Nolhanava returns to service, and a BONUS

The much traveled Nolhanava returned to service today after a hiatus of eight months. During that time the ship has been to Nantong, China for the installation of a ceramic membrane exhaust gas scrubber system and to pick up a load of brand new containers for the St-Pierre et Miquelon service. The ship sailed October 3, 2015 via the Panama Canal and Papeete, Tahiti, arriving in Nantong December 5. On completion of the work it sailed form Nantong April 24 returning via the same route and tying up at Pier 9B on June 8.

Colorfully painted and loaded with brand new containers, Nolhanava leaves pier 9B this morning to return to service.

Nolhanava (a name made up from those of the Owner's children) was built for the Halifax to St-Pierre RoRo container service in 2000 by Santierul Naval Constanta SA in Romania as Shamrock. It arrived in Halifax for the first time January 20, 2001, but ended its service early in 2004 amid financial problems. Sold at auction to Clarke Inc, it operated a shuttle between Fort Lauderdale and the Cayman Islands until it was acquired by MG Management SAS of St-Pierre in 2015.
On April 4, 2015 it arrived in Halifax again and re-entered St-Pierre service June 6, 2015.

Dinkeldiep heads for sea after completing eight months work on the St-Pierre service. (June 17)

From October 1, 2015 the St-Pierre service was maintained by the general cargo vessel Dinkeldiep. The 4220 grt, 5646 dwt vessel, built in 2011 by Rongcheng Shipbuilding in China made its final call in Halifax when it arrived Thursday June 16. After unloading it went to anchor in Bedford Basin and sailed Friday 17 for St.John's, NL.

BONUS
And now from the Mundane to the Sublime:
What more inspiring sight could there be than Bluenose II actually sailing into Halifax on a summer afternoon. Although its engine was burping to life for docking, it was under sail and like its illustrious ancestor before it, was leaving no wake.

Although the "II" has a flying jib, it no longer carries topsails or a staysail, so this is as good as it gets.

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Oceanex Connaigra and Dinkeldiep - soon to be replaced.

Oceanex Connaigra will go back to its usual St.Lawrence River regular run after Friday's visit [June 3]. The normal Halifax / St.John's Oceanex ship, Oceanex Sanderling is due back from an extended refit in Gibraltar. Its first sailing from St.John's will be June 7, with an arrival in Halifax on June 9 and departure on June 12. It will then go on a twice weekly schedule that Connaigra has been maintaining.
 

Oceanex Connaigra has been making two trips a week to St.John's for most of the time it has been running to Halifax.

Oceanex Connaigra's return to the St.Lawrence will mean that the chartered Stena Carrier will return to Europe. It has been filling in on the St.Lawrence while Connaigra had a refit, and while Connaigra has been filling in for Sanderling.

Stena Carrier trots along at 21 knots on the St.Lawrence.

Meanwhile the small cargo ship Dinkeldiep, which has been maintaining the service to St-Pierre et Miquelon for nearly a year, will soon be replaced by the regular ship on the run, Nolhanava. That ship (the former Shamrock) has been in China for the installation of an exhaust gas scrubber system. It made the long trip, via Papeete, Tahiti, both ways, and is due in Halifax June 8.

 Dinkeldiep may have one trip left on the St-Pierre run.

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Problèmes in St-Pierre et Miquelon

It seems that the St-Pierre et Miquelon weekly shuttle service is in turmoil once again. Latest incumbent on the run Nolhanava - celebrated here April 22, 2015 - has been replaced.

The Nolhanava is carrying lots of cargo on its July 25 departure for St-Pierre.

 

Nolhanava arrived here on schedule September 23. After unloading it sat idle at its berth at pier 36 until the early hours of October 3 when it sailed giving Colon, Panama as its destination.

The ship's replacement must have been planned as the small cargo ship Dinkeldiep had arrived September 18 and worked cargo at pier 28 then moved to pier C. But then it then shifted to pier 26 with mechanical problems October 3 and finally sailed  Friday October 9 for St-Pierre. That meant there was no service to St-Pierre that week.

 Two tugs were called for to move the ship from Halterm to pier 26.

The ship has a traveling hatch lifter for pontoon type hatches and two offset cranes. Not ideally suited for container work and not at all for RoRo.

Dinkeldiep returned again today and was to sail this evening on the weekly Friday schedule for St-Pierre this evening. As a non- RoRo ship it would certainly not be as convenient for the St-Pierre service. Built in 2011 by Rongcheng SBI in China. It measures 4220 grt, 5646 dwt and has two cranes. Flying the Liberian flag, it is owned by MTL Maritime Transport, Duisburg, Germany.

Dinkeldiep glides in to pier C at sunrise this morning. Wheeled cargo is lashed down on a 40 foot flat rack container.

There has been mounting pressure in Miquelon for a single ship to run weekly from Halifax to both St-Pierre and to Miquelon, As it is now all cargo is landed in St-Pierre and transshipped by Aldona to Miquelon, resulting in delays and high costs.

A report from Miquelon has described the need for a faster ship that could maintain the weekly schedule, be able to handle RoRo and LoLo cargo and carry 11 passengers.

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