Odd Day

 It is an odd day when there are no commercial arrivals in the Port of Halifax. Today, July 16, was one such day. The only arrival was the patrol vessel CCGS Constable Carrière.

Normally based in Quebec, the vessel was showing no AIS signal when it arrived this afternoon, so I don't know where it was coming from. The boat is used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and its movements are not publicized. It docked at the Tall Ships Quay - not at BIO.

There were no commercial arrivals but there was a commercial departure and a commercial move. The departure was the Atlantic Star which arrived last night and sailed this afternoon for Liverpool, UK.

 

The ship threaded its way through numerous pleasure craft, and there were lots of spectators on the waterfront as the tourist season is at its peak.

The autocarrier Treasurecompleted offloading its non-car cargo at Pier 9C. (See yesterday's post for comparison of the number of units on the dock.)

Along with crated machinery, truck cranes, forestry and road construction equipment was the usual fleet of bright yellow JCBs of various sizes and types. 

Late in the afternoon the Treasure shifted (also through pleasure craft traffic) to Autoport to offload automobiles.

The pleasure craft included sail and motor boats, and there were harbour ferries, tour boats (watch for a future post on that topic) and Harbour Hopper 3.

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Constable Carrière - prep for launch tomorrow

Halifax Shipyards moved the Constable Carrière onto the turntable this morning and lined it up for tomorrow's 1600 scheduled launch.
Once safely launched it will be moved to pier 9B for final fit out.

CCGS G.Peddle gets a paint job-and mystery pocket.

The CCG patrol boat G.Peddle emerged from the module shop at Halifax Shipyard on Friday and by 1300hrs  today had been rolled back in again, newly painted.

CCGS Constable Carrière, which is also under construction, was tarped over to prevent overpsray in the brisk winds.

A primer coat was quickly followed by an undercoat which looked very navy like.It was left overnight.

This morning a painter finishes off the white superstructure and the module shop door has been opened to take the ship back inside.
I have been told that this work is done on the weekends because the painters are independent contractors and not members of the shipyard unions. To avoid conflict, and to ensure that the contractor has control of the work area (for guarantee reasons) there are few if any other shipyard workers on site.

 Mysterious quarter pocket, with water tight door, is covered with a liftable plate when the ship is completed,