Long tow sets off

 The container ship MSC Sao Paulo V set out from Halifax today under tow of the tug ALP Sweeper. Indications are that the ship is headed for Naples, which may mean that it could be repaired and returned to service - unlikely as that seems. The ship was built in 1998 and after the engine room fire that started March 3, many were of the opinion that the ship would not be repaired, but send for scrap. However with the current demand for ships, in part due to the Red Sea war zone diversions, very few ships are going for scrap these days but are kept running beyond normal retirement dates.

After the fire was extinguished after several days, the ship was towed to Quebec City for survey, then departed in tow as a dead ship on March 27, arriving Halifax April 2. Its cargo of containers has been offloaded at PSA Halifax Atlantic Gateway. The boxes are now being transshipped to the MSC Shristi (in port at Pier 41) and MSC Cornelia (standing by offshore) and will be sent on to the orginal destinations of Sines, Portugal and Mediterranean ports.

With no power on deck it took several hours to let go and recover the mooring lines and gangways and to get underway from Pier 42. The ALP Sweeper was made up with heavy towing gear, ready to pull away.

Unfortunately the clear conditions earlier in the morning had vanished by noon with drizzle setting in making the ship nearly invisible from shore by the time it reached open water.

 

Views from Purcell's Cove (upper photo) and Ferguson's Cove (lower photo) were less than ideal.

The tugs Atlantic Bear and Atlantic Beaver with Atlantic Oak tethered astern, assisted the tow while Dominion Diving's launch Halmar disembarked a local crew of deckhands when their work was done.

The two Quebec tugs Océan Taïga and Océan Raynald T. stood by until the ship was clear of the dock, then went to Pier 9B to replenish some stores. They had been holding the ship alongside the whole time it was in Halifax. (They received assistance from the Atlantic Elm during the height of the bad weather during the past week.)

 It may appear that Ocean Taïga's superstructure is a light brown colour. I believe however that it is streaked with iron ore dust accumulated while working at Baffinland Iron's Milne Inlet port. The iron oxidizes rapidly and sticks to everything. Groupe Océan tugs have white superstructures like its fleet mate in the foreground.

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