Craig Trans - horror story coming to an end for the crew

The drama of the tug Craig Trans, which has been detained in Halifax since December, seems to be playing out to a satisfactory conclusion, at least for the crew. An outpouring of assistance from the public including money, Aeroplan points, clothes, food and even haircuts will soon make it possible for the crew return home. Latest reports indicate that Aeroplan is expediting the transfer of travel points to arrange repatriation likely by the end of the week. The crew members are from Honduras and El Salvador.
The appalling conditions aboard the tug have been publicized by media and have gone viral. The owner however does not seem to have been shamed into taking any action. He claims crew incompetence, theft and a union conspiracy. He claims he will not pay them, nor will he repatriate them because they have done no work since the boat arrived in Halifax. CBC Radio's As It Happens managed to track down the owner, Gerard Antoine, today and the interview is worth a listen if you can find it.
If the crew leaves the tug, it will fall into the custody of the Halifax Port Authority (if it has not done so already) and will be sold to satisfy berthing fees and other charges.
If the remaining crew of hardy cockroaches survives the winter, they will certainly find Halifax a welcoming home come spring. By that time lets us hope this embarrassment of the seas is gone..

Halifax on Weather Watch

1. Even Point Pleasant Park's winter duck populaiton were looking around for better accommodation today.

The port of Halifax is essentially shut down for arrivals and departures to sea this evening as high winds, with gusts of 40 knots make embarking and disembarking pilots too dangerous. Large ships in those conditions are also difficult to handle adding to the dangers of attempting to sail.
Two ships are directly impacted. The auotcarrier Don Juan is moored at Autoport and will remain there until it is deemed safe to sail, which may not be until morning.

2. OOCL California arriving in a stiff breeze this morning.

OOCL California arrived this morning at Fairview Cove and completed cargo operations early this evening. It will not be sailing until conditions improve. However it is on weather watch and may have to move to anchor in Bedford Basin if it is unable to remain alongside safely. This will mean that tugs will have to be called out, possibly to stand by the ship if lines start to part or to take the ship off the berth.
Indirectly impacted is the bunkering tanker Algoma Dartmouth which moved up to Pier 9B this evening instead of returning to its usual berth at Pier 34. With a large swell running and easterly winds, -Pier 34 would not be a safe mooring.
Two other ships effected are coastal tankers.Algonova was at anchor and went into berth at Imperial Oil this evening when Algoscotia went to anchor in the harbour. These tankers are self-piloted - the masters have pilotage certificates- and so could sail without the dangers of disembarking a pilot, however cross winds would make an outbound passage a little risky and they will remain in harbour for the time being.
Also weather related was the arrival of the tug Craig Trans - see Tugfax for more on this tug.
Fortunately for all, temperatures stubbornly remain above freezing, so there is no snow predicted  in Halifax, which will be one of the warmest places in Canada. Some inland portions of the country anticpate record snow falls.