MSC Sao Paulo V - update #1

 The fire damaged container ship MSC Sao Paulo V made it to Halifax this morning April 2 and berthed at PSA Halifax Atlantic Gateway.

 To recap, a fire broke out in the ship's engine room on March 3 on the lower St.Lawrence River not far from the Escoumins pilot station. The ship, which was en route from Montreal to Sines, Portugal, was immobilized by the fire, but was able to drop anchor before running aground.

A large operation involving the Canadian Coast Guard, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority, tugs from Groupe Océan and private fire fighters brought in from the United States extinguished the fire before it could spread to the ship's cargo. There are reports that the fire did spread to the ship's accommodation, but that remains to be confirmed. [see previous posts for more detail]

The ship was towed to Quebec City where a damage survey was conducted, and it was then taken in tow for Halifax. The large tug Océan Taïga was the towing tug and the smaller Océan Raynald T took a stern line for steering. 

On arrival off Halifax Dominion Diving's Halmar took a team of deckhands out to the ship to handle mooring lines. Harbour pilots boarded the ship and the towing tug and local tugs Altantic Bear, Atlantic Beaver and Atlantic Oak came to assist. Océan Taïga maintained the towing line and the Atlantic Bear relieved the Océan Reynold T as stern tethered escort.

When the procession reached the Middle ground area off Point Pleasant Park, the tugs turned the ship and brought it alongside Pier 42.

There were no obvious signs of fire damage to the superstructure. It was to be noted however that the ship appeared very light, suggesting that some containers may have been removed in Quebec City. The ship may have been de-ballasted and de-watered of contaminants from the fire.

It took considerable time to secure all the mooring lines and the Quebec tugs remained alongside. Soon after the ocean-ging tug ALP Sweeper came along at the bow.

The ALP Sweeper, sent from Portugal,will be towing the ship to Europe, but did not make up a tow line at this time. The "insurance line" rigged along the ship's rail to be used in case the main tow line parted, was left in place when Océan Taïga retrieved its towing gear.

Later in the afternoon, two of the terminal's container cranes went to work removing containers,

Meanwhile the MSC Shristi is standing by off Halifax, presumably to take some or all of the MSC Sao Paulo V's cargo. A transatlantic tow of a dead ship loaded with containers would seem a risky proposition, and so a safer and faster way to get the cargo to Sines is by transloading it to another ship. This will also be a lengthy process, taking several days. So far there is no indication of just how many days that will be.

Update#1

The MSC Sao Paulo V has ordered pilots for 1530 hrs April 3 to depart Halifax in tow 

To be continued.........

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