Task Group at Anchor

 (Above) Task Group at Anchor

 (Above) HMCS Ville De Quebec (Below) HMCS Halifax and HMCS Iroquois

HMCS Kingston, Fredericton, and Windsor were in the dockyard. - the 6 vessels are taking part in a Task Group Exercise

RCN Sails for Task Group Excercise

Several warships sailed from Halifax, today, to participate in a Task Group Exercise (TGEX) from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6, 2013. The TGEX is part of NORAD exercise Amalgam Dart which runs from Dec. 3-5, practicing interoperability between the RCN, RCAF, and USAF.  RCN ships participating in the TGEX include HMCS Iroquois, Ville De Quebec, Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, and Windsor.

Exercises like this TGEX are key for RCN units to maintain operational readiness and deploy on joint operations in a rapid and effective manner. TGEXs strengthen Canada’s ability to work in a multi-national and joint environment on a wide range of potential operations and missions.

HMCS Chicoutimi to enter the water today

The Times Colonist of Victoria is reporting that HMCS Chicoutimi will enter the water today after completing her refit.

She Departed Halifax in April 2009 for BC for repairs.

UPDATE: Photo Left via RCN - HMCS Chicoutimi rests on a floating dry dock in preparation for return to water, a significant milestone

Oceanex Connaigra for repairs

Oceanex's new vessel pulled in To port yesterday and tied up at pier 25. She is reported to have an issue with one of her propellors. It is unclear if repairs can be made at pier 25 or if she will require the nova dock.

The Connaigra runs the Montreal to St Johns route and passes 2 dry docks large enough to accommodate her Davie shipyard and Group Ocean. 

Halifax Shipyard Expansion

Circa 1942, From the Library and Archives Canada

Ships loosing power!?!??

Head over to ShipFax and read his Piece - "It Could Happen Again"

late on Nov4, OOCL Oakland Outbound lost power in the Narrows. An incident was averted thanks to the use of a tethered tug that was able to stear the ship and stop the ship.

Probably the worst case scenario is a ship hitting a bridge. The towers are protected by rocks, so they are likely safe, however most of the large container ships must pass directly in the center of the bridge, and then do so with about 2m to spare - the height of an average doorway.

(Left) You can see on of the tugs tethered to the side of the OOCL vessel. there is another at the rear. This shot is from the MacDonald bridge, and you can see how close the vessel comes.

I posed some questions to Halifax Harbour Bridges, they were very prompt with their responces. Alison from Halifax Harbour bridges Confirmed they Monitor Marine VHF. And also provided the following about this specific Incident

On commercial shipping we primarily deal with Halifax Traffic. In this incident a PAN PAN call was not issued. However, we set up for a PAN PAN situation (standard procedure). We remained in a heightened state of readiness until the ship cleared the bridge and was put at anchor. Our operations centre monitored the passage through our zone using our security cameras (standard procedure) .

HHB routinely conducts drills on emergency procedures internally and in partnership with HRM and the provincial EMO for incidents on, under and around our facilities.

The ship could also ground. This most recently happened near Woodside on 07 June 1992, the Swedish-flag container/roll-on roll-off vessel "CONCERT EXPRESS" was under the conduct of a pilot in Halifax Harbour in dense fog. During a manoeuvre around a vessel at anchor, the "CONCERT EXPRESS" grounded and sustained extensive hull bottom damage.
(Photo Below of Concert Express Aground by IOL thanks to Wave Point Consulting)

Lets also not forget the possibility of a collision with another vessel - HMCS Preserver had power issues not to long ago and Struck the Nova Dock. 

Travestern for the Nova Dock

With the Departure last Thursday of the Holiday Island from the Nova Dock, Space was freed up for the Woodward Group Coastal Shipping Ltd tanker Travestern to enter this morning.

Photos to Follow.

First Visit for Singapore Express

This Morning brought the Maiden Arrival in Halifax of Singapore Express, Now serving on the PAX Service. She is Owned by Costamare Shipping of Greece and is on long term charter to Hapag Llyod.
At 4890TEU, She is a Panamax Vessel, and the same class as Oakland Express and New York Express, Both of which have called on Halifax.

MSM Don With Rails

MSM Don Arrived earlier in the week with another load of rails for CN.

Based on photos on Marine traffic, the 2 cranes are a recent edition within the last year, as they are absent in 2011 photos

WellServicer

The British Diving Support Vessel Wellservicer made a brief appearance in  Halifax yesterday, spending just under 11 hours tied up at Woodside. She sailed Just before 10pm.
She recently completed work in the Whiterose field off Newfoundland, and Is now  going to be used to perform the following operations on the Sable Venture Pipeline, off the coast of Nova Scotia:

1. to remove mattresses from the spool, cut off the ends of the spool and recover them to the deck;
2. to perform metrology activities to confirm the measurements of the new spool;
3. to deploy the new spool and place new mattresses over the new spool;
4. to remove mattresses, perform scour remediation and install pipeline supports.

Yarmouth Ferry Deal Signed

The province and STM Quest Inc. have signed an agreement to support a new cruise ferry in Yarmouth, to begin in May 2014.  The province has received a signed copy of the agreement and amendments from STM Quest Inc. The company has committed to a May start.

The province and company agreed to make amendments to the letter of offer announced in early September. The parties have:
-- clarified language and added more detail including how the province will provide funding during the start-up phase, and the terms of senior management salary deferral during the start-up and if there are operating losses
-- revised deadlines for conditions the company must meet
-- clarified how and when ST Marine will provide its $3 million contribution
-- added auditing rights for the province for more accountability

The province's financial commitment remains the same. It will provide $21 million to the company over seven years, including $10.5 million toward start-up costs, with $1.5 million each year for marketing.

There are a number of terms and conditions for STM Quest Inc. to receive the assistance and earn forgiveness for the loan.

For a ferry to start operating in 2014, STM Quest, other levels of government and partners must work on: having border services in place in both ports, upgrading the Yarmouth ferry terminal, signing berthing agreements in the two ports, and getting all licences and permits needed to operate a ferry service.

Marketing the ferry and Nova Scotia to potential visitors from the mid-Atlantic and north eastern United States are key parts of the service. The Nova Scotia Tourism Agency has been meeting with STM Quest Inc. to co-ordinate the province's tourism marketing plans with the company's detailed plan.

Background information is available at http://novascotia.ca/econ/ in the Initiatives section.

Thomas Harold Beament; Artist and Naval Officer

HMCS Prince Robert in Drydock (n.d.)

Thomas Beament Was born in Ottawa. During WW I he served in the RCNVR as an ordinary seaman, then was promoted to warrant officer. Following the end of the war he returned to Osgoode Hall and completed his studies to became Barrister-at-law (1922). The same year he attended evening classes at the Ontario College of Art, Toronto. He Continued serving with the peacetime Naval Reserve, was promoted to the rank of officer in 1924 and finally Lt.-Commander, Mtl. RCNVR Division in 1930.

HMCS Iroquois (n.d.)

At the outbreak of WW II, Beament entered full-time service with the RCNVR, as a ship commander on North Atlantic patrols for three years, rose in rank to Commander (1943); then as official Canadian war artist going back to sea to paint scenes: in the Mediterranean; on convoy in the North Atlantic; in Newfoundland; making a visual record of assault landings and minesweeping duties in the English Channel. The Canadian War Museum has some 76 paintings by him.

Motor Torpedo Boats Leaving for Night Patrol off Le Havre (1945)

A Collection Of Naval Art Decorated the Chambers of the Speaker of the Senate for the Canadian Naval Centenial. You can view that collection at http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Senate/WorkofNavalArt/index-e.html.

All Works above Are part of the Beaverbank Collection of War Art at the Canadian War Museum

Princess of Acadia Grounded

 

There are reports around that the Princes of Acadia Ferry has Grounded. marine traffic shows her having departed St John, so the incident likely occurred on the Digby side.

 UPDATE: The ferry apparently lost power and drifted into shallow water approaching the dock in Digby. Power has been restored, There is no water ingress, and the vessel is afloat.

UPDATE: Photo above JONATHAN RILEY PHOTO (NovaNewsNow Story)

UPDATE: The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Digby, Nova Scotia where the vessel Princess of Acadia lost power and ran aground while approaching the wharf. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.

SmartATLANTIC Herring Cove Buoy Deployment

Watch the deployment of the New Herring Cove Inshore Weather Buoy Earlier today.
HMRI Buoy Launch from Darrow Multimedia - Paul Darrow on Vimeo.

Halifax Marine Research Institute (HMRI) Deployed its first smart buoy Today. HMRI will operate the 3 metre inshore weather buoy near Herring Cove, Nova Scotia, in partnership with the Canadian Marine Pilots’ Association, Atlantic Pilotage Authority, Halifax Port Authority, Canadian Coast Guard, and the Marine Environment Observation Prediction and Response network (MEOPAR).

Following todays deployment, the buoy’s sensors will generate real time measurements used to create high-resolution weather and wave forecasts for the mouth of Halifax Harbour. Data collected by the buoy’s sensors will assist the Atlantic Pilotage Authority and Halifax Port Authority in improving safety and scheduling in the Port of Halifax. This data will also generate educational and scientific opportunities for ocean science and technology students and researchers in Nova Scotia and beyond.

The buoy Broadcasts its position via AIS - And can be seen Just off herring Cove.

Hero #8 to Be Rolled out for Painting

CCGS A. LeBlanc was spotted covered in tarps this morning suggesting that Hero #8 will be rolled out for painting this weekend. Hero #8 will become the CCGS M. Charles

CCGS M. Charles, after Seaman Martin Charles, S.C., M.B., of Bamfield, British Columbia, and Hereditary Chief of the Nitinat Band. Martin Charles, now deceased, devoted his life and career to saving lives. He earned the Medal of Bravery for his instrumental role in a search and rescue incident that began with a sunken fishing vessel and ended with the crash of the helicopter assisting in the rescue efforts.

Name the New Harbour Ferry

 Metro transit has announced voting for the name of the new harbour ferry Currently under construction at  AF Theriault and sons In Meteghan NS. Starting today, until Wednesday, November 20th, residents can log on to www.Halifax.ca/surveys and pick their favorite name from a list of five finalists. Those choices are:

Chebucto - This Mi’kmaq name means ‘the biggest harbour’. There is evidence that the Mi’kmaq would spend the summer on the shores of the Bedford Basin, before heading inland for winter.

Christopher Stannix - Christopher Stannix was a graduate of Auburn High School and attended Saint Mary’s University. In 2001 he enlisted with the Canadian Armed Forces and in 2007 willingly accepted a reduction in rank to serve his county. In April 2007, Master Corporal Stannix was killed when the vehicle he was in struck a roadside bomb. He was 24 years old.

Daniel Brownlow - Mr. Brownlow was a former Mayor of Dartmouth from 1976 until 1985 and was the longest serving Mayor in Dartmouth’s history. In addition to great service to public life, Mr. Brownlow also served as the Queen’s Harbour Master responsible for the safety of Halifax Harbour.

Robert Keddy - ‘Captain Bob’ as he was known worked as a seaman on both the Bounty and the Bluenose II. In 1969 he took over as the Captain of the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry and later served as Ferry Services Supervisor. Captain Keddy became synonymous with the ferry service until he retired in 1998. He passed away in March 2013.

Vincent Coleman - Vincent Coleman was a train dispatcher who, on the morning of the Halifax Explosion, December 6, 1917, telegraphed a message instructing all trains inbound for Halifax to stop. Hundreds of passengers were kept away from the impending explosion because of his efforts.
Additional information and background on all of the finalists are available on www.Halifax.ca/surveys.

The original list of 1,200 names was shortened down to 20 names by Metro Transit and HRM Corporate Communications staff, based on appropriateness and originality. The final list of five names was determined by a selection committee comprised of Mayor Savage and one councillor from each of the three HRM Community Councils. This was the process agreed to by Regional Council.