Nova Star out, Bay Ferries in.. return of an oldie?

So after eating 32million dollars, the Nova Star is out, and Bay Ferries is now negotiating a contract to take over the Portland to Yarmouth  ferry run.

This is Probably a good thing - Bay operates the Digby/Saint John run, as well as the Northumberland Ferries from Pictou to PEI. They also previously ran the CAT on this route, prior to its Cancellation.

They will need a Suitable boat, and one that is immediately available. The NovaStar will presumably be available, though if NovaStar Couldnt run it profitably, who knows if Bay Can. There is however a Ferry available Locally. The Princess of Acadia. Recently retired from the Digby/Saint John run, she is owned by the feds, but was previously operated by Bay. She is available, possibly for charter or Purchase, and a known commodity to Bay.

First Stop for Nagoya Express

 

Nagoya Express made her first stop in halifax yesterday. on arrival she held up in the inner harbour while the northern delegation departed her berth at Fairview cove. once Northern Delegation was free of the berth, Nagoya express proceeded through the narrows and tied up. Northern Delegation then Left the Basin through the Narrows.

Also a first stop, Northern Delegation was here for ACL filling in prior to the service start of Atlantic Star.

CCGS Cape Roger

Putting to Sea friday after noon.

United Carrier for Bunkers

Friday, United Carrier took bunkers at Anchorage 1

The Biggest Container Ship yet!

The USAC Zamzam Tied up at pier 41 on Saturday. Being 9036TEU, She is now the largest container ship to call on Halifax. Her arrival is part of CMA-CGM's service, and operates under the Oceans 3 partnership, with CMA-CGM, UASC and China Shipping.

Big cruise Ship Day

AidaDiva (Above) at Pier 20.Carribean Princess is Aft of her at pier 22.

Celebrity Summit and Brilliance of the Seas occupy Piers 30 and 31 respectively.
All told, there are 10,000 Passengers in town today.

New In the New year - Atlantic Star.

ACL's new ship, Atlantic Star is due to start her first voyage Dec 20. This puts her into Halifax January 10th.

BBC Maple Lea loads Barge

The BBC Maple Lea, Loads Cargo directly onto a barge. The barge NT1509 arrived in tow of Northern Transportation's Tug Keewatin.

Note the BBC Maple Lea is also carrying a large deck load of Yachts near the Bow. She also earlier offloaded some fabrications onto trucks.

Tankers

STI Seneca (Forward) and Alpine Duke (Aft) appear to be nearly done their offloads at Imperial Oil.
Alpine Duke sailed form Port Arthur, and STI Seneca arrived from New Orleans. STI Seneca is also a new build, having only entered service earlier this year.

Todays Cruise Ships

 (Above) the Pearl Mist  at pier 24. She was built at Halifax shipyards, and after much wrngling in the courts delivered to her owners and put into service. She now makes regular stops to Halifax.

(Below)The Saga Sapphire, built in 1981 is a good looking ship. shes tied up stern to stern with pearl mist at Pier 24.

First Visit for OOCL Luxembourg

OOCL Luxembourg made a stop last night, sailing around 11pm. Built in 2010, she is part of OOCL's SX class, and carries 8063 TEU.

Shipspotting 101 - General Cargo

General Cargo vessels can carry containers, Bulk Cargoes and Break Bulk Cargoes.
We have Looked at Containerized Cargo, and Bulk Cargo but havent yet touched on Breakbulk.

breakbulk is basically any cargo that is not in a container, and cant be poured. Heavy Equipment, telephone poles, Bags of Nickle Sulfate, locomotives are all examples of breakbulk cargo, and can be carried in general cargo ships.

Nirint makes a regular run to and from Cuba. the HC Melina is carrying containers, but also bags of Nickle Concentrate in bags in her hold. these bags get unloaded from the ship, then onto railcars for points west.

Holds typically do not have container guides. Also usually the full hold can be opened. These vessels may or may not have cranes, and are typically in the 100-150m in length range.

(Above) Capri ( and several other Vessels) frequently deliver rails for CN.
(Below) Frisian Spring Loading Poles for export. Note that Capri (above) Has Cranes, where as Frisan Spring requires shore based facilities.

(Above) SE Veridian Delivered Windmill Components.
(Below) Flintermar Loading Wood Pellets.

Shipspotting 101 - Container Ships

Containerships are one of the most common vessel types to call on Halifax. While these vessels can be measured by their dimensions, the most common unit of measure is the TEU - Twenty foot Equivalent Units. This is the count of the Number of 20' containers that can be carried on a ship. Containers are typically 20, 40, 48 or 53 feet in length, and can vary slightly in height.

Post Panamax

These are ships too large to Fit through the Panama Canal. The Largest Vessels that can fit Are called Panamax. Halterm has been dredged to 50' to accommodate these vessels.

APL Coral is a Post Panamax vessel that frequents Halifax. these vessels are usually larger then 6000teu. Currently the largest Scheduled visit is just over 9000TEU.

Panamax

For Container ships,  965' long, 106'wide. Draft 39.5' and a 190' Airdraft. the Airdraft of the 2 Harbour bridges is 50m, 7m less then panamax, though most ships have a lower mast. these ships are in the 4000-6000 teu range.

OOCL Antwerp is Typical of the Panamax vessels we get. She Comes in at 5888TEU. These vessels were up untill recently the majority of the container ships comming into port.

SeawayMax

Seawaymax vessels are 740' long, 78' wide, and have a draft of 26.51' and a airdraft of 116' they are typically sub 3000teu, and can make it into the great lakes. Maersk Calls on Halifax (And Montreal) with a set of 2902TEU veseels.

The presence of container guides in the holds typically differentiates Container ships form general cargo. The Guides are easy to see on the AFL New England (Now trading as WEC Majorole) And the Stadt Cadiz (below) Compare the 2747 TEU Stadt Cadiz to the 700 TEU AFL New England.

The Stadt Cadiz also carries cranes. this is common, and allows ships to service unequipped ports. If overhead cranes are available, the ship mounted ones are simply swung out of the way. The Melfi Iberia blow shows how versatile container traffic can be. with flat pallets, you can ship entire trucks, buses and trailers.

Update on Glovis Century

Canadian Armed Forces members unload military vehicles from Glovis Century in Setubal, Portugal as part of TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015 and JOINTEX15, 7 October 2015. The vehicles were loaded in Montreal, and the ship left part of its cargo on pier 9 so it had enough draft to make the run to Montreal.

Boa Odin For Nova Dock -Loading off Dartmouth Cove.

The Semi-Submersible Boa Barge 33 and Tug Boa Odin are currently Loading the first section of the Nova Dock off Dartmouth Cove  for Delivery to Florida. Once the first section is delivered, they will presumably come back and Pick up the second.

The Harbour Entrance webcam offers a good view of the Show.

FS Monge - Rocket Tracking Ship

FS Monge, A French rocket tracking ship pulled into port this morning.
The ship is named after the 18th century mathematician Gaspard Monge and serves a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship - She tracks and measures rocket trajectories. She was built for the trials of the Submarine-launched ballistic missiles of the Navy, and is also used to monitor the launch of Ariane rockets. Conceivably she can also track other countries missiles and rockets as well.

She was commissioned in 1992, and is 225m Long.

Shipspotting 101: Con-Ro's

Con-ro's are vessels that carry both Containers and have Roll on Roll off Capability. Once more frequent, these vessels are quite flexible, And Halifax is served by Several Regulars.

Oceanex Runs a twice weekly service from Halifax to St John's Newfoundland with the Oceanex Sanderling. Looking Much like a container ship, the huge Stern Ramp gives her away. She typically moves between Halterm and Autoport. Carrying Cars, Containers, Heavy equipment and even some traditional trailer loads.

 Oceanex also runs the Oceanex Connraiga, which offers a similar service, but from Montreal. Her stern ramp is built into the large block on the Stern.

 The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, now operating as Bahri, has a fleet of New con-ro's serving Halifax monthly. more space is devoted to Roll on Cargo, and containers are stored up front. The new vessels also carry 2 cranes for container, which is unique for a con-ro if this size.

Atlantic Container Lines runs a twice weekly service between Halifax and Europe. Besides Containers, ACL frequently carries heavy equipment, Helicopters, and Assembled sections of Bombardier CRJ Aircraft in the RO-RO bay. These Vessels will be replaced by newer ones in the coming months.

Fusion ran a weekly service to the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquleon off Newfoundland. She can carry containers in a Hold or on deck, and features a stern ramp to allow trucks and other vehicles to drive on and off. Fusion was Replaced by the Larger (But near identical in Layout) Nolhanava