National Gypsum - on the upswing

1. Pioneer glides into Halifax this morning, as the fog begins to burn off.

Despite my dark prediction the other day*, it appears that National Gypsum is experiencing an upswing in business. In fact the company has assured me that there are no plans to close the Milford Station Quarry. Other observers have noted that there are now daily trains from the quarry to the Burnside storage area and loading pier.
Today's arrival of Pioneer is its third arrival this month, and with Atlantic Huron's one trip that makes better than one load a week in July alone. That means that the US construction industry is improving, and there is more demand for the mineral, which is most prolific in Nova Scotia.

2. Atlantic Willow comes up alongside Pioneer to assist in turning the ship to go stern in at National Gypsum.

Although built on the Great Lakes by Port Weller Dry Dock  in 1981, as Canadian Pioneer, the ship has sailed under the Vanuatu flag since 1988 as Pioneer, and has now become the most frequent caller at National Gypsum.

* My July 12 posting has since been revised.

Barkald loads gypsum

1. Barkald loads at National Gypsum. The shore based loader (above the number 1) moves back and forth along a track on the dock, filling the ship's holds evenly.

The self-unloading bulker Barkald loaded at National Gypsum and sailed this morning. Built in 2001, the ship is operated by Klaveness Shipping of Oslo, and is registered in the Marshal Islands. It is part of the CSL/Klaveness/Oldendorff pool of self-unloaders.
The sip was built in Japan and measures 28,924 gross tons, 49,463 deadweight and unloads using its own cranes, clamshell buckets and a conveyor system on deck. The self-unloading boom is mounted on the port side just forward of the bridge. The boom is articulated, so that it can swing out and direct the flow of material without having to move the ship.

Algobay - again

Here is Algobay loaded with gypsum, leaving Bedford Basin late this afternoon. Her bulbous bow is well submerged. Originally scheduled to sail at 10:30 this morning, her departure was delayed several times, until she eventaully got underway about 5:00 pm.