Spirit to Spirit transfer completed

The transfer of cargo from the damaged Australian Spirit to the sister ship Americas Spirit apparently went off without a hitch and was completed about noon time today.

Tugs come alongside to move the now loaded Americas Spirit away from Australian Spirit.

Once clear, the tug Atlantic Larch takes away the fenders.

Now underway, Americas Spirit has all three harbour tugs in attendance. Atlantic Fir as stern tethered escort. It will stay with the ship all the way out of the harbour. Atlantic Willow on the starboard bow and Atlantic Larch on the port bow, will escort the ship clear of the Narrows.

Meanwhile Australian Spirt remains at anchor awaiting the return of the tugs, still has fenders alongside and the transfer hoses. Indeed the ship still has a rudder post, but no actual rudder is visible.

Compare the view of Americas Spirit's rudder at anchor (below), and Australian Spirit's rudder is clearly missing!

Answer to yesterday's quiz "Can you spot the difference"

Americas Spirit has two satellite domes on the wheelhouse, while Australian Spirit has only one.

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Spirit to Spirit transfer underway

Cargo transfer from Australian Spirit to Americas Spirit got underway this morning when tugs moved Americas Spirit to a position alongside its sister ship. By tomorrow the relative drafts of the two ships should be just about the opposite of what they were at noon time today.

It is unusual to see crude oil transfers, but even more unusual to see the transfer between two nearly  identical ships. Can you see the differences?

Halifax has been the scene of many transfers before, which I will describe in a later post.

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Big tanker in waiting [corrected]

Teekay Shipping's Americas Spirit has been patiently waiting at anchor off Halifax since yesterday. The ship is due to take off the cargo of sister tanker Australian Spirit to allow for rudder repairs.

 Americas Spirit at anchor of Portuguese Cove. My what a big rudder you have!

The two ships are virtually identical: both are 63,213 grt. Australian Spirit was built in 2004 and measures 111,905 dwt. Americans Spirit came from the same yard, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea, but in 2003 and measures 111,920 dwt.
Several arrival times have been posted, but all have been put back so far. It is inbound this evening may come in this evening. If so it will go alongside its sister in Bedford Basin and begin to lighter off. to anchor in the Basin and rig transfer gear. It will then go alongside its sister to begin lightering operations in the morning.

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