Sichem Beijing - perhpas to become a common sight

The tanker Sichem Beijing arrived last evening and tied up at pier 9A where it is unloading fuel.There is a pipeline from pier 9 to Wilson's Fuels' tanks on Barrington Street.
With the scheduled close of the Esso refinery in Dartmouth by year's end, Wilson and other independent fuel distributors will likely be buying more gasoline, diesel and furnace oil from offshore and will be bringing it in by tanker, so this will perhaps become a common sight.
Sichem Beijing was built in 2007, and measures 8,537 gross tons, 13,086 deadweight. It is part of the large Eitzen Chemical Singapore fleet. Its tanks are epoxy coated allowing for the carriage of a variety of chemicals and oil products.It is a frequent visitor to the Great Lakes and Halifax.

Sichem Beijing - in and out

1. Sichem Beijing taking bunkers from Algoma Dartmouth this morning. Note HMCS Halifax and HMCS Iroquois in the background. Note also the unusual black steel tubular frame on the stern of the tanker.

The chemical tanker Sichem Beijing arrived, took bunkers, then went to anchor in the outer anchorages. It is unusual for a ship to do this - usually once they enter the port they stay here, since it costs money for pilotage to leave again. However since outside anchorage is free (there are port fees for inside anchorage) perhaps the owners are expecting a long stay, and will still save some money. (The name Sichem is an abbreviation of SIngapore CHEMical)
The ship is registered in Singapore and measures 8,851 gross tons, 13,068 deadweight.

Busy times at Imperial Oil

Busy tanker traffic:
1. Sichem Beijing waiting at anchor yesterday.

2.Overseas Shirley sailing late this sfternoon with escort tug Atlantic Oak.

3. Tanker barge Penn No.120 with tug Penn No.6 waiting for better weather to the south.

4. Clipper Lancer anchored deep in Bedford Basin, also waiting for weather.

The three oil docks at the Imperoyal refinery of Imperial Oil have been busy the last several days, with ships coming and going.

This afternoon the Canadian crude tanker Overseas Shirley sailed for Baytonne, NJ. Although she appeared to be in ballast she still had the tug Atlantic Oak on a stern line escort outbound. At 62,385 gross, 112,056 deadweight, built in 2001, she is a sizable tanker.

Shortly before her departure the chemical tanker Sichem Beijing sailed after an overnight stay at the dock. Registered in Singapore, she is 8537 gross, 13,068 deadweight, built in 2007.

She had to wait at anchor for a day before she could get in to the dock.

Her place had been occupied by the US flag barge Penn No.120, which along with the tug Penn No.6 has gone out to anchor pending an improvement in weather along the US east coast. As a wire tow tug (as opposed to an articulated tug/barge) she will only go sea when conditions are favourable. [see also Tugfax]

Awaiting the departure of Sichem Beijing and possibly an improvement in weather after tomorrows predicted high wins, the small Bahamas flag chemical tanker Clipper Lancer found an anchorage spot way up north in Bedford Basin. This tanker measures only 6522 gross, 9971 deadweight. Built in 2006 she has less than one tenth the carrying capacity of the Overseas Shirley.

The remaining space at the Esso docks has been taken up by domestic coastal tankers.

.

Eitzen's tanker

1. Sichem Beijing arrives in drizzly Halifax weather.

Eitzen Chemical is one of the largest chemical tanker operators, with 83 ships currently listed in it fleet: http://www.eitzen-chemical.com/

A firm with deep roots, Eitzen has expanded through acquisitions to world wide operations with offices in Norway, Denmark, Spain, Connecticut and Singapore.

Today's arrival, Sichem Beijing, is fairly typical of the fleet - modest sized, 8,537 gross tons, 13,086 deadweight, relatively new, built in 2007, and highly specialized for carrying chemicals in epoxy coated tanks.

The ship is registered in Singapore, but operated by Seelandia Ship Management, based in Mumbai.

.