Queen Sapphire - catches a glint of sun

1. After a dreary, foggy and drizzly day, the autocarrier Queen Sapphire caught a brief glimpse of the sun just as it was setting.

The ship was moving from Autoport to Pier 31 with the tugs Atlantic Oak and Atlantic Larch and emerged from Eastern Passage in blazing low sun. However by the time it reached the main harbour the sun was fading and was gone before it berthed. After unloading some machinery cargo at pier 31 it will sail later tonight.
Although wearing the colours of the Wilhelmsen Line, the ship is owned in Singapore by Melodia Martitime Pvte Ltd, and managed by MMS Co Ltd of Tokyo. It is on long term charter to Wallenius-Wilhelmsen but does not carry the usual Wilhelmsen name, beginning with the letter "T". Built in 2009 it measures 60,123 gross tons and can carry 6,340 cars. Even so it is among the smallest ships in the W-W fleet. The largest ship in the current fleet is rated for 8,000.

2. The pilot boat APA No.20 returns with the pilot from Norwegian Dawn as Crystal Symphony gets under way from Pier 20.

3. Once into the main harbour the sun has gone. revealing an incomplete repainting job.



New boats coming for APA

1. A.P.A No.1 and A.P.A No.20 rest at the dock between assignments. No.1 one is the primary boat, and No.20 is the back-up. [2011-05-03]

2. A.P.A. No.18 arrived Saturday evening for maintenance. Apparently some of that involves radio antennas. [2011-05-03]

3. A.P.A. No.20 shown leaving the dock 2011-02-08. Built of aluminum, these were fairly revolutionary boats when built, but borrowed their looks from US Gulf Coast crew boats.

Early in February the Atlantic Pilotage Authority signed a contract with ABCO Industries of Lunenburg to build two new pilot boats - one each for Halifax and Saint John. The new 17 meter aluminum boats capable of 18 knots are sisters, designed by Lengkeek Vessel Engineering of Dartmouth.

The current Halifax fleet, which normally consists of two boats is certainly in need of replacement. It is unfortunate that APA cannot justify two new boats at this time, but the cost of the boats must be recovered from pilotage fees (and new boat surcharges) imposed on harbour customers. Saint John already has one newer boat, and so perhaps in time Halifax will get another new one.

The current trend world wide for pilot boats is to go big and go for speed. It is interesting that these new boats will be almost 2 meters shorter and 1 knot slower than the current ones.

The current boats have certainly served well as noted previously. A.P.A No. 18 and A.P.A. No. 20 were built in 1974 and A.P.A No.1 in 1976, all by Breton Marine of Point Tupper. Based on a US crew boat design, there were also several sisters built on the west coast for the Pacific Pilotage Authority. They have also come up for replacement.

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