She is the ex Melfi Iberia, and is one of the ships replacing Teval and Marwan. Melfi Ibera was a Halifax Regular several years ago.


*Crappy iphone camera photo

Whats the building floating in the Basin? - The DRDC Barge

Ever wonder what the Floating Shed in the bedford Basin Is?

From BIO:

The DRDC Atlantic Acoustic Calibration Barge is located in Bedford Basin, about 5 km by water from DRDC Atlantic. The main function of the Barge is to conduct acoustic calibrations of sonar transducers such as hydrophones and projectors, in a free field salt water environment. It is also used to test and evaluate many other types of sea-going scientific apparatus and military equipment. The chief customers are DRDC Atlantic defence scientists, the Canadian Forces, other government departments and Canadian industry. It is equipped like a combined floating laboratory and workshop. The 300 tonne barge is 36 metres long by 17 metres wide. The main working area is covered by an enclosed heated deckhouse 30 metres by 13 metres, which allows calibrations to be performed year round. The hull contains a rectangular well 18 metres by 9 metres through which equipment under test can be lowered into the water. The barge is moored 1 kilometre from the nearest shore in a water depth of 42 metres. A 10 tonne crane is fitted to the outside deck for unloading equipment and a 5 tonne travelling crane is used to position apparatus over the well. Rotating stations with capacities up to 7 tonnes are available to position sonar transducers at any required orientation and depth.

CFAV Quest also takes part in this reasearch. from DRDC:


the research, development and testing of the systems needed by the Canadian Navy to maintain a state of readiness for maritime warfare often requires that the laboratory be transported to the field so that the work can be performed under “real world” conditions.
To this end, Defence R&D Canada — Atlantic (DRDC Atlantic) employs the Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel Quest. Maintained by the Navy and manned by Maritime Forces Atlantic Auxiliary seamen, Quest conducts 7 to 10 trials per year, spending up to 160 days at sea.
These trials encompass a wide range of R&D activity, from research on the acoustic properties of the ocean to experiments on ship signatures and safety. As well, the evaluation of prototype acoustic detection systems is often the first step in the process leading to procurement of new systems for the Navy.
This broad range of R&D activities requires a capable and versatile vessel; thus, Quest was designed with spacious laboratories, large working deck areas, and very capable marine cranes and specialized equipment handling systems.
The vessel was designed with a large margin of stability and this, combined with its roll–stabilization system and constant displacement systems, makes Quest a safe and stable platform from which to carry out experiments, even in heavy seas.
Of particular note are the acoustic quieting features of the vessel, which reduce the ship’s radiated noise to virtually undetectable levels when the vessel is configured in its “quiet state”.
Quest has conducted research in support of other government departments, universities and Canadian industry, where joint research is mutually beneficial. Quest has participated in Canadian and NATO naval exercises requiring the operational evaluation of prototype equipment.

Hike Metal Products for Sale.

From Tim Coltons Maritime Memo's comes word that Hike Metal Products, a producer of all kinds of specialty government and other small vessels, is for sale.  The yard is in Wheatley, Ontario, which is about 45 miles east of the Windsor-Detroit border.
 

Besides Building small craft for the Government, They also Built Several of the Maid of the Mist boats at Niagra Falls.

Local Connections include Haligonian III (the Murphys tourboat) in 1972 and CCGS Sambro (photo at Left) in 1996. Complete list Available Here

Orient Jasmine at National Gypsum

A first time caller to Halifax, Orient Jasmine arrived yesterday evening for National Gypsum. registered in Singapore, She was built this year, so she is relatively new.

Cable Ship Responder

The Cable Ship Responder arrived today at noon, and docked at pier 9. One of TE Subcom's Reliance class of Vessels, Her sister Tyco Resolute was the subject of an episode of Discovery's Mighty Ships.

She is based in Baltimore. MD.

Busy Day at the Elevators

Algoma Mariner offloading wheat. She arrived today from the Great Lakes.  As previously mentioned, Tundra was tied up on the loading side, likely to top up her load of Soy.

Saudi Abha

 The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia made its monthy stop in Halifax with the Saudi Abha. A Container and RORO vessel, she is simalar to vessels Used by ACL. NSCSA ships make a monthy stop in Halifax.

UPDATE 13/12 sources say this vessel is bound for the scrapers shortly and this was to be her last trip to Halifax.

Todays arrival was Wet and Foggy. The Chebucto Pilot Precceded her arrival.

CBC's Land And Sea - Shipbuilding in the Maritimes

In Case you missed it Sunday, You can watch it Here. For Background, See the Previous Post

Tundra Makes Halifax - Finally

The Bulker Tundra made it to Halifax yesterday evening. She will likely be toping up her load of Soyabeans, before departing.

Tundra Ran into trouble of Sorel-Tracy after leaving Montreal. She Departed the channel, and got stuck in the mud. She was freed, and after a brief stop in Trois-Rivers, Headed for Halifax.

You can read more about her Grounding here

Steaming Ribs with the Nova Scotia Sea School

Yesterday morning was spent with the Nova Scotia Sea School Steam bending and installing replacement ribs for their boat Dorothea. Here is how it was done.

1. Mariniate the ribs in the harbour overnight. Then Steam for 1.5 hours. Remove and pre-bend the rib. (Above) Then, Pas the rib to the crew in the Boat, and bang on it until it conforms (Bellow)

(Above) Use your feet to bend it into shape to fit the hull (Below) work it into the rabbit along the keel

(Above) Screw the rib in from the outside, to preserve the bend (They will go back and secure it all the way during the week)

(Above) Done for today - 11 ribs replaced in a morning.