Exodus from Bedford Basin - Part 1

 It was a day of departures from Bedford Basin as several ships put out sea despite storm warnings. After several weeks of up to three ships at anchor in the Basin at any one time, the anchorages cleared of merchant ships (with one naval vessel remaining - see Part 2). Not surprisingly for the time of year, all the ships headed south.

CSL Tacoma arrived January 8 and anchored in Bedford Basin until fleet mate and sister ship Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin completed loading yesterday, January 9, and sailed for Baltimore. It is not often that the two ships are in port at the same time, and due to positioning it was diffficult to get any kind of photo with the two ships in the same frame.

CSL Tacoma back, left and Rt.Hon Paul E. Martin front, right, December 9.

CSL Tacoma then moved in to Gold Bond Gypsum, loaded overnight and sailed today, January 10 for for Burlington, NJ. Both ships are Trillium class self-unloaders, are for all intents and purposes identical, and were built by Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China. Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin was completed in September 2012 and is a 43,691 gt, 71,406 dwt vessel. CSL Tacoma came out in October 2013 with the same gross tonnage, but 71,552 dwt. Unloading rates range from 4,200 tonnes per hour (tph) for coal, 4,500 tph for gypsum and 5,000 tph for aggregates.

CSL Tacoma outbound this morning.

Next away was the UBC Tarragona, a ship that has been in port since December 22. After unloading containers at PSA Fairview Cove it moved out to anchor December 23. As noted here December 24 , the ship is a general cargo vessel, with no provision for carrying containers in celluar guides as dedicated container ships do. 

UBC Tarragona outbound with the Nord Logos at anchor in the background.

(Number one crane is stowed in such as way that its boom is not visible from this angle)

The last merchant ship anchored in the Basin is the Nord Logos and it is due to sail this evening. It has been in port since December 29 when it arrived from Portsmouth, NH. 

 Nord Logos usually carries fibreportic cable, as does its sister ship Nord Ling which is  being fitted for cable racks at Pier 9C. The racks are fabricated in sections and assembled in the ship's holds.

The cable racks (or tanks in cable parlance) are used to stow the cable in a circular pattern for ease of loading and deployment.

 There was more activity in Bedford Basin, but that is for Part 2 - to follow.

CSL times two

 Ships of Canada Steamship Lines carry gypsum out of Halifax on a regular basis - both domestic, Canadian flag ships and the foreign flag ships of CSL's international fleet. It is therefore not unusual to see one ship loading at the Gold Bond Gypsum dock in the Bedford Basin and another waiting at anchor. (CSL Americas operates the CSL International pool of of self-unloader ships with Algoma Shipping Inc.)

Most ships are in and out relatively quickly, loading in eight to twelve hours, but occasionally a ship takes longer. That is certainly the case today, May 12.

The CSL Americas ship Sheila Ann arrived in the late evening of Friday, May 12 and berthed at Gold Bond on arrival. The 41,428 gt, 70.037 dwt ship dates from 1999 when it was built by Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. 

April 21, 2024 photo

The ship is named for Sheila Martin (née) Cowan, wife of the former Prime Minister of Canada, Rt. Hon. Paul Edgar Martin, PC CC KC, and former owner of the CSL Group. Mr and Mrs Martin's three sons now own and operate the company.

The ship is one of three sister ships in the CSL Americas pool, CSL Spirit and Algoma Victory (the former Sophie Oldendorff). A Panamax vessel of 41,428 gt, 70,037 dwt, it has an unloading rate of 4,200 tones per hour (tph) to 6,000 tph depending on the cargo, with gypsum rated at 4,200 tph. Loading is another matter however as the midships mounted unloader housing makes for slow work as the travelling loader on the dock cannot make continuous passes the length of the ship, but must be raised and lowered to work around the housing. That may be the reason for the lengthy stay in port this time.

This afternoon (May 12) it was possible to see the Sheila Ann at the Gold Bond Dock and fleet mate Rt. Hon.Paul E. Martin anchored waiting its turn. The "husband and wife team" may not be seen at the same time very often.

The Rt. Hon.Paul E. Martin was built in 2012 by Chengxi Shipyard in Jianyin and is a similar size: 43,691 gt, 71,405 dwt, but is one of the Trillium ocean class with the more common aft mounted conveyor arrangement and with the same unloading rates as its fleet mate. It actually arrived earlier on May 10, but anchored, despite being a quicker loader.

While at anchored yesterday. May 10, the ship conducted lifeboat trials.

 The "free fall" type lifeboat was in the water when I saw it, so I don't know if they made an actual  free fall launch or not. These rapid evacuation type enclosed boats are common these days, but take careful maintenance and rigorous crew training in order to work safely in an emergency.

At time of writing this post the Sheila Ann is due to sail at midnight (2400 hrs ADT May 12) with the Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin moving to the Gold Bond dock as soon the berth is clear.

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Gypsum and a New Name

 Gypsum

Gypsum has been leaving Halifax at a great rate over the last few days - possibly to build stockpiles over Christmas. Whatever the reason, there have been three ship loads since Monday (December 19).

Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin took less than a full load on Monday, as it sailed for US BUH. This is its second trip to Halifax this month. On the previous call, December 4-5, it loaded for Savannah, GA and Wilmington, NC. The 43,691 gt 71,406 dwt ship was built in 2012 by Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China. It is one of five Trillium class ocean going self-unloaders working in the CSL Americas pool.

As it nears it tenth year in service, it completed its second five-year class renewal survey in October before moving back from European waters to North America. That survey would have included drydocking, which was an opportunity for new hull paint. Draft marks and bulkhead locations still looked fresh as the ship cleared the MacKay bridge for sea.

Mid-day Tuesday December 20 the Canadian flag self-unloading bulker Baie St. Paul arrived from Quebec City and docked at Gold Bond gypsum. It is one of four Trillium class Seawaymax self-unloaders built for CSL's domestic fleet. Dating from 2012 the 24,430 gt, was also built by Chengxi, Jiangyin. Originally intended for restricted Seaway and Gulf use (29,650 dwt at Seaway 26'-6" draft) it was strengthened for short sea work and can load to 35,564 dwt (mid-summer, 30'-3" fresh water draft).However dwt tonnnage is generally recorded at 34,490 tonnes.

This morning (Wednesday, December 21) it completed loading and sailed once again for Côte-Ste-Catherine, QC. (Its last visit December 2-5 was to the same destination.)

Meanwhile its sister ship Thunder Bay (same dimensions and specs, but built in 2013) had arrived later December 20 and anchored in the lower harbour. This morning Thunder Bay got underway and cleared the Narrows first (with the tug Atlantic Bear alongside.)

The ships then arranged a port-to-port meet in Bedford Basin as the loaded Baie St. Paul made for the Narrows.

Getting both ships in the same photo is a rare opportunity - not to be missed.
 

 Unlike the newly painted Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin the Canadian ships are scuffed up from constantly working through the Seaway locks. There is no chance (and no point) in trying to keep paint on the hull as it could be worn off before drying.

New Name

I am batting somewhat less than .500 on predictions recently - but stats can be misleading! I was correct in reporting in my last post that the tanker Alkaios would be renamed Madelyn Grace.  I was incorrect (partly) that weather would prevent painting. This morning I noted the new name has been painted on the bow (somewhat less than expertly - but I'm no expert).

 My prediction that the handover to new owners would take up to a week was way off. The ship sailed late this afternoon for Rotterdam. (I was correct in assuming that the large "Capital" banners and other logos and funnel marks would have to remain to another time and another place before repainting.)

Although the ship was still carrying the name Alkaios when it arrived in Halifax September 18, it was officially renamed before tying up at Pier 25, December 19, and perhaps even before arriving here.

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CSL Convention

 It looked like a convention of CSL ships in Halifax today (December 4) with three ships in port at the same time. 

At anchor in the lower harbour it was Baie St.Paul a member of the Canada Steamship Lines domestic fleet. Flying the Canadian flag, it normally trades between Canadian ports. Built to the long slender dimensions of the St.Lawrence Seaway locks, it rarely ventures far out to sea, and only in relatively good conditions.

 With Chebucto Head, the entrance to Halifax Harbour, in the background the ship awaits better conditions before leaving port.

The Trillium class self-unloader arrived on Friday, December 2 and loaded at Gold Bond Gypsum. It then moved to anchor December 3 to wait out the high winds overnight last night. It is expected to sail this evening for Côte-Ste-Catherine, QC, located on the South Shore Canal of the St.Lawrence Seaway. 

When the ship last loaded here on November 19-20, it also sailed for Côte-Ste-Catherine, where it unloaded part of its gypsum cargo November 26, then called in Trois-Rivières, QC November 27 before returning to Halifax.

Two members of the CSL Americas fleet arrived today, also to load gypsum. The Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin arrived first and went directly to to the Gold Bond dock in lower Burnside, Bedford Basin.

The Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin loads gypsum from Gold Bond's large stockpile.

The ship is expected to sail over night, for a US east coast port.

Arriving an hour later the CSL  Taranatau took up an anchorage position nearby.

It is scheduled to move alongside Gold Bond when its fleet mate sails.

 The ship still carries orange paint on its self-unloading gear applied by original owners Oldendorff Carriers, when it sailed as their Balto. Oldendorff left the CSL pool in 2016 and distributed its ships to remaining partners Algoma Central and CSL Americas.

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Bedford Basin - re-visit

After yesterday's lengthy post about Bedford Basin there is some follow up and some additional traffic to mention.

The tanker BSL Elsa sailed this morning (November 3) for Southwest Pass, Louisiana. One of the channels at the mouth of the Mississippi River, Southwest Pass is a convenient destination for ships that may be redirected to one of several oil ports in the region.

 As BSL Elsa cleared the Basin, the Royal Canadian Navy's chartered supply ship Asterix was on the move back to HMC Dockyard from the Bedford Magazine ammunition dock.

The Asterix returned to port October 26 after exercising with NATO ships and the USS Gerald R. Ford. It made the brief trip to the Bedford Magazine (Jetty November November in Navy lingo) this morning, presumably to off load some ordnance.

As a non-navy ship (with civilian crew) the Asterix uses civilian tugs when manoeuvering in the port.

These ship moves were carefully orchestrated with an arriving ship, so as to avoid meeting in the Narrows.

With the tugs Atlantic Cedar (forward) and Atlantic Fir aft, the autocarrier Don Carlos has just passed Pier 9C, and is about to pass beneath the A. Murray MacKay bridge and enter the Bedford Basin to turn and come back alongside Pier 9C. Once it unloads RoRo traffic (except cars) it will  move to Autoport to discharge cars. This is the reverse of its pattern on June 11, 2022 [qv].

Built 1997 by Daewo Okpo, the ship was lengthened 8.6m in 2006 by Hyundai Vinashin and now measures 227.9m long, 67,141 gt, 28,147 dwt, with a capacity of 7,194 (RT43) autos.

Also in the Basin the bulker Rt. Hon Paul E. Martin [see yesterday] completed loading at Gold Bond (formerly National Gypsum) and sailed about mid-day for Savannah, GA.

The ship does not load to its full capacity at Gold Bond due to draft restrictions alongside the dock. When National Gypsum built the facility in 1956 there was adequate water depth for ships of the era, but ships have grown!

In the lower harbour the tanker East Coast anchored on arrival. It moved to the Woodside terminal late in the afternoon.

On long term charter to Irving Oil, the 23,552 gt, 37,515 dwt ship was built in 2005 by Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan, and carried the name Nor'Easter under Marshal Islands flag until 2014 when it was brought into Canadian registry. Its Dutch based owners, Vroon, display the letter "V" in a shield on the ship's bow. Vroon also opeates offshore suppliers (under the VOS name) and other tankers (under the Iver name).

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Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin - belts, AOPs-rudders

 The self-unloading bulk carrier Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin made an unusual arrival in Halifax today docking at Pier 9C (in a light rain - hence the fuzzy photo.)

The ship is en route from Sydney, NS where it unloaded a cargo of coal, to National Gypsum's dock in Bedford Basin to load gypsum for the United States.

It is stopping at Pier 9C to load some replacement belting for its self-unloading system. A truck was waiting at dockside and a crane was soon mobilised to load the belts aboard.

The self-unloading system uses the belts to move cargo from the bottom of the hopper shaped holds up to the slewing boom. The rubber belts eventually wear due to abrasion from cargo and from running on the rollers, and require replacement before they break. There is no truck access to the National Gypsum dock and it is necessary to have pier space for the truck and crane.

Rt. Hon Paul E. Martin was built in China in 2012 and measures 43,691 gt, 71,406 dwt and is one of the large Trillium class, some of which are Seaway sized and others, like this one, which is Panamax. Owners CSL Group Inc have the ship in the CSL Americas pool. The ship is named for a former Prime Minister of Canada, who, with his sons, owns CSL.

I suppose it would be too much of a coincidence to be the same one, but a very similar trailer that also had Benson markings was spotted earlier in the day at the nearby Halifax Shipyard.

That trailer was carrying a pair of rudders for an Arctic Offshore Patrol vessel under construction at the shipyard. The truck was owned by Classic Freight Lines, which is owned by Cherubini Metal Workers. It is possible that they  built the rudders at one of their plants in Dartmouth.

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Fog, fog go away....

My usual Saturday round up was somewhat compromised by early morning fog, which meant that I again missed Courageous Ace (actually the fog had burned off when it sailed and had I been in the right place I might have got a shot).
The first arrival that loomed through the fog was the herring seiner Lady Janice II  arriving to unload its catch.

It was built in 1970 in Pictou as Sealife No.1, and was renamed Mari-Lynne Anita until 2001 when it was renamed Lady Janice II by Comeau's Seafoods.

It was followed by the Silver Harvester I, causing a major traffic jam at pier 24 where Lady Melissa, Leroy and Barry II and Margaret Elizabeth No.1 were also unloading. The traffic jam extended to the dock where a dozen trucks were waiting to load, and on the pier face where the boats were "bumper to bumper".

The last two boats had originally intended to unload at Sheet Harbour, but in view of inclement weather predicted they wanted to lay over in Halifax rather than the somewhat quieter port of Sheet Harbour.

By the time Silver Harvester I had unloaded, things had cleared off wonderfully and the boat had to dodge sailors all they way up the harbour. Built in 1990 by Snyders in Dayspring, NS, it is one of the few remaining large wooden fishing vessels that we see.

But first, the research ship Sea Surveyor arrived at pier 27. It was also fog bound all the way in, but there was brilliant sunshine above. It is something of a relic, built in 1979 by Clelands Shipbuilding Co, Wallsend-on-Tyne, England. It began life as a degaussing vessel named Magnet and carried powerful generators to demagnitize or deperm naval ships, to make them less attractive targets to magnetic mines. In 1998 it was acquired by Gardline Surveys and converted for geotechnical survey work.

CSAV Rio Nevado arrived as the fog had cleared off most of the harbour. The 46,800 grt, 12,322 dwt car carrier was built in 2007 by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co in China for Zodiac Maritime of London. It operates for Compagnia Sud Americana de Vapores, a major container, reefer and auto shipping copmany based in Valparaiso, Chile.

By afternoon with the fog well cleared off the next arrival was CSL's Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin. Dating from 2012, it was the first of CSL's deep sea Trillium class of modern self-unloaders. Built by Chengxi Shipyard, Jiangyin City, it measures 43,691 grt, 71,406 dwt . In February 2014 it experienced a crankshaft problem and was laid up in Point Tupper and then in Shelburne for many months until it could be repaired. Since then it has operated with frequent visits to Cape Breton in coal or aggregates work.
It tied up at pier 30-31 for maintenance.

Meanwhile the rest of the harbour enjoyed sunny warm conditions, but no ship movements. At pier 9B North the idle crew of Stadt Cadiz (also Chinese built and in port with engine trouble since May 6) decided to do a little painting. It is rare to see this kind of overside work since most ships are not in port long enough to take it on. Painting was also in full swing on Fundy Rose at Pier 9B South, but at Pier 9C the crew of Harefield (in since March 19) had knocked off painting for the week, having worked their way along the hatch coaming from the bow, about half the way aft.

May 25 photo, Harefield at the extreme north end of Pier 9C, almost under the MacKay bridge, has been in port since March for rudder repairs, and now sports some new paint on the hatch coaming.

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Persenk, and other cripples (update and photo added)

It is that time of year again when ships seem to run into trouble. Ice is the worst enemy, but mechanical failures of varies sorts also seem to be more prevalent.
Arriving over night the Bulgarian bulk carrier Persenk anchored in the harbour to take on bunkers, but also for an inspection of its propeller by divers.

Built in Varna, Bulgaria by Bulyard Shipbuilding Industry in 1998, the 10,220 grt, 13,902 dwt bulker flies the Maltese flag, but sails for Navigation Maritime Bulgare, the state owed shipping company of Bulgaria. Vessel tracking indicates the ship was off the east end of Anticosti Island in heavy ice, so may have bent a blade there.
Reports have also reached me that CCGS Pierre Radisson was struck by a ship in the same area, damaging her flight deck right aft.

Meanwhile anchored offshore, the self-unloading bulker Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin arrived last night under escort of the tug Atlantic Fir. The ship was in the Strait of Canso when it experienced a crankshaft problem, and had been lying at Mulgrave since late February. It is now headed to Shelburne for repairs.

The ship was delivered by Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China in September 2012. Measuring 43,691 grt, 71,406 dwt, it is a Panamax bulker of the new Trillium class, built for CSL.

Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin rolling in swells at the anchorage off Chebucto Head this afternoon. Gales and freezing spray warnings have been issued for this afternoon and evening.

 

 

At about 1930 Sunday evening the ship got underway for Shelburne, giving an ETA of 0800 Monday morning. This time the tug Atlantic Larch is escorting. 

Then off Newfoundland another bulker lost power and drifted aground at Rose Blanche. John I flying the Panama flag, is Turkish owned and measures 24,606 grt, 42,263 dwt. It was economically renamed in 2012 from its previous name John F, and prior to that it carried the name Sarych, except fore the year 1994 when it was called Sarrah. It was built in 1991 by Hyundai Heavy Industry in Ulsan, South Korea. The tug Ryan Leet out of Mulgrave has been dispatched, and CCGS Earl Grey is standing by after a couple of failed attempts to attach a tow line.
It will be much more difficult to salvage the ship now, since all 23 Syrian crew members were evacuated, and there is no one aboard to take up a tow line.
My previous rants about the need for a rescue tug in the Cabot Strait at this time of year fell on deaf ears. Maybe this year's experiences will heat up the debate again.

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