Maasdam - back again

The Maasdam is back again this year. As the most regular cruise ship to call in Halifax for many years, it has become a familiar sight, but it is still a fine looking ship. Built in 1993 it is now among the mid-sized ships on the cruise scene, amongst the behemoth's that are twice this ship's gross tonnage of 55,451 and passenger capacity of 1,266.The ship's arrival today would normally be the start of the Halifax cruise season, had it not been for the two April visitors in commemoration of the loss of the Titanic.

HMS Scott-return engagement

HMS Scott sailed this afternoon after a prolonged visit in Halifax. The Royal Navy survey ship arrived April 27 at HMC Dockyard. This is the ship's third visit to Halifax It was here in July 2006, at the Maritime Museum and June 2007 at HMC Dockyard. In the interim it has been filling in for other RN ships in Antarctica.

Godavari Spirit tops up

The crude tanker Godavari Spirit topped up its bunkers today at anchorage number one. After unloading a cargo of crude oil in Saint John earlier in the week, the ship made its way to Halifax for the fuel. The Port of Saint John does not provide a bunkering service, in part at least because the Canaport unloading buoy is in an exposed anchorage. Sea conditions are often not suitable for refueling.

(Ships unload through the buoy and an undersea pipeline to shore storage tanks. The oil is then sent by terrestrial pipeline to the refinery.) 

Godavari Spirit  flies the flag of Malta now, after switching from Bahamas flag last year. The ship is a little larger than the usual tankers that call in Halifax, at 81,074 gross tons, 159,106 deadweight. It was built in 2004 as Athenean Glory, and carried the name Angelica from 2004 to 2007, when it was acquired by present owners Teekay Shipping. Teekay has offices in Vancouver, but this ship seems to be run by their Bermuda and Glasgow, Scotland offices.

It sailed this evening for Malongo, Angola.

Apollogracht-quick visit to Fairview Cove

1. Inbound approaching the MacKay bridge early this afternoon.

The Dutch cargo ship Apollogracht paid a quick visit to Fairview Cove today, and it was not to load containers. Instead it loaded a large spindle on deck. Although not unheard of, heavy lifts are fairly rare at Fairview, but it is the choice of the shipper and line as to where they will load the cargo.
Apollogracht is part of the large Spleithoff fleet of Amstrerdam. All its ships are named for canals in the city. They specialize in forest products, heavy lifts and odd cargoes, and are today's version of the tramp steamer.
The ship arrived in Halifax after a long trip up into the Great Lakes. It was in Montreal April 1, unloaded cargo in Windsor, ON April 5-7, and in Chicago April 11-18. It was downbound again and stopped in Montreal April 24 for a few days and in Gros Cacouna, QC April 28. Its next port is Saint John, NB
The ship was built in 1991 and is 7,949 gross tons, 12,150 deadweight and carries three 40 tonne cranes.

2. Outbound with its newly loaded cargo on deck

3. A large spindle on its own steel base frame.

See more at : http://www.spliethoff.com/

Phase 2 at Pier 9C

Extension work at pier 9c entered a new pase today. Harbour Development Ltd completed dredging yesterday (April 30) and moved its equipment back to pier 7. The tug Atlantic Tamarack moved the dredge Cranemaster and the mud scows HD6, HD 7 and HD 8 to pier 7 to tie up with the rest of the Harbour Development fleet (dredges D-6, Channelmaster, tug Swellmaster and work boat Atlantic Chestnut.)

1. Cranemaster in tow back to pier 7.

2. The last dredging was done quite close to the A. Murray MacKay bridge, under the power lines, and over a submerged cable - tricky work.

Meanwhile McNally Construction Inc moved on site with shore based cranes, and this morning (May 1) the tug Mister Joe arrived from Port Hawksbury with the tug Whitby and Derrick No.3. The latter craft is new to Halifax, but is certainly a veteran unit. Built back in 1941 in Kingston, ON by Canadian Dredge & Dock to its own account, the scow has spent most of its life in fresh water. It is fitted with spuds and a vintage Bucyrus Erie crane. The crane iss fited for pile driving, and that is where McNally's contract will start.

3. Mister Joe has Derrick No.3 on the hip as the tug Whitby detaches from the tow and brings the bargemaster out .

See also Tugfax for more on the tugs.

Salarium sails - finally!

The bulk carrier Salarium finally sailed this afternoon after countless delays stretching over a period of weeks. The big CSLer, formerly Nanticoke is headed for the Magdalen Islands to resume her salt carrying contract after completing a refit.
The ship was finally ballasted down on Sunday, but departure times were cancelled yesterday and today. Even the 1600 sailing was delayed when the pilot boarded and had to order a tug. Atlantic Oak stayed with the ship on a stern line until she was down harbour. The tug was certainly necessary to get the ship out of her tight space at pier 9A, but apparently had not been ordered in advance.

AFL New England Stranded. Says Who?

Crew members over the side and over the bow painting AFL New England this morning- hardly the sign of a "stranded" ship or crew.

An overly dramatic headline in a local newspaper today (which was picked up and broadcast around the world) claims that the AFL New England and its crew are stranded in Bedford Basin. Not only was the headline misleading but it is inaccurate.
Despite quotes from the owners of American Feeder Lines and the Port Authority the paper persisted in stating that the ship is stranded, with no evidence to prove that it is.
Stranded by the way, means either one of two things in maritime circles.
1. The ship is aground and cannot free itself.
2. The ship and its crew have been abandoned, unpaid, by the ship's owners or operators.
Since the ship is clearly afloat, the writer must have meant the latter, but he gives no evidence.
The idled ship and its crew have not been abandoned by its owners. If they had been, it would be unlikely that the crew would be out on bos'ns chairs painting ship as they were today (see picture above.)
The writer also gave no evidence of any research into AFL's business except an interview with AFL. Due diligence would have been to discover if AFL was in creditor protection, or bankrupt or in voluntary liquidation. There was also no statement from the ship's owners. Have they been bankrupted by AFL's closure? Have they been paying the crew? A quick call to the local inspector of the International Transport Worker's Federation or the Mission to Seafarers would answer this basic question.
Certainly since AFL has ceased trading the question of the ship's charter and who is paying would be an issue. Most charters run for a term and until it is resolved that the charterer is in default, the ship owner would be most unwise to bail out and remove the ship.
Also, until a new charter is arranged, what is the ship supposed to do? It has nowhere to go, so it might as well stay where it is. That hardly means it is stranded.
And finally the article does mention in passing that there is still cargo aboard the ship. If that is so, then the cargo will have to be unloaded or delivered at someone's expense. I hardly expect the ship owner to cough up that cost without some arrangement for compensation. In fact the ship owner may have the upper hand here, since he has possession of the cargo. In which case it is best for the ship to remain exactly where it is.
If the charter has been breached then the shipowner has a large claim against AFL which may well take time to resolve.
So in conclusion it was a particularly sloppy bit of journalism, regrettably all too frequent  in the local press over the years. A lack of knowledge on shipping matters and lazy research (two phone calls) is a pretty low standard for a paper in a major port.