Catching up with a traffic jam

There was a virtual traffic jam in Halifax this morning with no less than  eleven ships waiting off port for their turn to enter. There were also a couple of delayed departures to deal with. By afternoon things settled down, but there were still three arrivals and at least five departures planned.

The only arrival I caught was Pantionio for Eimskip. My last attempt at a photo of the ship was on February 18 when I was barely able to see it. This time I was lucky as the weather closed in very soon after it tied up at pier 42.

The ship arrived with a very slight list of a degree or two to starboard. It made its way slowly in toward Halterm, turned, then backed into pier 42 without tug assistance. This was possible only because conditions were so calm - a radical change from yesterday, when Shearwater - right across the harbour from Halterm - clocked gusts of 78 kph and sustained winds of 52 kph in mid-afternoon.

ZIM Ningbo - one of many ships delayed by weather - arrived at pier 41 earlier in the morning, leaving room at pier 42. Tomar (in the background at pier 31) is due to move to Autoport later this afternoon.

Pantonio has replaced Reykjafoss on the Eimskip rotation, as detailed in Shipfax February 18, 2018.
Meanwhile fleet mate Skogafoss has had its charter extended for year.

.

All new to us

Four ships, all new to Halifax, put in appearances today.

BBC Nevada arrived in the early hours of the morning at pier 31, and by the time I caught up with it, it had apparently completed its cargo work - possibly loading a heavy lift.
Built in 2006 by Qingsham, Wuhan as Jasper it was quickly renamed Belgua Federation, but equally quickly became Jasper again in the same year. Due to financial irregularities, Beluga shipping failed and its fleet was redistributed. In 2011 the ship was renamed Frida Scan and in 2013 Thorco Diva. Then in 2015 it became BBC Nevadas as it moved into another charter, altough still managed by Thorco Shipping.

 Late this afternoon the ship's cranes are re-loading the tween decks hatch covers.

Sailing this evening, the ship even has a few containers on deck.

It is a typical Beluga F class multi-purpose heavy lift ship with a pair of 120 tonne cranes (combinable for 240 tonne lifts) and removable tween decks and box shaped holds. Tonnages are 9611 grt, 12,737 dwt.


The product tanker Cape Bradley arrived at Imperial Oil after a week at anchor outside.

Built in 2004 as J.Shartava by Hyundai Mipo, UIlsan, the ship was renamed in 2005 and is owned by Cape Parry Shipping Co Ltd, and managed by Columbia Ship Management. It operates in the United Product Tanker (UPT) pool. At 25,108 grt, 40,305 dwt it is a mid-size vessel of the Mid-Range (MR) type.

THE Alliance brought in YM Modesty on its EC5 service. The ship is a 6258 TEU vessel of 71,821 grt, 72,730 dwt. Although sailing for Yang Ming it is owned by Ben More Shipping Inc, an affiliate of Zodiac Marine of London, on long term charter.

ZIM continues to up the ante with ever larger ships. Today's arrival  ZIM Ningbo is 91,158 grt, 108,427 dwt with a capacity of 8440 TEU (including 700 reefers).  It was built by Hyundai Samho, and is chartered to ZIM by Flamingo Navigation (NSC Shipping).

 
It needed the large cranes at Halterm, so berthed at pier 41, causing Oceanex Sanderling to anchor for the night.