Tanker shuffle

Another tanker shuffle today saw three  tankers on the move.
Alice moved off #4 oil dock to anchor.

As soon as the tugs were free, they moved to the arriving Energy Pioneer, which was making its way slowly into port waiting for the berth.

Energy Pioneer  arrived off Halifax December 29 and has been anchored at various positions, going back and forth out to sea during storms and high winds. It was expected to go alongside #4 dock, but at the last minute, it went to anchor instead. The cold temperatures may have been a factor-frozen winches are often problem in this weather.

Built by STX Shipbuilding in Busan, South Korea, the ship is operated by Golden Energy Management and is a clone of Energy Protector which was also anchored off Halifax and in port from December 7 to 24 before going alongside at Imperial Oil December 24 and sailing December 28. Both ships measure 30,008 grt, 51,319 dwt and were built  in 2004 by the same builder.

When Energy Pioneer did not go alongside, the tanker North Contender, which has been in port since January 5, was called in from anchorage in Bedford Basin.

North Contender anchored in the lower harbour when it first arrived, but moved to Bedford Basin the next day-indicative of a longer stay in port.

Also arriving late this evening is Irving Oil's Acadian , but it is destined for #3 dock which now seems to be devoted to domestic work, while #4 dock is dealing with foreign ships.

Meanwhile #5 dock, the crude oil import dock remains unused.  

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Tanker Parade - never ending

Halifax has become a parade ground for tankers- the seemingly never ending parade continues today with two more tankers in port.

Arriving last night Mariannne Kirk is a product tanker of 29,955 grt/ 51,291 dwt and is another typical product of STX Offshore + Shipbuilding of Jinhae, South Korea. Built in 2009 as Blue Jade it was renamed in 2011. It is operated by Tome Ship Management of Singapore for Hafnia Tankers of Hellerup, Denmark.

1. Marianne Kirk has an impressive display of 12 manifolds for different cargoes and tanks. Each manifold location is marked by a symbol near the deck, just aft of midships.

A slightly different tanker anchored this morning after a trip down from the St.Lawrence River. North Contender is more of a chemical tanker, as can be seen from the variety of vents and other devices on deck. It has 18 different stainless steel tanks suitable for carrying a variety of chemicals, and a pump for each. Built in 2005 by Fukuoka Shipbuilding in Japan, it flies the Panamanian flag and runs under the Eitzen Chemical USA LLC brand. However it is owned by a company associated with Carisbrooke Shipping of Cowes, IOW, UK. It measures 11,662 grt/ 19,925 dwt.

2. and 3. North Contender has no manifold markings on the hull and has an array of vents and other equipment on deck. In addition to the usual "No Smoking" sign on the superstructure, it has an added "Dangerous Cargo".  What appears to be a containment boom around the ship is just a reflection.

Meanwhile the tanker Energy Pioneer seems to have forsaken Halifax. It arrived and anchored off Devil's Island December 29. It put to sea during the January 3 storm, but was returning toward Halifax last night, then put back to sea on a southeasterly course.

Today another tanker, Alice  arrived at anchorage off Chebucto Head, giving Halifax as a destination. It is another intermediate sized product tanker of 24,400 grt, 39,316 dwt, built in 2013.

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North Contender - to Basin anchorage

1. North Contender passes the new pier 9C extension project in the Narrows...

2. ... then under the MacKay bridge, headed for Bedford Basin anchorage.

The chemical tanker North Contender anchored in Bedford Basin this morning awaiting her turn at Imperial Oil.* The ship was built in 2005 by Fukuoka Shipbuilding Co in Japan, and is owned by a Japaense company based in Panama, but is operating for Eitzen Chemical (USA) LLC, one of the largest chemical tanker fleets with a fleet of fifty ships.They are frequent callers in Halifax, usually with the prefix "Sichem".
If flies the flag of Panama and is a ship of 11,662 gross tons and 19,925 deadweight tonnes.It is fitted with heated stainless steel cargo tanks, and can carry a number of different products at the same time.
More about Eitzen and its fleet: http://www.eitzen-chemical.com/
In the fleet list, under the ship's name you will find a capacity drawing, a general arrangement drawing and a "Q88" form, which gives every conceivable detail about the ship.

* the ship never did go to Imperial Oil. It sailed on Saturday February 2 for the St.Lawrence River. It shows on the Port of Trois-Rivières web site.