HMCS Fredericton to deploy Dec 30

HMCS Fredericton deploys on Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in the Mediterranean Sea. Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. (AST)

Yankee to Pier 25

The U.S. Registered tug Yankee arrived to day after noon and tied up at pier 25. She appears to be giving Oslo Norway as her destination.   She underwent a refit, and is now headed to Florida. Equipped with a towing winch, it seems her days as prt of an ATB are over, and she will go back to Cable towing.

She is making her way from the lakes, her recent locations show her passing through the welland canal, stopping in Quebec and making her way here.

She appears to be configured for barge work with slots in her now to accommodate the barge.

Photos to follow.

The Lego Maersk Tripple E

It has been at least 20 years since I last found Lego under the Christmas tree. I am pleased to report that the giddy excitement that happens when you are handed a wrapped box with that tell tale rattle of plastic bricks is still present.

This Lego kit is consistently sold out. at 1518 Pieces, there is at least 6 hours of build time no including sticking all the containers. (Above)Ship Built Minus Container stacks. (Below) Finished per kit instructions. I used a more random stack pattern on the containers, and did not fully load the vessel.

Having finished building the kit, I decided to see what i could create. By moving the superstructre back just forward of the funnels, i was able to turn the ship into a Post-Panamax Configuration.

The superstructure contains bulkheads within the hull. I left those where they were, and was able to fill one of the below deck hods with containers. this allowed for dispaly with an empty Cell.

The other experiment i tried was replacing some of the Maersk coloured bricks with regular lego bricks.  this worked, though i wasn't pleased with the look fully. I note that someone is selling aftermarket non Maersk brand Container markings on ebay - http://m.ebay.com/itm/LEGO-Custom-Stickers-for-10241-Maersk-Triple-E-Container-Ship-Intermodal-/281273366709 By Extension, if a normal container is a 8 bump brick, 20' containers could be done with 4 bump bricks...

High Nefeli now Crown II

The tanker High Nefeli has been anchored in the basin. Today she took the name Crown II

She was formerly registered in Greece and owned by Liquimar Tankers Management of Athens, Greece. With her new name she also now flies the flag of Malta 

More to follow

Australian Spirit Update

I have heard a report that a rudder was sighted on the 102 heading into halifax. If it was I didn't See it. The Rudder is definitely gone. Compared to this morning, the Ship is ballasted down Bow First.

Australian Spirit - No Rudder.

 
 (Above) Daylight Reveals that as of 9 am, there is no rudder.

Australian Spirit to Pier 9C

The Disabled tanker Australian Spirit was moved with tugs from basin anchorage to the New Pier 9 Expansion. The Transfer operation with American Spirit completed this Afternoon, and She saild for New York around 1600.

Tugs Atlantic Larch, Willow and Fir were in attendance, as was the Naval Tug Glenevis, marking the first time i can remember that a Naval Tug was involved in a commercial Operation.

Danny MacDonald Timelapsed the docking operation:
Of note, In the Chart Above, Everything (Except the Larch) is to Scale. The new Digby Ferry Canada2014 is about the same size as the Imo, the larger of the 2 vessels involved in the Halifax Explosion.

APL Scotland to Fairview Cove.

Todays G6 Service Arrival is the APL Scotland. Built in 2001 by Samsung Heavy industries in Korea. She carries 5514 teu.

This is her first visit to Halifax.

Australian Spirit to Be Offloaded

The Australian Spirit is now anchored in the Bedford Basin. there are conflicting reports that she either outright lost her rudder,or its hard to port. Given the work the stern tug did, and the vessels track, it would seem that the rudder is hard over, and not missing.

The tanker Americas spirit is due early afternoon today, and will anchor in the basin. She will then move alongside the Australian spirit, and transfer cargo so that repairs can be made. it is unclear if all the tanks need to be emptied, or if they will only empty the stern ones, leaving the bow down, and exposing more of the rudder.

UPDATE: Americas Spirit  Arrived late on the 15th, and tied up alongside Australian Spirit on the 16th and began the transfer operation.

Austrialian Spirit Enters the Harbour

(Above) Emerging from the fog off Ives Knoll (Below) Approaching the Cable Wharf.

 (Above) Lead tug Venture Sea from Scunda, (Below) Atlantic towing tugs Fir, Willow and Larch Steer.

Firebird Declared Surplus, removed from Service.

CBC News is reporting the Navy has removed the Fire tug Firebird form service and declared her surplus. Dec 4 was the last day she operated. Built in 1978, she was slated to be replaced with new harbour tugs, though that contract has yet to be tendered.

The navy Cut Auxiliary vessels service back in February.

She will likely be renamed, and sold.

AUSTRALIAN SPIRIT in need of a tow

The crude oil carrier Australian Spirit is apparently in trouble off Halifax and is need of a tow.
She sailed from Staten Island NY on the 4th, bound for York. She reportedly lost stearing last night, Aprox 75km off Chubecto head.

 (Above) Position as of 1500 AST 10/12/14

I Know no further details at the moment, but was tipped off by a Canadian Press reporter covering the story. Anyone know anything? email me info@halifaxshippingnews.ca

UPDATE: the tug Atlantic Larch is reportedly on Scene, and the Venture Sea and CCGS Earl Grey appear to be on their way.

There is a Good argument for the CCGS to be equipped for emergency towage. As the Current multipurpose buoy tenders and light icebreakers reach the end of their useful lives, they should be replaced with a Off the Shelf ice classed Anchor handling Supply tug design. Such vessels are equipped for towing operations and feature large working decks for cargo transport. A suitable crane could be provisioned for buoy work. this would Add to the Coast Guards capability, and preserve the existing service levels.

UPDATE:11/12/14 1200AST: Tanker is under tow, and expected in Halifax for repairs later tonight. They currently apper to be making about 4 knots, and are 31 nautical miles off Chubecto head, suggesting a 2000ADT eta.

UPDATE 1430AST: Halifax Port Authority says the Australian Spirit will go straight through to the Bedford Basin, where she will anchor.

UPDATE 12/12/14 0935AST: Australian Spirit was due to take her pilot at 9am. She currently appears to be off chubecto head, likely waiting for the Outbound Heather Knutsen  to clear the channels allowing more room to maneuver. I suspect She will also take on Tugs Atlantic Fir and Willow, currently escorting the outbound Heather Knutsen.

Photos from DFO via Twitter.

On Weather Watch

Strong winds and rains have shutdown pilotage operations outside the harbour.

Zim Texas appears to have anchored in the outer anchorage, and tankers Heather Knudsen and Serifos are circling. (Serifos had been at anchor after offloading at Tufts Cove over the weekend) Fusion is also out there.

HMCS Windsor on the Move.

PRABHU DAYA Stops for Bunkers

the Bulker Prabhu Daya made a brief stop for bunkers before leaving for Savannah just before 1300. She appears to have come out of the St Lawrence river, and may be loaded with iron from Sept Iles.

In 2012, the vessel was detained by indian Authorities after she, carrying iron ore, had sailed from Goa for discharge at a Chinese port. During the journey, the vessel rammed the fishing boat ‘DON-1’ which resulted in the death of five fishermen and left two injured. The fishing boat capsized and sank.

Serifos for Tufts Cove

The tanker Serifos arrived from Wilmington this morning and tied up at The power plant at tufts cove. Though it burns Natural gas, It originally burned oil and still can.

Typically a tanker tops up their oil tank once a year.

Photos to follow. Sorry for the quality - shot into the sun.

Canada 2014 Arrives

The new Digby Saint John Ferry arrived in Halifax last night, and tied up at pier 9.

Photos to Follow.

New Digby Saint John Ferry has arrived in Canada

R

Canada2014, formerly Blue Star Ithaki, slated to become the replacement for the Princess of Acadia has arrived in Canada. She is reportedly going to be undergoing renovations at Halifax Shipyard before going into service, however she arrived off Saint John this morning.

It would be appreciated if any saint john readers could send me pictures. as of 9:24ADT she is inbound from the Pilot station. it also looks like she will be passing the Princess of Acadia who is sailing for Digby.

Update: Photo Above provided by Kyle L via Our Facebook Page.

From Saint John, the vessel will make its way to Digby for a sea trial and to undergo a check in its future berth. The vessel will then head to Halifax, where engine work will take place alongside the dock to perform a 72,000-hour engine overhaul and the conversion of the engines from heavy fuel to marine diesel. 

Super Yacht at the Museum Wharf..

Brand new, she is on her delivery trip to Florida. The Hull was built in Norway and is made of carbon fibre. the Hullwas Shipped over to the yacht builder Palmer Johnston in Wisconsin. She is now on her delivery trip to florida. She currently is using her yard Hull Number as a name - PJ265, but will take the name Khalilah. Photo to follow.

HMS Penelope vs HMCS Preserver - Circa 1988

September, 1988 at Vestfjorden, off the Norwegian coast

The ship on the port side of Perserver is HNoMS Trondheim. Penelope was attempting to come along side, and reduce power when one of the throtles got stuck in the Open position, causing her to turn in front of preserver.

Skelt for Bunkers

The geared bulker Skelt made a brief stop at anchor for bunkers, sailing in the afternoon. Built in 2010 and registered in Singapore, she arrived from Portsmouth, NH.

She is Owned and operated by Wellard Ships of Australia, via their Singapore office.

Vitagrace to the Elevator to load.

the bulker Vitagrace moved from the Basin anchorage this afternoon to tie up at pier 28. She will presumably be loading a bulk cargo of some sort from the grain elevator.

We previously posted about her on the 16th, when she had been at anchor for a few days allready

FELEX Update - first 4 done

The Defense minister held a press conference to Announce the The first 4 frigates modernized as part of the FELEX program, HMCS Halifax, Fredericton, Calgary, and Winnipeg are complete, and ready for operational deployment.

For East Coast Boats,
Montreal Is in Post Update workups,
Charlottetown is at the Machine Shop Wharf, St. John's is in the Graving Dock.
Ville De Quebec is Preparing to go to the shipyard this fall at the dockyard, and HMCS Toronto is on deployment, scheduled to enter the yard in the summer.

HMCS Fredricton will be the first to be deployed, Presumably as HMCS Toronto's Replacement in the Standing Nato Maritime Group.

Video below shows some of the work done. The ships look to get gutted at the shipyard.

Seabed Prince for Scunda

Secunda has Chartered and obtained a coasting trade application for the Seabed Prince. the vessel will be used to accommodate a dive team that will use remotely operated vehicles to install grout bags, reinforced bars and weighted mattresses at the Export pipeline, near the Thebaud platform in the Sable Island gas field.

Owned and operated by Swire seabed, she is built specifically for ROV Operations.

CMB Mae for Bunkers

The Bulker CMB Mae made a brief stop for bunkers today. Built in 2010, she is equipped with 4 cranes and clam shell buckets, as well as deck stanchions for loads such as logs. She is bound  for Gibraltar, having sailed from Port Cartier

She spent the Afternoon off Dartmouth Cove, and sailed when bunkers were complete.

Princess of Acadia replacement sails for Canada

The new Digby-Saint John ferry sailed November 18 after departing Greece. The Blue Star Ithaki has been renamed Canada 2014 and is reportedly headed  To Halifax where modifications of the vessel will be taking place before entering service. At the time of writing, Canada 2014 is off Gibraltar and heading for the Atlantic. 

HDMS Niels Juel for port Visit

The Danish warship HDMS Niels Juel arrived late yesterday afternoon for a visit.  She is the third and final ship of the Iver Huitfeldt class of frigates that entered service with the Royal Danish Navy in 2012 and 2013.


Very similar in design to the Absalon class, these vessels are configured for Area Air Defense - a Role held by the Canadian Iroquois Class. Savings were achieved in design time and construction by re-using the basic design of the Absalon class.

Hopefully better non-phone photo to follow.

Vitagrace to anchor

The Maltese registered Bulker Vitagrace Arrived on the 14th and anchored in the basin. Built in Japan  in 2001, she is owned and manged by the Greek firm Vita Management. She Appears to have arrived from Australia, and may be headed to load Iron Ore at Sept Iles.

Sorry for the bad photo - Its from my phone.

Hero #9 - Out for Boat work.

I Finally Caught hero #9, the CCGS Captain Goddard M.S.M underway. She was launched back in May, and has been turned over to the Coast Guard. She will eventually be stationed in Victoria.

She was Exercising with her Rhib, but it appears to have been stowed.

Flinter Tide For Sheet Harbor, with Windmill parts

The General cargo ship Flinter Tide is currently at anchor in the Outer Anchorage, Bound for Sheet Harbour. She has been there for a few days, with a cargo of what appear to be turbine parts.

Built in 2012, she is 130m in Length, and features 2 80ton capacity cranes. The dutch firm Flinter operates numerous general cargo vessels, and are regular callers in Halifax.

Macao Straight for Mefi

The Parade of new vessels for Melfi continues with a first call for Macao Straight. Built in 2008, she is part of the Rehder Reederei fleet, which seems to supply the majority of vessels used on Melfi's route.

Macao Straight arrived yesterday afternoon and tied up at pier 41, using 2 tugs to turn due to the wind. She no departure listed as of yet.

Iroquois and Athabaskan Together

Athabaskan on the Left, Iroquois on the Right.
Soon Athabaskan will be the last tribal in Service.

Cruise Season is Over

This morning was scheduled to be the last cruise ship of the season, however she sailed past. As a result the last cruise ship of the season was yesterday's visit by Hamburg.

The Legend of the Seas arrived off halifax this morning but high winds and seas caused her to keep sailing on to Boston.

The cruise season will begin April 19 with the arrival of the regal princess on a 28 day Scandinavia and Russia cruise sailing from Ft. Lauderdale.

Fusion sails back to Saint Pierre

 The general cargo ship Fusion heading back to Saint Pierre. A regular caller in halifax at pier 36 she shuttles cargo between halifax and the French colony

HMCS Iroquois Final Sail-past tomorrow?

I have heard a rumour that HMCS Iroquois' final sail past will occur tomorrow. Due to cracks in her structure, she is due to be de-commisioned, and has already be de-amunitioned.

If anyone has more details, Please email Info@halifaxshippingnews.ca 

UPDATE: It appears there will be no sailpast. A Call to QHM revelealed they had no knowledge of it, and a former crew member emailed to say he talked to a current crew member who said there will not be one.

MV Miner - More pollutants then expected

the CBC is reporting the scrapping of the MV Miner is running late and over budget due to higher quantities of pollutants being found. it was estimated there were 5 tons of Asbestos aboard, however crews have removed more the 30tons of the material.

also discovered was 18000 liters of fuel in a tank. After the Vessel grounded, a salvage company was retained to remove all fuel's and oils. this discovery leads to the possibility of a tank that was added for the trip as a means to re-fuel the tug on route.

if this is the case, perhaps the towing company can be sued to recover cleanup costs.

New ACL vessels named by Haligonian

 Construction is progressing on Atlantic Container Line's new G4 vessels, which will be the largest RORO/Containerships in the world. The G4 vessels will replace ACL's existing fleet of G3's operating in the company's transatlantic service.

The new G4 Fleet is being named Atlantic Star, Atlantic Sail, Atlantic Sea, Atlantic Skyand Atlantic Sun. Andrea Cox, who started with ACL in September 1996, submitted the winning names. Andrea is a Customer Service Representative at ACL's Halifax Customer Service Center. Andrea said she chose the names based on her daily experience with customers. 

When the construction of the G‐4's began in 2013, ACL's parent company, the Grimaldi Group, decided that ACL's employees would hold a contest to name the new vessels. Over 5,000 name proposals were received. Each ACL country manager and department manager picked his/her favorite 25 sets of 5 names. The most frequently selected 25 name sets were submitted to Grimaldi Group Management in Italy, who chose the winner. 

The new G4 vessels will be bigger, faster, greener and more efficient than their predecessors. The G4's will have a container capacity of 3,800 TEUs plus 28,900 square meters of RORO space, with a car capacity of 1307 vehicles. The new ships will continue to employ cell‐guides on deck, a feature that will allow ACL to extend its enviable record of never losing a container at sea in over 30 years. The first ACL G4 will enter service next summer, followed every two months by a sister vessel until the entire ACL fleet is replaced.

Princess of Acadia Replacement Due.

The greek ferry Blue Star Ithaki, will be the replacement for the Princess of Acadia. The federal Government previously announced that the Ferry would be replaced, and Greek media are reporting that the ferry has been sold and will be sailing for Canada, having completed her last Greek trip October 26th.

Built in Korea, she was delivered in 2002. She can carry 1500 passengers, and has few cabins due to the short runs in Greece. Shipfax reports she is due for 4 months of work (and presumably interior renovations) at Pier 9, before going into service.

She Evidently can Take heavy Weather:

The Princess of Acadia is currently at the shipyard in Mechins PQ for Bow Thruster repairs.

UpDate:
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced that the Government of Canada has entered into an agreement for the purchase of a ferry vessel to replace the MV Princess of Acadia, which serves the Saint John, New Brunswick to Digby, Nova Scotia ferry route.
A purchase agreement was signed on October 10, 2014 to acquire the MV Blue Star Ithaki from a private ferry operator located in Greece at a cost of approximately $31 million EURO ($44.6 million CAN).
On November 27, 2013, the Government of Canada issued a Public Notice for the planned purchase of an existing ferry on buyandsell.gc.ca. Following an extensive evaluation process, which involved identifying and assessing the suitability of candidate vessels from all over the world, including Canada, the MV Blue Star Ithaki was selected as representing the best value for Canadians and having the capacity to meet the operational requirements of the Saint John-Digby ferry service. The vessel’s introduction into service is expected in 2015.
Upon arrival of the vessel in Canada, modifications will need to be made for the vessel to meet Canadian safety regulations and compatibility with existing shore-based infrastructure and operation in the Bay of Fundy.

Quick Facts

• The MV Blue Star Ithaki is a Greek-flagged Roll On-Roll Off (RO-RO) passenger ferry vessel built in 2000 by Daewoo Industries. It is in excellent condition with at least 20 years of useful life remaining. A RO-RO vessel is designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers, and railroad cars that are driven on and off the vessel on their own wheels.
• The MV Blue Star Ithaki is 124 metres in length and 19 metres in breadth, with a cruising speed of 20 knots. It has modern onboard amenities and segregated car and vehicle decks.
• The Saint John-Digby ferry service is operated year-round by Bay Ferries Ltd. (BFL), using the Transport Canada-owned MV Princess of Acadia. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $38 million to support this service.

The Blue Star Ithaki

The Blue Star Ithaki

The Blue Star Ithaki

Big lift at shipyard

Word is that the overhead cranes will be installed at the shipyard this week. The Kone overhead cranes were delivered to pier 9 last week.

Irving has two of their largest cranes, A
Liebherr - LR1400 440 ton in the foreground, and a MANITOWOC - M-2250 300 ton, to lift the assembled cranes and put them into place. The overhead cranes themselves span the width of the ultra hall and are 200ton capacity each.

Another Basin Transfer

The tanker Atlantic Muse tied up along side the Travelstern and began what appears to be a transfer operation. We have seen 2 similar transfers occur with asphalt tanker arriving, and transferring a portion of its cargo to a smaller vessel.

Atlantic Muse appears to have arrived from the UAE via the Panama Canal. Travelstern is owned by the Woodward group of Newfoundland, and is used to re-supply northern communities. She is also under contract to Valero, and is a frequent visitor to the Ultramar docks.

Photo to follow

Ottawa

This blog started in 2008, a month or 2 after I moved to Halifax from Ottawa.
I attended remembrance day ceremonies at the Monument, I have taken numerous tours of Parliament; heck we used to park behind the library on weekends when we went downtown for something.  I know yesterdays crime scene well.

The whole thing unfolded in a very calm Canadian way. People were calm, and followed instructions. A Mountie got his man, and Parliament sat today, Honoring one hero's actions and another's loss.

we feel anger when we loose a soldier in a training accident - its needless. Its tragic and noble when we loose one operating over seas - they knew the risks and went anyway. I don't have words for loosing a soldier standing watch over a monument to those who fell for our freedom.

Anchor from HMCS Niobe Uncovered

An anchor, believed to have belonged to His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS)Niobe, has been unearthed at HMC Dockyard in Halifax. HMCS Niobe was the first Canadian warship to enter Canada’s territorial waters, on October 21, 1910, a landmark event in the beginnings of the Naval Service of Canada.

As fate would have it, the discovery of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor was made just days before the commemoration of Niobe Day, which will from now on, be celebrated annually by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on the 21^st day of October. An excavation crew working at HMC Dockyard recovered an anchor and chain buried beneath a demolition site on the morning of October 14. The anchor has been inspected, assessed against relevant documents and photographs, and is now believed to be that of HMCS Niobe.

The anchor was unearthed at former Jetty 4, where Building D-19, a Second World War dockside warehouse and one of the first structures at HMC Dockyard, once stood and is now being demolished.

The position of the anchor speaks to a particular time and function. The direction of the chain links is consistent with the position of the Niobe’s bow when employed as a depot ship and the size is consistent with an estimated size of the links of the Niobe’s anchor in a post-Halifax Explosion photo. 

While a list of stores left behind by the Royal Navy is not available, no vessels in the newly formed Royal Canadian Navy were large enough for this size anchor except for the Niobe, or possibly the Rainbow (based in Esquimalt, BC). Additionally there would have been no other use for a heavy chain and anchor at the discovery site, except to permanently moor a large vessel such as Niobe.

After she was paid off, Niobe functioned as a depot ship from July, 1915 until 1920 moored in Halifax Harbour. The Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917, pulled the ship’s concrete embedded anchor from the harbour floor and dragged the ship. Once re-secured to Jetty 4, additional anchors were put in place including one to the shore from the stem and one from the stern. The anchor that has been discovered is believed to be one of these three bow anchors that were used to keep Niobe in place

The dimensions of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor are, 4 metres (13 feet) from crown to head, 4.1 metres (13.5 feet) across the stock, and 3.35 metres (11 feet) from bill to bill of the flukes. Additionally, each link of the anchor’s chain is 51 centimetres (20 inches) by 28 centimetres (11 inches) and weighs approximately 34 kilos (75 pounds)

Hey, This isnt Bermuda.

Todays arrival of Explorer of the seas was the result of a weather related change in schedule. I had assumed this was the case when i discovered her arrival listed, but not appearing on the schedule. This led me to believe a trip to Newfoundland was adjusted due to weather.

Nope, todays arrival from New York brings passengers who were expecting to disembark in Bermuda. Bermudian Authorities requested the ship not dock there due to the aftermath of Hurricane Gonzolo, so the trip was re-routed to Halifax and Saint John.

Suffice it to say, the voyage is getting a chilly reception.