Tankers and More

 Both Irving Oil and Imperial Oil had tankers in today.

Nave Equinox arrived at Imperial's number 3 dock early yesterday morning after several days holding off in bad weather. Built in 2007 by STX Shipbuilding Co in Jinhae, it worked as Indigo Point until 2013. It is a 30,119 gt, 50,922 dwt product tanker. One notable feature of the ship is its full width enclosed bridge, which usually indicates that it will be working in cold environments, and indeed it is rated as Ice Class 1A by Bureau Veritas.

The ship's last port is showing as Port Neches, Texas (between Port Arthur and Beaumont), an area hard hit by the recent snow and freezing weather. Several refineries in the area had to shut down, affecting about 25% of US refining capacity. 

This afternoon Elka Sirius made a return visit. I recorded the ship's arrival here December 19, 2014, which may have been its first call. That time it was for Imperial Oil - this time it is coming from Rotterdam for Irving Oil.

Built at Brodosplit in Croatia in 2003, the ship carried the name Stinice until 2005 when it was renamed by European Product Carriers Ltd. A 30,770 gt, 45,467 dwt vessel , it is arriving with a part load, having already discharged some cargo in Saint John, NB.

It felt a bit like spring today, with bright sunshine, so it was not surprising that there were several boat and vessel exercises going on with Coast Guard, Navy and private vessels participating.

The Royal Canadian Naval Auxiliary Vessel YDT 610 Sechelt, which is operated by the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic, based at Shearwater, made a brief foray into Bedford Basin. Its "west coast" name is accounted for by the fact that it was built as a torpedo recovery vessel for Nanoose Bay, but was converted and transferred to Halifax.

A former Fisheries Patrol, Leeway Odyssey was exercising at the harbour mouth. Built in 1977 as Cape Harrison it also served as CCGS Louis M. Lauzier from 1983 to 2014. It is now a research vessel for hire.

Other vessels in the area included HMCS Summerside and RMI Seafox.

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Friday round up

A busy day in Halifax harbour:

At pier 28 the Marshal Island bulker Genco Thunder arrived to load grain. Built in 2007 as CMB Aurelie for Bocimar of Antwerp, Belgium, it acquired its present name when Genco of New York acquired the ship in 2008. It measures 41,115 grt, 76499 dwt, and will likely be taking a part cargo here, with top off elsewhere. The ship sailed for Ghent, Belgium Sunday December 21.

An usual, stern in berthing at pier 28, and a little list to starboard.

Autoport continues to see a stream of car carriers. Today's arrival, Asteria Leader is a member of the NYK fleet. Built in 2010 by Shin Kurushima shipyard in Toyohashi, Japan, it measures 62,084 grt.

A lobster boat tends is traps off Point Pleasant Park as Asteria Leader takes it tugs.

National Gypsum was the destination for Atlantic Huron . The veteran laker dates from 1984 and has been rebuilt twice. The first time in 1989 when it was converted to a self-unloader and renamed from Prairie Harvest to Atlantic Huron. In 1990-1992 it was reflagged to the Bahamas and from 1994 to 1997 it carried the name Melvin H. Baker II and was again reflagged to the Bahamas for a charter to National Gypsum. In 2002 it was widened in the mid-body to take advantage of new St.Lawrence Seaway regulations. It has been a frequent caller in Halifax over the years, often with grain in its earlier years, but recently only for gypsum. As the Seaway shipping season nears an end, this may be the last Great Lakes caller we see this year.

Atlantic Huron lines up for the A. Murray MacKay bridge as it exits the Narrows. It shows the tremendous wear and tear Lakes ships acquire in the course of a season, and years of locking through the Seaway. 

With Atlantic Larch alongside, the ship makes for National Gypsum.

 
Meanwhile in the other corner of Bedford Basin the tanker Crown II shows off its new name, acquired only this week. The former Greek tanker High Nefeli was renamed Thursday. It has also been reflagged to Malta.

The crew has painted out the funnel in white before applying the new owner's insignia.

The Liberian product tanker Elka Sirius did not have to go to anchor, but docked at Imperial Oil dock 4 on arrival. It was built in 2003 as Stinice by the Split Shipyard in Croatia and of handysize tonnage 30,770 grt, 45,467 deadweight. European Product Carriers Ltd of Athens acquired the ship in 2005 and gave it its current name.

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