Current Events

 There were some notable events in the harbour today (March 17)  - some involving ships.

It was a return visit by CMA CGM Alexander von Humboldt that triggered the pun in the title. [Puns are an hereditary affliction for which I cannot but apologize.] The huge current off the west coast of South America is named for the scientific explorer (1769-1859) as are several geographical features, areas, and towns around the world. In fact von Humboldt is reputed to be the first to recognize human induced climate change (in 1800 to 1831) but who was listening?

When the ship was first here December 27, 2021 I noted that its 16,020 TEU capacity put it in the running for largest ship to call in Halifax. CMA CGM's Explorer class of ships are all the "same size" but CMA CGM Marco Polo comes out slightly larger in the measurements game: CMA CGM, biggest

No matter which ship is the largest in the class, they are all impressive.

Also a large ship, relatively speaking, but nowhere near as large is Oceanex's 26,786 gt Oceanex Connaigra back in Halifax on its alternate week sailings to Newfoundland. With fleetmate Oceanex Avalon, the ship is filling in for the Oceanex Sanderling which is in an extended refit in Amsterdam.

Oceanex Connaigra crosses the harbour late this afternoon, moving from PSA Halifax to Autoport. It has a large stern ramp for RoRo cargo.

The Connaigra and Avalon each usually run weekly from Montreal to St.John's, but have been doing so only on alternate weeks since the Sanderling left in late December. Its return is expected in mid-June. In the meantime only the Connaigra has RoRo capability.

While waiting to see the Oceanex Connaigra I took a shot of Irving Oil's Woodside terminal, where the familiar East Coast was off loading its latest cargo of refined products.

Passing alongside the tanker and on its way to Autoport, was the small tug Roseway. The tug is used at both the Woodside jetty and at Autoport to run lines ashore or to a mooring buoy.

 

 Also passing was the duty pilot boat Captain E.T. Rogers. Built in 2012 by Abco Industries in Lunenburg, NS, it was originally named Chebucto Pilot, but was renamed when it was transferred to Saint John, NB in 2017. However it has been back in Halifax for some time.

 

In the background at the C.O.V.E. dock, the Coriolis II is in winter layup.

 

There are signs of spring in the air. Yesterday's snow fall has almost completely melted and I spotted a loon for the first time this year.

 

 

Although they are known to winter over in Halifax harbour, eiders have not been seen much in the area of Black Rock Beach this year, until this one this morning:

At Pier 9C the multi-purpose cargo ship Franbo Lohas is installing fibreopotic cable racks.

The ship was built in 2016 by Honda, Saiki as the Thorco Lohas, one of several ships of the same class. With portable pontoon type tween decks and a pair of 50 tonne capacity cranes, it is a particularly versatile ship of 13,110 gt, 16,966 dwt. 

In fact some of its sister ships have also been in Halifax for the same type of work. 

Thorco Liva, Logic (above), Logos and Luna and other members of the Thorco fleet have called in Halifax.

The ships must be particularly well suited for transporting fibreoptic cable. In Halifax partially prefabricated racks are loaded aboard and welded in place, and the ships sail for Newington, NH to load the cable directly from the manufacturing plant. Neither the ships, nor the cable racks are ever seen again in Halifax, as they are dispatched to sites around the world.

The ship was acquired last year and renamed by the Fanbo Lines Corp of Taiwan. The company is a fast growing one that also has bulk carriers which it is converting to carry containers.

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