Sunday, May 31, 2015

Dual Venture - new seiner- UPDATED



The first new herring seiner built in many years arrived in Halifax today fresh from the shipyard. Built by Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspé, the 105 foot long boat is largest fishing vessel built by the shipyard. At a cost of $6mn it is the result of a joint venture between Lunar Fisheries of Scotland and a Nova Scotia operator, incorporated under the name Lunar Fisheries (New Brunswick) Ltd, but headquartered in Halifax.
The Scottish partner, based in Peterhead and Fraserburgh, is noted for its modern fleet of six vessels and also operates freezing, cold storage, transportation and other divisions. 


The new Dual Venture has several innovations including a prominent bulbous bow, and a unique stability system consisting of two paddle-like blades that are lowered at sea. Other smaller seiners rig paravanes and rely on them due to the extreme top hamper of their fishing gear. However they are awkward to deploy and their failure has lead to disastrous results.
The ship also does without the large mast and boom systems of other seiners, relying on an articulated crane to handle the seine.


This is the second boat of the same name. A previous Dual Venture built in 1977 in North Vancouver, was sold late last year.


Update:
Thanks to a reader we learn that the new Dual Venture replaces two older seiners, not just the namesake, but also Island Pride No.1 built in 1978 in Vancouver.

Island Pride No.1 and its  near sister Tasha Marie were among the most stylish of seiners.

.

Fatih and Minerva Maya - Korean coincidence

Korean built ships are so prolific these days that it is no coincidence when there are two or more Korean built ships in port at one time, but it might qualify if they were built in the same shipyard, and not one of the majors.

Two of today's arrivals were from the Samho Heavy Industries yards in Samho, South Korea, but built several years apart.


Fatih sails under threatening skies after bunkering from Algoma Dartmouth.

In for bunkers the Turkish owned, Maltese flagged bulker Fatih was built in 2011 and measures 23,204 grt, 35,365 dwt. It would appear very similar to tankers built at the same yard but for the four cargo cranes, set very high to allow for deck loads - even containers. Ciner Navigation, based in Istanbul is one of several subsidiaries of a large Turkish shipowner, with a fleet of about 18 ships. Fatih gave Rio Haina, Dominican Republic as it destination.

A small fleet of eider ducks seem oblivious to the rain that greeted the arrival of Minerva Maya.
 
As the weather continued to deteriorate during the day it eventually turned to rain, which nicely blurred the arrival of Minerva Maya. It came from the Samho yard in 2002, and is a crude oil tanker of 57,508 grt, 105,709 dwt. Flying the Greek flag for owners Minerva Marine Inc of Athens, it is in port for Asian gypsy moth inspection.


It would be no coincidence at all if two ships from the giant Korean yard Hyundai Heavy Industries were to appear in Halifax at the same time (it has probably happened many times!). The yard recently celebrated delivery of its 2,000th ship a record achieved by no other shipyard in history. It represents 126 million gross tons of shipping. Its first ship (not exactly a modest start) was the 226,000 tonne VLCC in 1974. The yard at Mipo, southeast of Seoul delivered its 1,000th ship in March 2002, and in 2004 achieved the 100 million gross tons mark. Both were also firsts for any shipyard.

The total of ships built includes 583 container ships, 357 bulk carriers, 232 tankers, and 147 VLCCs.

.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Fog, fog go away....

My usual Saturday round up was somewhat compromised by early morning fog, which meant that I again missed Courageous Ace (actually the fog had burned off when it sailed and had I been in the right place I might have got a shot).
The first arrival that loomed through the fog was the herring seiner Lady Janice II  arriving to unload its catch.


It was built in 1970 in Pictou as Sealife No.1, and was renamed Mari-Lynne Anita until 2001 when it was renamed Lady Janice II by Comeau's Seafoods.



It was followed by the Silver Harvester I, causing a major traffic jam at pier 24 where Lady Melissa, Leroy and Barry II and Margaret Elizabeth No.1 were also unloading. The traffic jam extended to the dock where a dozen trucks were waiting to load, and on the pier face where the boats were "bumper to bumper".


The last two boats had originally intended to unload at Sheet Harbour, but in view of inclement weather predicted they wanted to lay over in Halifax rather than the somewhat quieter port of Sheet Harbour.


By the time Silver Harvester I had unloaded, things had cleared off wonderfully and the boat had to dodge sailors all they way up the harbour. Built in 1990 by Snyders in Dayspring, NS, it is one of the few remaining large wooden fishing vessels that we see.



But first, the research ship Sea Surveyor arrived at pier 27. It was also fog bound all the way in, but there was brilliant sunshine above. It is something of a relic, built in 1979 by Clelands Shipbuilding Co, Wallsend-on-Tyne, England. It began life as a degaussing vessel named Magnet and carried powerful generators to demagnitize or deperm naval ships, to make them less attractive targets to magnetic mines. In 1998 it was acquired by Gardline Surveys and converted for geotechnical survey work.


CSAV Rio Nevado arrived as the fog had cleared off most of the harbour. The 46,800 grt, 12,322 dwt car carrier was built in 2007 by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co in China for Zodiac Maritime of London. It operates for Compagnia Sud Americana de Vapores, a major container, reefer and auto shipping copmany based in Valparaiso, Chile.


By afternoon with the fog well cleared off the next arrival was CSL's Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin. Dating from 2012, it was the first of CSL's deep sea Trillium class of modern self-unloaders. Built by Chengxi Shipyard, Jiangyin City, it measures 43,691 grt, 71,406 dwt . In February 2014 it experienced a crankshaft problem and was laid up in Point Tupper and then in Shelburne for many months until it could be repaired. Since then it has operated with frequent visits to Cape Breton in coal or aggregates work.
It tied up at pier 30-31 for maintenance.


Meanwhile the rest of the harbour enjoyed sunny warm conditions, but no ship movements. At pier 9B North the idle crew of Stadt Cadiz (also Chinese built and in port with engine trouble since May 6) decided to do a little painting. It is rare to see this kind of overside work since most ships are not in port long enough to take it on. Painting was also in full swing on Fundy Rose at Pier 9B South, but at Pier 9C the crew of Harefield (in since March 19) had knocked off painting for the week, having worked their way along the hatch coaming from the bow, about half the way aft.

May 25 photo, Harefield at the extreme north end of Pier 9C, almost under the MacKay bridge, has been in port since March for rudder repairs, and now sports some new paint on the hatch coaming.

.

.  

Friday, May 29, 2015

The fog creeps in

"The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on."
Carl Sandburg had it right when it comes to today's harbour conditions.
 Exiting Eastern Passage it was all clear.


As the autocarrier Auriga Leader sailed from Autoport, in bright (warm) sunshine, the fog was  lurking off shore and crept its way in as the ship made its way out.
There was low fog at Ives Knoll

 From my vantage point at the Halterm Breakwater, it was beginning to get thick.

By the time the ship reached the Middle Ground between Ives Knoll and Meagher's Beach it had vanished from view.
Going, 

going....

Auriga Leader, operated by NYK Line under the Singapore flag, was built in 2008 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Kobe. It measures 60,123 grt, 18,686 dwt. [Auriga is a medium sized constellation, whose brightest star is Capella.]

Needless to say there was no attmept to capture the arriving  Courageous Ace - maybe tomorrow.

.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Slim pickings

It was slim pickings in the harbour today, as compared to yesterday, and due to various timing conflicts it was only possible to catch one ship underway, and that was the autocarrier Torino sailing from Autoport.

Torino strikes out for sea late this afternoon.

Owned by Wilhelmsen Lines Car Carriers through its Southampton office, the ship flies the British flag and sails for the combined Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines. It was built in 2009 by Mitsubishi, Nagasaki and is 61,328 grt and 22,160 dwt.

There will be two departures after dark from Imperial Oil. Irving Oil's Acadian from number 3 dock and STI Texas City from number 4.
With the George's Island's jetty in the foreground, STI Texas City is in the last stages of unloading. Acadian, just astern, will also finish up tonight.


The aptly named STI Texas City works for Scorpio Ship Managwement of Monaco and flies the Marshall Islands flag. It was built in 2014 by SPP Shipbuilding Co of Sacheon, South Korea, and rings in at 29,732 grt, 49,990 dwt. It will go to anchor over night before sailing in the morning.

STI Texas City, shortly after arriving at Imperial Oil on May 25.


.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Triple Header in the South End

It was a busy time late this afternoon with one ship sailing and two arriving.Zim Alabama sailed from Halterm, looking nearly full.


Zim Alabama flies the Marshal Islands flag, and is operated by Rickmers Ship Management (Singapore) Ltd. It has a capacity of 4256 TEU, and measures 40,542 grt, 50,158 dwt, and was built in 2010 by Jiangsu Yangeijiang Shipyard in Jiangyin, China.


It took the western deep water channel outbound allowing Bahri Hofuf the full width of the eastern channel to meet up with its tugs.


The impressive Bahri Hofuf made its first call in Halifax  November 13, 2013 after delivery by Hyundai Mipo in May of that year.It measures 50,714 grt and is a multi-purpose ConRo, heavy lift ship. It tied up at pier 31 where it loaded construction machinery, to add to its deckload of ambulances.



Following inbound was the more lightly loaded Zim Beijing


Zim Beijing is also a Hyundai product, but came from the Samho yard in 2005. Launched as E.R.Beijing it was renamed to take up its charter with Zim. At 54,626 grt, 66,939 dwt, it has a capacity of 5047 TEU

including 450 reefers.
First operators were E.R.Schiffahrts, not a part of part of the Rickmers Group, E.R. standing for Eric Rickmers, a son of Bertram Rickmers, who struck out on his own. However earlier this year the ship passed to another German company Atlantic Lloyd Shipmanagement.

.

Pearl Mist - half day visit

The Halifax-built mini-cruise ship Pearl Mist made a half day visit to pier 22 today, sailing over the noon hour.


The ship went into service for the first time in 2013 after several years of layup during litigation between owner and builder.

The ship's next port of call is Pictou, NS, a port that never sees large cruise ships due to limited depth of water. The ship will call in Pictou eight times this year, and this will be the first. (They had expected ten calls, but the first two, planned for earlier in the season, were never confirmed.) Pearl Mist called in Pictou once in 2013 and twice in 2014.

.

Bochem Mumbai inspection

The chemical tanker Bochem Mumbai anchored for Asian gyspy moth inspection this morning. The ship is truly international in its ownership and operating structure. Built in 2010 by Hachinohe, Japan as Siva Mumbai, for a subsidiary of the Cie Maritime Belge [CMB]of Antwerp, Siva Bocimar Chemical, based in Singapore. In 2013 it moved to Michina Marina SA of Hong Kong, raised the Hong Kong flag and changed to its current name.  However CMB BV chartered the ship back in some fashion and then placed it under the commercial management of Hansa Tankers of Bergen, Norway.


The ship is built with stainless steel tanks, allowing it to carry IMO Type II and Type III chemicals (a group of 17 chemicals that pose environmental risks - Type I are the most dangerous). The ship measures 19,968 grt, 33,636 dwt, and rates as a large ship among chemical carriers, which usually transport relatively small quantities of individual chemicals, but may carry several different chemicals at the same time.

Interesting: As Bochem Mumbai leaves Halifax for Saint John, it will pass the tanker Sichem Mumbai heading for the St.Lawrence River.

.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

CSL and minerals

Canada Steamship Lines and its affiliate CSL International  have a large fleet of self-unloading ships to carry a variety of bulk cargoes. Today there were two CSL ships in Halifax, one from each side of the equation.

Atlantic Huron backs away from pier 26, and despite sounding its horn, at least two pleasure craft dared to cross the ship's track. 
 
Atlantic Huron, a member of the domestic fleet, completed unloading a cargo of grain (likely corn) and sailed for Lower Cove, Newfoundland. Located on the Port au Port Peninsula, Lower Cove is the shipping point for Atlantic Minerals Ltd, a large producer of limestone and dolomite, essential ingredients in steel and cement making and other industries. Two links will provide some idea of the vast scale of reserves in the area.
http://www.atlanticminerals.com/AMLProf.htm
http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/lower-cove/1002141112/

Despite the ship's somewhat rugged appearance, it has freshly painted white forecastle, and the flat sides down to the belt line. The tapered portions of bow and stern are next. The red hull colour is traditional for CSL's domestic fleet.


CSL Tacoma, as a member of the international fleet CSL Americas, has a black hull. It has just boarded its pilot and is working its way in.

Inbound was CSL Tacoma (the ships passed each other out beyond the pilot station), heading to National Gyspum to load a cargo for the USA. It arrived in ballast from the Norfolk area, which is unusual - the ship often delivers coal to Caper Breton, and also loads aggregates there. It is one of the new series of ships built in China for CSL called the Trillium class.

CSL Tacoma was keeping to the east side of the channel, to give room for the outbound Maersk Penang.

With pilot aboard, Maersk Penang makes its way to the pilot disembarking area, about a mile or so farther out.


Once clear of the outbound ship, the CSL Tacoma has the channel to itself.

.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Saturday Roundup

The officially renamed Fundy Rose was turned at Pier 9B this afternoon. The ship's port side has been repainted from the shoreside after the installation of new liferaft launching equipment. It will now be the turn for portions of the starboard side.

Fundy Rose comes off the pier, showing the 'blisters" on the hull for the liferaft system.

The ship's former name, Blue Star Ithaki will be burned off bow and stern and the liferaft gear will be installed before repainting. Sadly it appears that the ship's new name will only be painted on - no steel letters welded on. Also yet to come will be the Bay Ferries logo.

The ship is still carrying the temporary name Canada 2014 on its starboard bow and stern, and the old liferaft system.
 
The ship did not use its own engines for the move, but did have a working bow thruster, and the tugs Atlantic Larch and Atlantic Willow provided the power. The ships auxiliary engines were also running to to provide power to the mooring winches.

The ship's bow thruster exerts considerable force.

 Now bow south, the ship is nearly back alongside.


 Atlantic Huron, looking fairly rugged, works off its cargo at pier 26.

At pier 26, Atlantic Huron was unloading the first grain cargo of the season since the St.Lawrence Seaway opened. The veteran self-unloader has been an off and on visitor with grain and to load gypsum for many years.


Forklifts haul away the cargo of bagged nickel concentrate.

Meanwhile at the other deepwater piers, there was more activity. HC Melina at pier 31 was unloading bagged nickel concentrate from Cuba for Nirint Shipping. A newcomer to Halifax, the ship was built in 2011 as Flinterschelde by Ben Kien Shipyard in Haiphong, Viet Nam. It joined IMM Shipping of Germany in 2011 and took its present name. The ship measures 6577 grt, 9120 dwt, has a capacity of 505 TEU and carries a pair of 80 tonne cranes that can work in combination for 160 tonne lifts.



At pier 36 all was quiet aboard Sina, which arrived last night for Melfi Lines. After its last arrival April 11, it went back out to sea to exchange ballast  water.
http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2015/04/whats-with-sina.html
http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2015/04/sina-returns-from-mystery-tour-sense-of.html

This time it appears to be in ballast, with no cargo. Melfi had Helene J. here on Tuesday, so there may not be much cargo for this ship. In any event it is not scheduled to sail until May 27.

Fusion has its pilot aboard and is about to weigh anchor.


Yesterday pier 36 was occupied by Fusion on its regular St-Pierre et Miquelon run. It went to anchor overnight and sailed this morning.

Nolhanava in the foreground, with Algoma Dartmouth at pier 33 in the background.

Meanwhile its replacement Nolhanava ex Shamrock is still at pier 34, with some maintenance work going on, but no indication of when it will actually go into service. It still carries the Thien and Hyenga funnel markings of its previous managers. I expect that to change, and its name too, before it enters service.

.


USS Virginia


 Attended by CNAV Glenside and several small craft, USS Virginia has passed Meagher's Beach inbound. A 200 meter exclusion zone was declared around the sub during its transit.

The submarine USS Virginia SSN-744 arrived this morning and tied up at Shearwater, Jetty November Alpha. The lead vessel of the Virginia-class of nuclear submarines was laid down September 2, 1999,and launched August 16, 2003 by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division in Groton, CT. It was commissioned October 23, 2004 and is also based in Groton. It completed a 20 month overhaul in March 2012.

 There is quite a crowd gathered on the sub's conning tower, including a civilian pilot from the Atlantic Pilotage Authority

As it nears Ives Knoll, the deck crew emerges. The pup tugs Listerville and Granville were waiting to assist in berthing at Shearwater.


.