BBC Pacific - first for bunkers

The first ship to arrive this year for bunkers is BBC Pacific. The ship was headed up the Atlantic coast and actually passed Halifax then turned back to come in for fuel. Whether this indicates a change of mind or was merely to avoid an early arrival is not known (to me). In any event it anchored in the lower harbour and the bunkering tanker Algoma Dartmouth came alongside, effectively blocking a clear view of the ship from anyone on the Halifax side of the harbor

1. Algoma Dartmouth is only slightly smaller than BBC Pacific, but higher out of the water, so almost blocks it out.

A wind shift would change that quickly, but with snow predicted this afternoon, I had to get a photo when I could. However as it turns out there was a burst of sun late in the afternoon after Algoma Dartmouth had completed operations.

2. BBC Pacific shows minimal freeboard at main deck level.

Unlike fleetmate BBC Kwiatkowski earlier in the week, which has folding hatch covers, BBC Pacific has lift off and stacking hatch covers, that are moved by a travelling hydraulic gantry (it is stowed against the house). The ship is a multi-purpose, tween deck, general cargo ship, capable of carrying bulk or break-bulk, and has two 60 tonne cranes for moderately heavy lifts. BBC's 130- ship fleet specializes in multi-purpose ships with lift capacity, in a variety of ship sizes. Based in Germany, BBC's ships are usually registered in Antigua, as this one is. It was built in Dalian China in 2007 and measures 5261 gross tons, 6192 deadweight tonnes, and is mid-size in the BBC fleet.

Algoma Dartmouth still had fuel aboard as reported last month, but it still remains to be seen how many customers the ship will find. Reports now indicate that owners of large ships are likely to continue burning heavy fuel and install scrubbers to meet the low sulfur guidelines in effect in Canada and the US and coming next year in Europe. Owners of smaller ships now burning heavy oil, will make necessary conversions to their ships to use Marine Gas Oil.

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