Seabourn Sojourn - Seabourn's flagship has medical emergency

1. Seabourn Sjourn off pier 20 at 1904 hrs ADT.

Seabourn Sojourn had cleared pier 20 at 1900 hrs outbound for sea when a medical emergency was declared at about 1925 hours when the ship was off Meagher's Beach. From a speed of 14.5 knots, the ship slowed and turned in the channel off Herring Cove to return to port and dock at pier 21. (It had been tied up at pier 20 during the day). [see later update if further info becomes available.]

Flagship of the Seabourn fleet (another of the many Carnival affiliates) the ship was built in 2010 by the A.Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy (which is also known as a yacht builder). At the very top end of cruise ships, it accommodates 450 passengers in a variety of luxury suites. Its first visit to Halifax was on September 25, 2011, and has made annual return trips.

2. Seabourn Sojourn was tied up at pier 20 all day. In this photo she is just getting ready to leave. The pilot boat A.P.A.No.1 is outbound for her, and the tanker Alpine Loyalty is in the outer anchorages.

On this trip it is destined for Charlottetown and will proceed on to Montreal, with several way points. It will then do a lengthy re-positioning trip to Fort Lauderdale (with many stops along the way) for winter cruising. 

Update: A passenger was disembarked to an ambulance and the ship departed at 2040 hrs.

Seabourn Sojourn - tight squeeze for pier 23

1. Atlantic Oak comes alongside to add to the scuff marks on the ship's hull.

High winds in the Maritimes today have caused numerous delays and cancellations in ferry services and cruise ship visits.
On the Cabot Strait, the Marine Atlantic ferries are toed up for 24 hours. On the Northunberland Strait some crossings were cancelled, and in Charlottetown three cruise ship visits were scrubbed after winds in excess off 45 knots were expected in the harbour approaches. The three ships due today were Celebrity Summit, Maasdam and Regatta, but all called off their visits.
In Halifax things appeared to be more or less normal with Carnival Glory and Emerald Princess tying up on schedule.
The only wrinkle appears to have been with Seabourn Soujourn which called for the tug Atlantic Oak to assist it into pier 23. The combination of gusty high winds, and Emerald Princess's bow overhanging the end of pier 22 made for a tight squeeze, and a tug was called as a precaution.
Seabourn Sojourn made its inaugural call in Halifax in September 2011. Built in 2010 it carries 450 passengers.

2. A tight squeeze at pier 23, with high winds meant for a cautious approach.

[drive by shot, through car window]

Large Cruise Ship Day

As some Maritimers say, it was a large day (meaning beautiful, sunny and warm.)
It was also a large day for the Port of Halifax, with four cruise ships in port and about 10,000 extra people on the streets of town (passengers and crews included.)
Some of the ships were large too, but the interesting thing was that of the four, three were on their inaugural visits to Halifax.
1. Seabourn Sojourn, built in 2010, with a modest capacity of 450 passengers, arriving for the first time in Halifax this afternoon. It will stay in port over night.

2. Silver Whisper, built in 2001, backs out in to the stream and is dwarfed by the two big ships. Built in 2001 it is the smallest ship today, with a capacity of 382.

3. The one they all came out to see, Cunard's Queen Elizaberth is just a year old and claims a passsenger capacity of 2,092. It measures 90,901 gross tons.

4. Although it was built in 2007, Emerald Princess is also making its first call in Halifax. At 113,561 gross tons, it was the largest ship in port today. It sailed at dusk, making an impressive sight.

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