Masterpiece of timing

Halifax pilots performed a masterpiece of tining today -as they often do - when three container ships departed and one arrived within an short span of time.

First out was NYK Diana from Fairview Cove. Its pilot timed the outbound route to meet the incoming CMA CGM Cendrillon after the inbound had picked up its pilot.

Next off was Aeneas (sailing for Zim) which took the western channel to give CMA CGM Cendrillon lots of room.

Then the Zim Tarragona sailed, also taking the western channel as CMA CGM Cendrillon kept well to the east in the main channel, and would then tie up at the same berth - pier 41 at Halterm.

All this was also done with two tugs working from one ship to the other in turn from Aeneas to Zim Tarronga to CMA Cendrillon without any apparent delays.

18:44 hrs: On the right, NYK Diana is outbound. At centre, Aeneas in the western channel outbound and at left, CMA CGM Cendrillon inbound in the main channel.

1847 hrs: Aneas (left) has made the 90 degree course change off Ferguson's Cove heading back toward the main channel as NYK Diana (right) bears toward the pilot station.

 1850 hrs: Zim Tarragona has worked its way off pier 41 and its tugs have moved on to the inbound CMA CGM Cendrillon.

1859 hrs: CMA CGM Cendrillon  makes its way, with tugs alongside, toward pier 41.

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Another busy weekend

Stormy weather at the end of last week, and some mechanical "issues" meant some ships spent longer in port or arrived later than expected. Other ships opted to remain in port rather than sailing into bad weather. All this lead to busy times at the container terminals and in the Bedford Basin anchorages. 

NYK Diana arrived on Thursday.

On Friday it moved out to anchor in Bedford Basin, joining Bahri Jazan which had moved out earlier to layover during the incoming weather.
It was too windy to board pilots for much of the day Friday and several ship werr delayed in arriving. These including NYK Constellation, Dinkeldiep and BBC London.

On Saturday, things had returned to normal and the North Atlantic veteran Atlantic Conveyor arrived on what may be its last trip.

It is debraggled looking as little effort is made to maintain the ship which is expected to head to the scrap yard very soon.

As it arrived the Atlantic Star moved out to anchor, having been in port since Wednesday with "mechanical issues". Atlantic Conveyor then moved alongside Fairveiw Cove.

BBC London was busy at Pier 9C, unloading more riser pipe for Shell's exploration drill ship Stena Icemax. BBC London  was built in 2011 by Dongfang Shipbuilding Group in Yueqing, China as Rhoon. It was renamed in 2014. It measures 7138 grt, 7892 dwt and carrieds a pair of 80 tonne cranes that in combination can lift up to 160 tonnes. 

 Unlike the first shipment, this pipe came with the flotation collars already applied.

As Saturday wore on Bahri Jazan sailed, passing the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell tied up at pier 9A. The ship spent early Friday morning wandering around Bedford Basin dragging anchor. A pilot was called in and the ship re-established its position. See Halifax Shipping News for a plot of its track.
While Bedfrod Bassin is well sheltered from the sea, it does not provide great "holding ground" for anchored ships. High sided vessels can often find themselves drifting in windy conditions.

After disembarking some technicians by service launch, Atlantic Star sailed at low tide. 

As it made its way through the Narrows, the stern tethered escort tug Atlantic Oak earned its keep by pulling the ship's stern around as it cleared the dogleg at pier 9.

CCGS Hudson went out to Bedford Basin for trials, then cleared for sea.

At the McAsphalt dock in Eastern Passage the tanker Esta Desgagnés made one of its infrequent visits. Normally dedicated to Ultramar service on the St.Lawrence it does make the odd trip to these parts. After bunkering at anchor from Algoma Dartmouth in the afternoon, it returned to the dock then sailed Sunday morning.

A heavy snow fall early Sunday followed freezing rain Saturday night, but it was melting quickly by early afternoon

Nanny is becoming a regular at pier 9 with cargo from Come-by-Chance for Wilson's Fuel. It arrived Sunday morning and connected to the underground pipeline.

BBC London completed unloading its cargo of risers,seen neatly arrayed on pier 9C, and prepared to sail in the evening.

Another North Atlantic veteran Atlantic Compass made a westbound port call today to, making it a three ACL weekend.

Chebucto Pilot sets out as Atlantic Compass sails. It is also carrying the pilot for the next inbound ship.

That ship was the post-Panamax (for now but not for long as the new canal is about to open) OOCL Kaohsiung for Fairview Cove.

A stiff breeze blowing across the Basin gave Atlantic Fir and Atlantic Oak a bit of a workout.

The last daytime arrival was Maersk Palermo in from Montreal. It would normally be here on a Saturday, but was likely slowed by the bad weather Friday and Saturday night.

NYK Diana rates a double escort

When NYK Diana arrived this afternoon the fog outside the harbour was so thick that the ship had to be lead in part of the way by the pilot boat before the pilot could board. That is not unheard of, but is fairly rare. Once inside the harbour the fog had cleared and the sun was blazing brightly. Then came the next unsual thing.

 
Large ships transiting the Narrows are now required to have a stern tethered escort tug. (Or more than one depending on wind, but there was negligible wind today). That job is assigned to the Atlantic Oak, a 5,000 bhp ASD (azimuthing stern drive) tug. However when NYK Diana arrived, Atlantic Oak was occupied berthing the previous arrival, Oakland Express. The other two tugs, Atlantic Larch and Atlantic Willow while they are also ASD tugs, they rate 4,000 bhp. Each tug put a line up astern of NYK Diana and assisted the tug through the Narrows. This is the first time I have ever seen this, but it may have happened before.

Oddly, after Atlantic Oak completed its work with Oakland Express, and it had headed back to base, it was through the Narrows and almost at the Macdonald bridge, when it turned around and came back to Fairview Cove to assist the berthing. It wasn't possible to see why this was needed.

NYK Diana was built in 2008 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan and carries 4922 TEU on 55,534 grt, 65,976 dwt. It operates under the Panama flag for NYK Ship Management of Singapore, and calls in Halifax for the G6 Alliance.

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Panamax for Fairveiw

Although it was a civic holiday in Halifax today, Fairview Cove worked two ships, the familiar Seoul Express, and another first timer NYK Diana in bound from the orient via west and east coast ports.

Built in 2008 by Hyundai, Ulsan, the 55,534 grt ship has a container capacity of 4922 TEU
The trickle down of Panamax sized ships continues with owners diverting these less efficient ships to make room for post-Panamax giants on the long hauls.

 The ship sails late this evening for Southampton.

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