Tanker Verige with escorts

The tanker Verige arrived this afternoon, but boarded its pilot at the outer pilot station where it was also met by tow tugs. Atlantic Oak took up position as stern tethered escort and Atlantic Willow stood by all the way in to Bedford Basin anchorage..

When an arriving ship requests extra tug escort it usually means that it has steering or propulsion problems.

The tanker arrived off Halifax yesterday at the height of a winter storm, and as there was no safe anchorage position outside the harbour, it put back out to sea. The pilot boat was off station due to severe conditions, and no ships arrived or departed. The ferries ran all day, but there was no other traffic in the harbour.

Verige was built in 2010 by 3 Maj Brodogradiliste, in Rijeka, Croatia and flies the Croatian flag. Operators are Uljanik Ship Management of Pula, Croatia. It measures 30,638 grt, 52,606 deadweight and is at the upper end of the range of Handysize products tankers.

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