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.