Atlantic Coast with Barge Penn 410

Foggy weather leads to grainy photos - The Tug Atlantic Coast tied on the hip to the Barge Penn 410.
Both are at anchor right now, they will move to the Imperial Oil this evening.

HMCS Summerside to deploy to Arctic

HMCS Summerside departed today from Halifax, N.S. for Canada’s arctic, where she will be joined later in August by HMCS Shawinigan. This deployment is a part of a 39-day mission north of the 60th parallel, marking the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) longest uninterrupted arctic naval presence in recent years.

During the deployment, HMCS Summerside and HMCS Shawiniganwill participate in Operations QIMMIQ and NANOOK, conducting surveillance and presence activities, as well as joint training scenarios, showcasing Canadian Armed Forces assistance to civil emergency management and law enforcement agencies during threats to public safety.

Operation NANOOK, the most widely recognized of all the northern deployments, and Operation QIMMIQ, a year-round persistent surveillance and presence operation, are directed by Canadian Joint Operations Command. Other yearly Northern deployments include the springtime Operation NUNALIVUT in the high Arctic and the summertime Operation NUNAKPUT in the western Arctic .

“The deployment of maritime coastal defence vessels in Canada’s northern waters serves as an example of how our Navy demonstrates sovereignty in the North and, when authorized, assist other government departments in enforcing national and international law,” said Vice Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the RCN. “The experience will also help us prepare the stage for more extensive operations in the ice, to be conducted in the future by our Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, by ironing out some of the logistical and operating challenges generated by the sheer distances, remoteness, and generally harsher environmental conditions in the North.”

Ville De Quebec Sails For Op Caribbe

Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Quebec departed Halifax today on Operation Caribbe, Canada's continuing commitment to the multinational effort to suppress illicit narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean Sea.

During the deployment, the Halifax-class frigate and her crew of approximately 220 personnel will work with the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard and other regional partners to locate and track vessels of interest.

The trafficking of illicit narcotics is a significant source of revenue for organized crime and a growing threat to global security. Operation Caribbe is one of the many activities that the Government of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) undertake as part of Canada's broad focus and ongoing engagement in the Americas and the Caribbean.

This annual operation directly supports the CAF's mission to defend against threats and security challenges to Canada and North America. The CAF has deployed a periodic rotation of warships as well as CP-140 Aurora aircraft from both East and West Coasts since 2006 to ensure continuous support to this operation.

USCGC Eagle for Visit.

USCGC Eagle, The US Coast Guards Tall ship is Here for a Visit. She will Tie up at the Cable wharf, And will be open for tours.

USS Nicholas (FFG-47)

USS Nicholas (FFG-47)Put in to port today and headed right for the Oil dock at Imperial Oil for bunkers. this will be a short trip, she is shcheduled to depart later this afternoon.

USS Nicholas is a Oliver Hazard  Perry Class Frigate, and was commisioned in 1983, and is named for Major Samuel Nicholas, the first commanding officer of the United States Marines. She is returning home from a deployment in the Medeterainian.

Tupolev 154 to land at YHZ Today

Halifax Airport tweeted that a Rusian Tupolev154 will be landing around 4 pm at Halifax Stanfield Airport. This Flight was previouslly Announced by a  DND Press release, though its landing here was not mentioned.

If you happen to be by the Airport, I'd love to See photos. (Above photo from Trentonian.ca)

The Release:
A Russian Federation aircraft will conduct aerial observation flights over Canada under the Treaty on Open Skies during the period July 17 to 19, 2013.

The unarmed Tupolev TU-154M aircraft, which arrived at 8 Wing Trenton today, will be accorded Russia's legal right of unimpeded observation overflight of Canadian territory, in fulfilment of Canada's obligations as a State Party to the Treaty on Open Skies. Using an array of onboard sensors, the aircraft can observe and verify objects of interest or concern, such as military sites, industrial centres, communications facilities and transportation hubs.

The Treaty on Open Skies, which entered into force on January 1, 2002, is a legally-binding accord that promotes increased confidence and transparency amongst its 34 States Parties. As Treaty co-depository with Hungary, Canada has exercised its Treaty rights by conducting observation flights over the Russian Federation, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This marks the ninth time a foreign State Party will have conducted an observation flight mission in Canada, the first having taken place in September 2004. Canadian military escorts and technical specialists will be aboard the Russian aircraft throughout the mission to ensure safety, security and compliance by monitoring imaging systems and strict adherence to the agreed observation flight route and profile.

Canada is a signatory to several security treaties, including those dedicated to the elimination, reduction or control of weapons of mass destruction, conventional armaments and equipment, and associated military forces. The Treaty on Open Skies is one example of how Canada exercises its commitment to reducing the threat of armed conflict by increasing trust and confidence though greater openness and transparency amongst states.

Upcoming warship visits.

todays arrival of HMS Scott leads off a Busy week of Warship visits to Halifax.

Frigate USS Nicholas is an Oliver Hazzard Perry Class vessel, and was recently deployed in the medeteraininan. She is shceduled to tie up directly at IOL, and depart after fueling.

USCGC Eagle, The US Coast Guards tall ship is due on the 19th.

HMS Scott Arrives for a visit.

HMS Scott is a Survey vessel of the Royal Navy. Her task is to survey offshore for chart production. SHe has also been involved with the Royal Navys Antarctic Survey.

She was last here in April 2012

A first Visit for Berlin Express

Today brought a first visit to Halifax for the Berlin Express. Arriving from Caligri, she is likely on the G6 service (Though wasent initially named to the rotation, her 3 other class mates are. As a member of Hapag Llyods Dalian Express Class, she is 7500TEU, and is Identical to Dalian Express, Yantian Express  (Both vessels have allready called on Halifax) and Ningbo Express.

Hapag Llyod vessels on the PAX Service range between 4000-6000TEU and Are members of the Kiel, Kobe and Dallas Express Classes.

Photos to Follow.

Turanor Planet Solar - Worlds Largest Solar Powered Ship.

The Turandor arrived yesterday afternoon, just after 4pm. The vessel was designed by LOMOcean Design, built by Knierim Yachtbau in Kiel, Germany, and launched on 31 March 2010 for a cost of € 12.5 million. In May 2012, it became the first ever solar electric vehicle to circumnavigate the globe.

The 31-meter boat is covered in over 500 square meters of solar panels rated 93 kW,[6] which in turn connect to one of the two electric motors in each hull. There are 8.5 tons of lithium-ion batteries in the ship's two hulls. The boat's shape allows it to reach speeds of up to 14 knots. The boat is registered in Switzerland.The name Tûranor, derived from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings, translates to "The Power of the Sun".

New CG Lifeboat Design Revealed.

The Federal Government unveiled the new design for the next generation of Coast Guard lifeboats to be constructed as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. Funding for the building of these vessels was announced on June 26, 2013, as part of an investment of up to $488 million in the Coast Guard’s fleet renewal.

 The completion of the design contract is the first step towards the construction of the next generation of Arun-class lifeboats. The design work for the lifeboats was completed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, as the result of a $747,641 contract awarded in April 2012. These shore-based self-righting lifeboats will be capable of operations up to 100 nautical miles from shore. This procurement will replace Coast Guard’s existing Arun-type vessels which have an average age of 18 years.

These vessels are being built as part of the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. Construction of the vessels is expected to begin as early as 2014, and the tender will be open to Canadian shipyards other than the two shipyards selected to build the large vessels.

The Robert Allan Ltd.  design is a new generation of more capable High Endurance Self-righting Search & Rescue Lifeboats for the Canadian Coast Guard. This new design was developed from the successful similar vessels known as the “Severn” Class operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of the United Kingdom. The new Canadian design is larger with a greater range than the RNLI vessel and has been specifically designed to handle the worst weather encountered year around in the waters off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. The new design is also for construction in aluminium rather than FRP as are the Severn Class.

The hull has a central skeg, and aft propeller tunnels, developing into flared, knuckled bow sections with double spray chines forward. The vessel is fitted with an elevated stern deck for towing operations, reduced freeboard amidships for recovering survivors from the water, and generous amounts of sheer and camber forward.

A large well-appointed enclosed bridge amidships provides maximum visibility and protection for the crew and enables the vessel to self-right in all loading conditions. A survivor space is located forward below decks, and the machinery space is aft. A bow thruster is fitted forward for enhanced manoeuvrability.

ormal vessel complement is a crew of four. Seating is provided for an additional two supernumeraries such as medical personnel, two survivors (on stretchers) and up to twelve survivors (seated). In support of the vessel's secondary missions including Aids to Navigation, Environmental Response, Maritime Security, DFO Science, DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and other Government Activities the vessel will occasionally be used to transport up to sixteen (16) supernumeraries in addition to the vessel's crew.

The vessel’s particulars are as follows:

Length overall: Length DWL: Beam, moulded: Depth, moulded, at midship: Hull draft, nominal: Power: Speed:

- 19.0 metres - 17.5 metres - 6.3 metres - 2.58 metres - 1.67 metres - 2,400 kW - 23.5 kts

Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force departs

 (above) JS Kashima Departs first, (below) JS Isoyuki and JS Shirayuki Follow.

MarbleHead to Halifax Yachts

Every 2 years, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, and the Boston yach club hold a race form marblehead to Halifax. the Bulk of the Racers finished yesterday, with the fastest boats arriving Monday.

Some of them have tied up in the Harbour.

 Not sure if this last one (below) raced.

third Japanese Vessel Arrives.

The Third JMSDF vessel JS  Isoyuki arrived just before 10 this morning. She headed straight to the dockyard, and Tied up next to JS Shirayuki.

(Above) Kashima, Shirayuki tied  up along side prior to the arrival of Isoyuki

Back to Work

Atlantic Cartier arrived at Fairview Cove this morning, her first trip to Halifax after recovering from a fire in her vehicle bay May 2.

Odditeies

 (Above) Sable Sea being cold moved to pier 9. She was moved to Halterm last week, presumbaly to free up pier space for the cable ships.
(Below) Pilot boat APA No.1 tied up perpendicular to the dock. they appered to be working on her exhaust.

Geared Bulker Sakarya at Anchor

Turkish flagged, built in 2002, she was formerly the Eternal Confidence. As she appears to be loaded, she is likely waiting on weather, or for supplies/bunkers.

Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Visitors

For the second time in recent memory, the JMSDF is on a world training tour, and making a stop in Halifax. The JMSDF undertakes to tours to give crews extended sea time. The three vessels arrived yesterday, and moved to the dockyard this morning. The ships Kashima, Shirayuki and Isoyuki will be in Halifax until Thursday, July 11.

(Above) JS SHIRAYUKI in the Anchorage this morning prior to moving to the dockyard. JS KASHIMA had already moved, but was here on the last trip August 2011.

The three-day port visit from the force's Training Squadron is part of a five-month, 18-country tour fostering intercontinental goodwill.

As a part of the visit, local residents and media are invited to experience Japanese culture through world-class performances by the Squadron's drum band at Grand Parade Square at 4 p.m. on July 9. Ship tours will be available to the public from 1:30-3:30 p.m. July 8-9 at Her Majesty's Canadian Dockyard Halifax.

3 Proposals for Yarmouth Ferry.

The province has received business plans from three companies interested in operating a ferry in Yarmouth. The deadline for proposals was Thursday, July 4. The companies that made submissions are Balearia Caribbean, Ltd., P and O Ferries and STM/Quest. STM/Quest also bid on the last ferry rfp (details of that bid Here) Balearia Caribbean is owned by spanish company Balearia - who operates ferries from florida to the Bahmas, and Gibralter to Africa. P&O Ferries, operates several vessels in the English Channel and Irish sea, and is a european contemporary to Marine Atlantic.

A team of representatives from the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership and government departments will evaluate the plans as quickly as possible. The plans will be assessed based on criteria similar to the request for proposals. Criteria include financial stability, a management structure with expertise and a history of managing successful ferry services, and tourism and marketing experience.

The ferry partnership continues to play a key role by providing expert advice, promoting the opportunity, contacting companies, acting as a local contact and now evaluating plans. 

You can view the Request for Proposals Here (PDF)

OOCL Vancouver - A regular with a New Name

it looks like Halifax Regular Italy Express, has returned from a work period, and has returned to her pre Hapag Llyoyd name of OOCL Vancouver.

Hapag-Lloyd and OOCL operate a shared service to Halifax. Some OOCL Vessels on the service were operated by Hapag-Lloyd and therefore took Hapag-Llyod "express" names. Presumably the charters ended, and this may be part of the reson why some vessels aggined to the new G6 service made early appearances.

OOCL Netherlands

Another First Caller for Halifax, OOCL Netherlands called on the PAX service. SHe was built in 1997. Hapag Lloyds London Express is still at the pier.

Cable Ship Rene Descartes

The French Cable ship Rene Descartes arrived in halifax for pier 9 today. She was last in Halifax in March of 2012. As a pure cable layer, she does not perform repair work.