Halifax Shipping News

USCGC TAHOMA

2012-02-24T11:01:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Halifax USCGC TAHOMA.
She arrived this morning just after 9, and is expected to sail on the 27th. She is Homeported in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Photos to follow.

New Service For Halifax

2012-02-24T10:59:00.000-04:00

ACL Is adding Halifax to its new Finland, Russia, North America Service.
Set to begin this month, It will provide container and breakbulk service. It appears that The cargo will travel on ACL's existing transatlantic service and be transfered in Antwerp to Finnlines vessels for delivery to Helsinki, Kotka, and St. Petersburg.

ALas, it looks like no new ships in Halifax for this service.

Pusan on PAX

2012-02-20T11:02:00.001-04:00

The Container vessel Pusan is currently inbound for Fairview Cove. As Reported in December, This vessel is Joining the Hapag Lloyd PAX Service. but still retains Its odd original name, since it lacks the Express suffix in her name. A Quick search shows she began her life as Pusan Senator, and as of March 2011 was operating as MSC Kenya.

This is Pusan's first visit to Halifax.

GULF CAJUN WITH BARGE ATLANTIC BRIDGE

2012-02-20T10:21:00.001-04:00

The Tug Gulf Cajun Arrived on Friday and tied up with her barge At Pier 27.
She appears to be carrying some sort of Industrial Component, and her final destination is Unknown at this point.

She is Due to depart at 14:00 ~~Today~~ on the 21st.

UPDATE: Her destination is Long Harbour Newfoundland. This is the Base of operations for the Voisey's Bay Nickle Operation, and currently has a processing plant under construction. This is likley componenets for the plant.

Atlantic Cartier is broken

2012-02-12T09:44:00.000-04:00

Scheduled to move for trials in the basin this morning, Atlantic cartier remains at the pier. The tugs Atlantic Larch and Willow have left, and It appears Atlantic Compass is anchoring in the Basin waiting for the birth to clear.

Sources have indicated that the Engine on Atlantic Cartier is not functioning, and she would need to be moved as a dead ship to clear the pier which presumably requires more then 2 tugs.

Todays Traffic

2012-02-10T13:45:00.001-04:00

ATLANTIC HAWK serviceing GSF GRAND BANKS

CCGS ALFERD NEEDLER

HELLESPONT CHALLENGER sails for Les Escoumins

Cruise Season Anounced

2012-02-10T09:23:00.001-04:00

The Cruise Ship schedule for 2012 has been released, and Begins in April, with visits by 2 titanic 100th Aniversary cruises. Azamara Journey will visit Halifax on April 12 and On April 16/17, Balmoral will make an overnight stay.

The regulars Carnival Glory and Maasdam are back, and are joined by Disney Magic. The Quest for Adventure, will make two turnaround calls – one on Sept. 16 and another on Oct. 1. These turnaround calls will have passengers begin their cruise from Halifax.

See the Press release here and the Full Schedule

The End of Locomotive Shipments?

2012-02-06T14:12:00.000-04:00

Locomotives for the export market have had a long history of shipping through Halifax, primarally on Jumbo Shipping vessels. The Locomotives Orignated at EMD's London Ontario Facility. EMD was originally the Electro Motive Division of General Motors, but was spun off and sold to the Progress Rail Subsiduary of Caterpiller.

On Friday, Caterpiller closed the plant, after locking out the workers January 1, after failing to get Employees to agre to a 50% Wage reduction. Caterpiller announced a record Quarterly profit of nearly $5 billion, Up 58%

Caterpiller Ships heavy equipment via ACL through Fairview Cove

Maersk Dispatcher working GSF Grand Banks

2012-02-03T15:33:00.000-04:00

The Maersk Dispatcher arrived in Halifax earlier this week, and has been working with the GSF Grand Banks Today. It Appears the GSF grand banks' maintinace period is neering completion as she has the lifeboats deployed, and is working with the supplier.

Maersk Dispatcher's sister ship, Maersk Detector collided with one of the columns on the GSF Grand Banks, damaging both ships above the water line, and requiring the grand banks' maintinance period to be moved forward by a few weeks.

Spruceglen

2012-01-28T21:05:00.001-04:00

Canada Steamship Lines vessel Spruceglen on trials in the basin after a Maintenance period which included ~~being re-flagged to Canada and~~ being re-painted in csl's domestic scheme, which is why she looks so clean

USCG Dependable Departs

2012-01-28T20:34:00.000-04:00

USCG Dependable departed after a short visit today, just after 1400. Here she is passing Chubucto Head having just dropped off the Pilot.

USCG Dependable

2012-01-26T12:51:00.001-04:00

USCG Dependable Arrived this morning for a visit, and tied up at NB4, leaving the dock in the way.
She is likely here to help commemorate the 50th Annivarsary of the Canadian Coast Guard which was formed on January 26th 1962.

The Canadian Coast Guard officially came into existence, when the Honourable Leon Balcer, Minister of Transport in the government of Mr. John Diefenbaker, rose in the House of Commons and announced that the government had decided that the Department of Transport fleet of ships would, in the future, be known as the Canadian Coast Guard.

Find out more at http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/CCG/50th_Anniversary

Smokey

2012-01-23T09:12:00.000-04:00

The Tug SCOTT TURECAMO with barge NEW HAMPSHIRE at anchor this morning, surrounded by sea smoke.

Spies!

2012-01-16T22:17:00.003-04:00

CBC news is reporting that a naval intelligence officer was arrested for disclosing information to foreign entities. Lt.Jeffrey Paul Delisle is reportededly tasked with monitoring shipping movements in the North Atlantic, and is based HMCS Trinity, which is housed within the Halifax Dockyard.

The navy monitors shipping movements in and out of Canadian Waters. This is done both via satellite and via P3 Auora aircraft. Vessels entering Canadian waters are required to report 24 hours in advance. This maritime surveillance can detect illegal dumping and fishing, as well as smugglers.

Update: speculation. Reports suggest that the information was leaked to the Russians. According to Wikipedia, one of the functions that was transferred to HMCS Trinity was the operation of the sub sea surveillance network, which was jointly developed with the US Navy during the cold war to detect foreign submarines. It was operated from CFS Shelburne, which closed in 1995.

Since the network can detect submarine movements, and it was jointly developed with the US Navy, presumably Canadian naval intelligence knows the positions of US Navy, and Possibly British submarines in the North Atlantic - which would certainly be of interest to the Russians.

MCP Troodos and Onego Chinook

2012-01-12T12:02:00.002-04:00

Onego Chinook, currently anchored in the basin, looks an awful lot like MCP Troddos currently at anchor in the inner harbour. this is because they are twins. Both vessels wre built in 2007 by Huanghai Shipbuilding in Rongcheng, China and are managed by Intership Navigation of Cyprus. Onego Chinook was MCP Nicosia until Febuary 2011.

MCP Troodos (ABOVE) is apparently waiting for work, having last departed Trois Rivers Dec 24th. Onego Chinook is Due to dock at pier 27, likely with a load of rail for CN.

Updated now that the weather has allowed me to get a picture of Onego Chinook.

Mirrored Image?

2012-01-09T12:59:00.000-04:00

Atlantic Compass passes Atlantic Cartier, while heading outbound. Atlantic Cartier was required to wait for compass to clear the narrows.

2 additional new vessels on PAX Service

2012-01-01T21:24:00.000-04:00

OOCL Shanghai, Currently at anchor in the outer anchorage, is due tomorrow for Fairview. She is a new vessel server the the OOCL/Hapag-llyod Pacific East Coast Express service. Other recent additions were covered in a December Post.

Probably the most exciting news is that Halifax Express will Call in Halifax for the first time, March 19. I believe this will be a newly chartered vessel as i can find no record of her currently.

2011 year in review

2012-01-01T14:57:00.002-04:00

By far the most popular post of 2011 was Caribou and Smallwood on the Beach in Alang with over 700 direct views since it was posted Nov 1st. Since the blog allows full posts to be to be read without clicking on them many more have read it I'm sure. This only shows the affection these ferries that people have. These to ships stopped for bunkers in August as their last Canadian stop before heading overseas.

In the offshore field, 2011 saw the departures of the platforms PSS Chumul and Rowan Gorilla 3, and the arrival in December of the GSF Grand Banks. Several support vessels from the deep panuke project also made appearances. These Platform posts were also among the most popular - likely because of the unbelievable size of the vessels.

In navy news, HMCS Charlettown departed In March and returned in September from the mediterainian becoming the first Canadian warship to engage an enemy and exchange fire since the Korean war. HMCS preserver also came out of refit, and collided with the Nova Dock a few days latter. Visitors included several US , Icelandic and French Coast Guard, British and American nuclear submarines, British Destroyer, USNS Wright, and a rare east coast visit by the Japanese defence force.

In port traffic, 2011 Saw the start of the American Feeder Lines service, the halfing of Zim's service and the cancelation of the green alliances service. Cruise traffic picked up again despite several weather cancelations.

Halifax Shipyards was selected as the winner of the Federal Shipbuilding Procurement strategy, Began the Midlife refits on the the Halifax Class Frigates and Unveiled the first Hero class Mid Shore Patrol Vessel.

The port continued various improvements, with work at Pier 41/42 and 9..
And the regulars came and went..

Last of 2011 first of 2012

2012-01-01T13:20:00.001-04:00

The last departure of 2011 was the London Express. The last arrival was the Thailand Express who spent the night. Since the port is closed today, She will likely commence cargo operations Tomorrow. The first arrival of 2012 was Halifax regular Atlantic Condor.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T17:01:00.000-04:00

Thanks for making 2011 the best year yet for Halifax Shipping News. 2012 will be even better.
Stay tuned!

Mississipiborg Grounded Twice in Pictou

2011-12-29T19:42:00.000-04:00

Shipwrecks Log is reporting:

The 135 meter long, 8950 dwt container ship Mississipiborg went aground at Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Mississipiborg was attempting to leave port laden with kraft paper at low tide in strong crosswind when it became stuck in the silt and sand. The vessel was refloated two hours later on the incoming tide and returned to harbour where it turned around before attempting to leave port again. On the second attempt, the Mississipiborg went aground again a short distance beyond the spot of the first grounding. The vessel remained aground until the high tide where the Mississipiborg was refloated and departed. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution being released.

I will See if I can find photos of the incident.

Tarago

2011-12-29T15:21:00.000-04:00

PCTC Tarago turning prior to backing into Autoport. This was her first visit to Halifax. Tarago is a town in NSW Australia. She was built in 2000, and is owned by Wilhelmsen Lines, Which is why she is red in Colour, as opposed to the majority of Wallenus Wilhelmsen Lines Vessels which call, that are green in Colour.

This photo was sent to me by Jamie. If you have photos you want to share, Post them to our facebook wall @ www.facebook.com/halifaxshippingnews

New Vessels On Hapag Lloyd PAX Service

2011-12-28T11:02:00.001-04:00

Looks like Hapag Lloyd has rotated a couple of vessels calling on Halifax.
Today Marks a first time appearance for Rio De Jenaro Express. Lacking the Distinctive Hapag Lloyd markings, she is a relatively new charter from Seaspan.

Another New Vessel scheduled to appear on the run is the Pusan. Its an odd name, since it appears to be lacking the Express part of her name. A Quick search shows she began her life as Pusan Senator, and as of March 2011 was operating as MSC Kenya. She is Due Feb 20. - By this time she may acquire an "express" name

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T01:00:00.001-04:00

and a Happy New Year.

Snow

2011-12-23T13:37:00.000-04:00

Just in time to give us a white Christmas. The port is closed as of noon tomorrow, so Maresk Penang arrived today, instead of the routes normal Saturday stop.