It was a minor British invasion of Halifax this morning (October 5) as P+0's Aurora and Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (both actually part of Carnival PLC) tied up at adjacent berths. What with gloomy overcast conditions and early evening darkness I was only able to get underway photos of only the Aurora.
There was a stiff breeze at 1700 hrs as Aurora was getting away and the tug Atlantic Beaver was called in to assist. Once Aurora was off the dock it let go the tug and sailed north and east of George's Island outbound for Sydney.
Built in 2000 by Jos. L.Meyer, Papenburg, the 76,152 gt ship has a capacity of 1,950 passengers (all berths) and 850 crew. It is also one of the better looking cruise ships despite the stylized Union flag graphics.
Queen Mary 2, as befits the last great transatlantic liner, tied up at Pier 21-22, (with its bow extending part way across the end of Pier 23).
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Constructed by Chantiers Atlantique St-Nazaire and delivered in December 2003, the 149,215 gt ship has a capacity of 2,695 passengers and 1,253 crew and staff.
Queen Mary 2 sailed from Le Havre September 16 and arrived in New York September 23, skirting Fiona. It then sailed to Quebec City, stopping over from September 29 to October 1 and Sept-Iles, QC October 3-4. It is now due in New York October 7.
On the more mundane commercial level, it was another first time caller for the Mediterranean Shipping Company. MSC Odessa arrived on the Turkey-Greece service via Spain and Portugal.
The ship was built in 2010 by Hyundai, Samho as Rio Chicago and carried that name until 2014. It then became Schubert. Earlier this year it was renamed again. Its new name pays tribute to the Ukranain port that has been under siege during the invasion by Russia.
The 41,331 gt, 51,687 dwt ship has a capacity of 4255 TEU.
Other News
The rumours have been spreading for some time, but it was made official today that Groupe Océan has acquired the Verreault shipyard in Méchins, QC. Océan, well known for its tugs, marine construction activity and dredging, also owns the Industrie Océan shipyard in Ile-aux-Coudres, QC (currently building tugs for the RCN) and a major ship repair unit (including a floating drydock) in Quebec City. The Verreault yard consists of a huge 800 ft x 184 ft (243.84 x 56.08m) graving dock and ship repair, fabrication and construction facilities on the north coast of the Gaspé peninsula.
Verreault can accommodate the largest Great Lakes ships and regularly services Marine Atlantic ferries and Canadian Coast Guard vessels. The previously family owned yard will now be part of a large corporation with access to a huge pool of capital through Quebec government investment funds.
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