Polar Prince

 The privately owned icebreaker Polar Prince got away from its winter layup berth at COVE (the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship) this morning for a day at sea. Since 2021 the ship has been operated by Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services Ltd, It serves as a training vessel for Miawpukek First Nation seafarers, but also carries out expedition and research work.

Built in 1959 by Davie Shipbuilding + Repair Co Ltd in Lauzon as CGS Sir Humphrey Gilbert, it received a major rebuild at Halifax Shipyards in 1983 when it was given a new, stronger bow. It was declared surplus in 2001 and renamed 2001-06 until  sold in 2002 and renamed Gilbert I and soon after, Polar Prince. Since then it has engaged in a variety of work in the north including seismic research, and the notable 2017 C3 Expedition. It was given the temporary, unoffical name of Canada C3 for its trip from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage.  

Its trip to sea today (April 16) nearly coincides with the sinking of the Titanic April 15, 2012. That event, with the tragic loss of 1500 lives, and the resulting fascination with the event, resulted in the best known but most unfortunate event in the story of the Polar Prince. The ship was the mother ship for the submersible ROV Titan which imploded while descending to the Titanic wreck site on June 18, 2023. All five persons on baord died including the founder of OceanGate, the expedition organizer and owner of the submersible.

Wreckage of the ROV (Remotely Operated Vessel) was subsequently located 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic wreck in 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) of water.

The Polar Prince has been the subject of nearly a dozen posts on this blog over the years. Search for these posts will turn up numerous photos.

 

Azamara Journey - first of the season

It's awfully early for a cruise ship in our waters, but Azamara Journey is on a Titanic themed cruise out of New York, and so arrived today to take in several Titanic related sites (and sights) in Halifax. It sailed this evening bound for the site of the sinking, which will also be visited by Balmoral on the day/night of the 100 th anniversary of the famous incident.

Azamara Journey was built in 2000 as R.Six one of similarly named vessels. If memory serves, the owners went broke before the ships were completed and they were put up for sale.

This ship became Blue Dream in 2005 and took on its present name in 2007. It is managed by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Azamara is considered a boutique cruise line, offering specialized cruises, with relatively small numbers of passengers (694 in double occupancy) but only 440 on this particular trip.

The only other ship in the Azamara fleet, Azamara Quest (ex Blue Moon, Delphin Renaissance, R. Seven) made headlines when it experienced an engine room fire March 30 off Malaysia. It arrived safely in Sandakan April 1. The crew received high praise from passengers for their professional handling of the situation which left the ship without propulsion for 24 hours.

Not only is Azamara Journey the first cruise ship of the season, it is also the first visit to Halifax by this particular ship.

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