Firing on all cylinders - revised

 See revision in bold italics regarding the tug/barge Leo A. McArthur / John J. Carrick

It was an exceptionally busy day in the Port of Halifax today, Saturday, October 15. There seemed to be ships at almost every berth with more arrivals in the offing for tomorrow. It was a gloomy, breezy and misty day, but the forecast rain held off.

At the South End terminal, PSA's Atlantic Hub, it was Vistula Maersk arriving on the weekly Maersk / CMA CGM service from Montreal, bound for Europe.

The scheduled arrival of CMA CGM Lapérouse was scrubbed and the 13,800 TEU ship is now due tomorrow.

PSA's Fairview Cove terminal had the AS Carlotta arriving in the early afternoon. This is the second ship to call on a dedicated charter for the Costco "big box store" brand. (The first was the Carpathia on August 23.)

Frustrated with port delays and unreliable delivery dates Costco announced in July that they had chartered three ships (the third is to be the Queen Esther) and leased several hundred containers from Triton. The ships would be running from China to the North American east coast. [They may be regretting that decision now, since they chartered the ships for three years at the top of the market - which is now in the process of collapsing, as are freight rates, due to a slump in demand for imports.]

The AS Carlotta appeared to have room for  more containers (perhaps returning empties) after working its way up the coast from the Panama Canal with stops in Savannah and Baltimore.

Built in 2006 by Aker, Wismar, as Cape Martin, the 28,372 gt, 37,882 dwt ship was renamed Fesco Bayal in 2006 and Cap Blanche later in 2006. taking its present name in 2018. It has a capacity of 2742 TEU including 400 reefers, and carries three 45 tonne SWL cranes.

In the ocean terminals, the Onego Duero, as predicted, returned to Pier 27 on October 13, to continue off loading rails, and at Pier 28 the Iberian Bulker held off loading wood pellets, due to predicted rainy weather. (But not before covering the southend of the city with a fine coat of sawdust last night.)

There were three cruise ships occupying berths 20-21, 21-22 and 23. At Pier 23 it was the Silver Whisper, which backed in with the assistance of the tug Atlantic Willow.

It was met by a flottilla of trucks carrying stores, including perishables, and fuel. I have seldom seen such a large support contingent for such a small ship (380 passengers and 302 crew). Built in 2001 by Mariotti, Genoa, the 28,258 gt ship is reputed to have the largest space per passenger ratio of any cruise ship.

At Pier 22 it was the familiar Caribbean Princess and at Pier 20-21 the Nieuw Statendam. On departure, the latter ship gave a prolonged whistle salute to the Port and city. This traditional farewell to mark a ship's last visit of the cruise season is a form of thank you for the hospitality shown to the ship (and crew) and such lines as Holland America are very careful to observe the custom.

Built in 2018 and sponsored by no less than Oprah Winfrey, the 99,902 gt ship can carry 2,666 passengers and 1,053 crew. Its first call in Halifax was on August 1 of this year and today marked its seventh and last call of this season. (The cruise season will run later than usual this year, with the last ship, the Insignia, due November 5.)

Because of the stiff breeze the ship had the tug Atlantic Oak in attendance to assist it off the berth (not sure if it was actually used) and to stand by as it made its turn north and east of George's Island outbound for sea.

Despite the blustery conditions (it was not cold) there were many passengers on the open upper decks for the outbound passage, heading for Saint John, NB.

The Dartmouth side of the harbour was also busy with tug / barge Leo A. McArthur / John J.Carrick discharging asphalt at the McAsphalt Cherubini dock for General Liquids Canada and the Morning Lena delivering cars to Autoport. Both will be in port over night and are planning to sail tomorrow.

Imperial Oil has the Algoterra alongside at number 3 dock, with another load from Nanticoke. (Algonova sailed mid-day yesterday after also delivering petroleum cargo from Nanticoke.)

Irving Oil completed working the Acadian late in the morning and it cast off for St.John's, NL.

While outbound the Acadian met the incoming Elka Delos with more product for Irving Oil, this time from Amsterdam.

Dating from 2005 the ship was built by Brodosplit in Croatia and is a 27,612 gt, 44,598 dwt MidRange type, operated by European Product Carriers  Ltd.

.

Pax and Box

 The two main "commodities" in the port of Halifax in the autumn of the year are passengers (Pax) and containers (Boxes).  The cruise lines try to avoid the hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean by sailing north to New England and eastern Canada. September and October are usually the busiest months, but the lines seem to be getting off to an early start this year, after two years of shut down.

Container lines usually see an increase in traffic in the early autumn too as retailers stock up for the Christmas buying spree.

Today, August 30, was another "two cruise ship day" with the now familiar Nieuw Statendam arriving from Boston, Portland, ME and Saint John, NB.

The 99,902 gt ship, built in 2017 by Fincantieri, Marghera, can carry 2,666 PAX and 1,053 crew. The Pinnnacle class ship has 1,339 passenger cabins and 589 crew cabins, so sharing is required for a "maximum persons onboard" total of 4,173 souls.

The Nieuw Statendam picked up its pilot at about 0900 hrs, giving the first passenger ship arrival, at 0630 hrs, the Norwegian Pearl, time to tie up, get clearance for passengers to disembark, and to clear the parking areas of a lot of the first armada of buses and taxis. 

Departure times were similarly synchronised with Norwegian Pearl sailing at 1630 for Portland, Maine and Nieuw Statendam sailing at 1930 for Corner Brook, NL.

 The Norwegian Pearl 's cruise also originated in Boston. It then proceeded via Charlottetown, PE and Sydney, NS to Halifax. The 93,530 gt ship was built by Meyer Werft, Papenburg in 2006 and carries 2,394 passengers and 1,099 crew.

As far as the box commodity is concerened much of the activity was concentrated at the southend terminal, PSA Halifax's Atlantic Gateway.

ZIM Monaco embarked its pilot at 0600 hrs and tied up at Pier 42 shortly after 0700. The ship is on ZIM's ZCA (Atlantic) run from the Mediterranean.

It is a 40,030 gt, 50,775 dwt ship built in 2009 by Samsung, Koje, with a capacity of 4,253 TEU.

Pier 41 (the northern portion of Pier C, and with the largest cranes) was left vacant for this afternoon's arrival MOL Charisma a 86,692 gt, 90,390 dwt ship with a capacity of 9060 TEU including 630 reefer plugs. 

Working for THE Alliance's EC5 service, and eastbound, the ship would normally have docked at Fairview Cove. However with the two terminals now under common PSA management, the operators have the option of  berthing ships at the most convenient location. It is possible that the ship's air draft exceeded the harbour bridge clearance requirements, since it did appear lightly loaded (by draft).

It was widely speculated that when PSA took over the operation of Fairview Cove that it would shuffle  the lines with the larger ships to the Southend and those with smaller ships to Fairview Cove. Aside from the occassional "one-of" shifts such as this one, no permanent moves have been detected yet.

MOL Charisma was launched by Mitsubishi, Nagasaki in 2007. It was delivered as APL France and operated with that name until 2010 when it reverted to its orginal name.

Footnote

The Eimskip charter Vantage did indeed sail late this morning after working containers at Pier 42. The ship arrived from Reykjavik on Friday, August 26, ostensibly on the Green Line route to Portland, ME. However the ship moved to Pier 36 where it was idle until this morning. Meanwhile Eimskip's regularly scheduled Green Line ship Skogafoss arrived yesterday, and seems to have picked up some of  Vantage's cargo before sailing to Portland. [See previous posts]

(File photo from Jume 11, 2022)

Eimskip's schedule shows the ship on Green Line service, arriving in Thorshavn, Faroes Islands on September 7, then shifting to the Purple Line service running between the Faroes and Scrabster, in the north of Scotland.

.

Ships in Pairs

 There were two Holland America Line cruise ships in port today, August 25, and both sailed in the late afternoon.

First to go was Zaandam one of  the most frequent callers in the cruise season.

It was built by Fincantieri Marghera in 2000 and measures 61,396 gt with a capacity of 1,432 passengers with 615 crew.

The second HAL ship was the newer and larger Nieuw Statendam which which was built by the same shipyard, but in 2018.

It is a 99,902 gt ship with a capacity of 2,666 passengers and 1,053 crew.

There was also activity at PSA Fairview Cove, with a departure and an arrival. The ONE Houston arrived in misty conditions yesterday afternnon and should have sailed this afternoon for New York on THE Alliance's EC5 service (Asia to North America via Suez Canal). Its berth was to be taken by NYK Nebula on THE Alliance's AL5 North Europe to North America). However as it turned out ONE Houston did not depart for New York until late evening and NYK Nebula had to wait in Bedford Basin. I hope this pattern (see also yesterday's post) is not going to be typical. Halifax has had a reputation for efficient and quick cargo operations.

NYK Nebula arrived on time from Caucedo, Dominican Republic on the east bound leg toAsia via the Suez Canal. The 55,534 gt, 65,600 dwt ship dates from 2007 when it was built by Hyundai, Ulsan.It has a capacity of 4922 TEU.

ONE Houston (the former Houston Bay to 2019) was still alongside several hours past its orginal sailing time. Built in 2012 by IHI, Kure, the 96,801 gt, 96980 dwt ship has a capacity of 8930 TEU.It is westbound from Asia via Suez, for New York.

NYK Nebula went to anchor and its tugs moved over to stand by for the ONE Houston when needed.

Also at Fairview Cove was the Nolhan Ava on its weekly container and RoRo run between Halifax, Argentia, NL and St-Pierre et Miquelon for TMSI. It occupied the west berth which has a RoRo ramp.

The Canadian flagged Nolhan Ava is scheduled to depart on Friday evening (August 26).

.

Two Cruise Day

 Seeing two cruise ships in port is not unusual during the height of the cruise season in September and October, but it is rare in the mid-summer. Therefore today's two ships was notable.

The familiar Caribbean Princess arrived on its usual itinerary from New York (July 27) and Saint John, NB (July 31) as it begins its seasonal shift from the Caribbean and its Port Everglades base.

 

 

The big ship, at 112,894 gt, was built in 2004 by Fincantieri, Monfalcone and has become well known for its unsual lounge perched out over the stern. (It has thus acquired the nickname "the Shopping Cart"). The Carnival brand Princess Cruise Lines (operating in the Holland America Group) claims a passenger capacity of 3142 lower berths (3600 total berths) and 1200 crew on nineteen decks.

The other ship is not familiar, and in fact is a first time caller. Nieuw Statendam was built in 2018, by Fincantieri Breda in Marghera. The 99,902 gt ship has a capacity of 2,666 passengers (in lower berths) with a crew of 1053. If all berths are occupied it has a maximum nunber of persons on board of 4,173.

The ship is on a lengthy repositioning trip that orginated in Copenhagen July 16. It called in Alesund, Norway July 18, then to Iceland with stops in Akureyri July 20, Isafjordur July 21, Reykjavik July 22, Grundarfjordur Jul 24 then to Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, Greenland July 27 and 28 and St.John's Newfoundland July 30. The cruise will end August 3 in Boston.

.