Dutch General Cargo

Halifax general cargo stats were down last year, but they are getting off to a better start this year thanks to a pair of Dutch general cargo ships in port today, both carrying steel.

Ijsselborg arrived on February 12 with a cargo of rails for CN. The rails are manufactured in Poland and CN seems to have an inexhaustible demand. There is a more or less constant flow of rails into the port. They are stockpiled on pier 27-28 and shipped out on special railway cars. Once the stockpile begins to get low, another ship arrives.

Ijsselborg dates from 2010 when it was built by Damen's Yichang yard in China. It measures 8,999 grt, 12,016 dwt (also quoted as 11,000) and carries a pair of 80 tonne cranes that can work in tandem. The ship is currently operated by Royal Wagenborg, but has previously worked as Nordana Sarah (in 2015), Clipper Alba (2012-2015) Ijsselborg (2011-2012) and Onego Houston (2011) and was built as Ijsselborg.

Meanwhile at the opposite end of the port BBC Challenger was at pier 9C unloading drill pipe loaded in Louisiana. A similar vessel, it was built in 2008 by Damen Yichang and measures 7878 grt, 11,121 dwt, and also carries a pair of 80 tonne cranes.

It was built as Marina I and was renamed Clipper Marina (2008-2009), Marina I (2009-2010) and Thorco Challenger (2010-2017).
The drill pipe cargo is likely intended for the BP drilling program due to start later this spring.

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