Repeat Performances

Seeing the same ships several times poses challenges for original photos. The same ship in the same place over and over again begins to dull the senses. Fortunately today, although the ships were the familiar, there was something different.

When USS Arleigh Burke sailed this afternoon, the sun was on the Halifax side of the ship - unlike morning arrivals, which is the usual time to see warships.

 Name ship of its class, Arleigh Burke is proceeding cautiously as it leaves Halifax.

Also of course there is the desire to take the photo from forward, but a going away shot can provide some interest too. The ship arrived September 7 and was able to stay in port for a few days. Its May 10, 2017 visit was much briefer, arriving at 1000 hrs and sailing at 1600 hrs.

The autocarrier Elektra is such a regular caller, that I don't photograph it often.  Built in 1999 the ship is still in fine form despite its age. Classed as a Large Car and Truck Carrier (LCTC) it has a capacity of 7,194 cars. This is partly thanks to the 2005 lengthening that increased the ship's grt from 57,018 to 67,264.

Elektra moves from Autoport to pier 28 to off load some non-cars.

Original builder of the ship was Daewoo Heavy Industries, Okpo and the lengthening operation was carried out by Hyundai-Vinishin in Vietnam. A new section of nearly 30 meters was added, increasing the ship's capacity by 20%. It was the first of five Wallenius ships to get the upgrade.

The tanker Alpine Venture was here once before, and that was March 14, 2017, also from Antwerp.  Predictably it was built by Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan and is 29,130 grt, 46,046 dwt. On that last visit it had to move to Bedford Basin to wait out a storm. That is unlikely to happen this time.

When the ship was here last, most of the refinery was still intact, although de-commissioned. It is all gone now except for the tanks.

Another regular caller, usually seen approaching or sailing from Halterm is Bomar Rebecca. Plowing a regular furrow for Tropical Shipping, it calls every second Monday, regular as clockwork. Today however was different. It unloaded completely, then moved in ballast to pier 25-26.

It is unusual to see a container ship underway in ballast.

Because Hurricane Florence is expected to make shore in the Carolinas later this week, the ship is taking a trip off. It may also be an opportunity for some maintenance with the ship idled for a week. Its counterpart calling alternate weeks, Asian Sun is likely sitting this one out at the southern end of the route. It will not be calling next Monday, when Bomar Rebecca is scheduled to sail.

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PAX and CANS

To use some waterfront jargon, the port was mostly pax (passengers) and cans (containers) this weekend. There was little other traffic to mention - no tankers, no bulkers, etc.,

On Saturday it was the always impressive Mein Schiff 6, the TUI Cruises ship, built in 2017 by Meyer Turku Shipyard. It made its first visit here September 2, 2017. The 98,811 grt ship has a capacity of 2,790 passengers, and appeared to be at capacity judging by the number of people on deck on departure.

  Mein Schiff 6 - decks crowded with passengers, sails Saturday evening.

On Sunday, the familiar Serenade of the Seas was joined by the Norwegian Dawn. The latter was re-directed here from its Boston / Bermuda trip by the developing Hurricane Florence. This may be the ship's first time here, since built in 2002 by Meyer Werft, Papenburg. The 92,250 grt ship can carry 2340 passengers.

Serenade of the Seas (left) at pier 22, stern to Norwegian Dream at pier 20 (right).


Even though the re-direction was a last moment one, some passengers opted to take a pass, but those that decided to stay were flocking ashore today in Halifax to buy sweaters. Granted it is cooler in Halifax than it would be in Bermuda, but the press made our climate as nothing short of polar.

The ship is infamous in  my mind for introducing "hull at" - that form of licensed graffiti that now defaces cruise ships throughout the word enough said.

Saturday's container arrival was the regular MOL Paradise for the EC5 service of THE Alliance. The 71,902 grt, 72,968 dwt ship has a capacity of 6350 TEU (including 500 reefers). After construction by Koyo Dockyard Co in Mihara, in 2005 it was briefly renamed APL Paradise from 2011 to 2012.

MOL Paridise threads its way through the Narrows - apparently effortlessly - despite the presence of pleasure craft.


Sunday's arrival was  Ikaria, now under anonymous Greek ownership, it is the former Long Beach Bridge of K-Line. Built in 2002 by Koyo Dockyard, Mihara, the 66,332 grt, 67,164 dwt ship has a capacity of 5576 TEU (including 440 reefers). It carried the name Ikaria briefly in 2010, and CCNI Antartico from 2010 to 2012.

 The tug Spitfire III heels as it assists the ship to make a course correction inbound.

Things were easier going as the ship transits the Narrows.

Onego Trader

Onego Trader sailed this afternoon after a lengthy stay in port. The ship arrived August 29 and tied up at pier 27. This is at least the fourth visit to Halifax for the ship siunce 2013, each time with a load Polish manufactured rails for CN. A multi-purpose ship of 6301 grt, 8930 dwt, it carries a pair of 40 tonne cranes, working a pair of box shaped holds of the open hatch configuration (the hold is the same size as the hatches).

Bodewes Volharding, Foxhol, Netherlands built the ship in 2001 as Dewi Laksmi. It was renamed Harns in 2008 and Onego Trader in 2010. Ownership and registry changed with the first name change, moving from Panama to Netherlands. Early in August of this year the ship was registered in Germany then immediately re-registered in Portuguese Madeira for new owners Hilda D Shipping.

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Star Pride "inaugural call"

The cruise ship Star Pride made its inaugural call in Halifax today, but only under its current name. In fact it has been calling here for three decades.

When built by Schichau Seebeck, Bremerhaven in 1988 it was one of the classiest ships afloat. Named Seabourn Pride, its small size (only 212 passengers [new reduced to 208], 164 crew, 9975 grt) and clean yacht-like lines made a mark for Seabourn (managed by Cunard) wherever it went. It was one of the early ships to be named by a celebrity - in its case by Shirley Temple Black. 

The sleekly beautiful Seabourn Pride as built,

Its original appearance has unfortunately been marred over the years by several refits. The worst, in the early 2000s, installed individual windows and sliding doors on the upper deck cabins, which ruined the continuity of the clean blue window bands. The inevitable addition of giant Sat Domes can only be written off as a regrettable necessity.

The ship did not lose all its appeal with the addition of "Juliet balconies" and individual windows, but the blue bands lost their effect.

In 2014 when Seabourn sold the ship to Windstar Cruises, there have been further changes.

The complete elimination of the blue bands makes the ship look very chunky, even though the one blue stripe above main deck level remains. The ship continues to be well maintained and is showing few signs of age.

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post Labour Day pickup

As usual Labour Day Monday was a quiet day in the port with only the cruise ship Veendam at the deep water piers. Things picked up somewhat today - particularly at Halterm.

First in was Asian Sun on its regular visit for Tropical Shipping. It was in port all day, discharging and loading. As Halifax is a terminal port for the line most of the ship's 1119 TEU capacity was unloaded and loaded.  It started calling in Halifax for Tropical in October 2017.

Under the watchful eye of Canadian Border Services, Asian Sun works at pier 42.

Next in line was AS Felicia, also a regular caller, on ZIM's Halifax / Kingston, Jamaica service, where it connects with ZIM's larger ships.

The tug Atlantic Fir makes up stern forward, to prepare to turn the ship for pier 41.


The ship made its first call in Halifax April 3, 2018. Although a major comedown in size from previous ZIM callers, some of which exceeded 10,000 TEU, this feeder service handles as many or more boxes in Halifax as the big ships did.
ZIM however is consolidating its services further in a slot arrangement with the 2M Alliance, (Maersk and MSC). Starting next week ZIM will drop one of its six Asia / US East coast loops in favour of a 3,000 TEU per week slot arrangement with 2M. This will allow the line to shed six Panamax time chartered ships. It has an industry high 90% charters in its 84 ship fleet.  

As Asian Sun was preparing t leave Cap Portland was arriving to take its spot at pier 42. Cap Portland is on only its second call in  Halifax. The first was August 1 when it inaugurated the new Med / Montreal Express (MMX) service for Maersk. The five ship service calls in Montreal westbound and Halifax eastbound.

Cap Portland is met by Atlantic Oak off Halterm as it makes its way to pier 42.

Built in 2007 by Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan (yes they build something other than tankers) the 22,914 grt, 28,142 dwt ship has a capacity of 1819 TEU (including 462 reefers) and is fitted with three 45 tonne cranes. It was built as Santa Albano. but was renamed on delivery to owners associated  with CP Offen.

Cap Portland westbound on the St.Lawrence last week, appeared to be loaded to capacity.

Halterm was not the only location for activity today - Autoport resumed operations with the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Porgy. Flying the Liberian flag the 58,752 grt, 18,009 dwt ship has a capacity of 6,284 cars. It is on charter to W-W by Lucia Navigation of Panama. This is a change from original owners Sedona Car Lines Panama SA, which owned the ship until earlier this year. Managers remain Excel Marine Co Ltd.
It was built in 2009 by Toyohashi Shipbuilding in Japan.

Porgy makes the turn outbound around Ives Knoll.

There was also some activity at Imperial Oil as the tanker Harbour Feature arrived late Sunday.

Tied up at Imperial Oil number 4 dock.

Built  in 2011 by Yangfan Group, Zhoushan it measures 11,880 grt and 16,909 dwt, and it operated by Nordic Tankers of Hamburg under the Portuguese Madeira flag. It is one of a number of tankers operating under coasting licenses for Algoma Tankers, and trading between Canadian ports for the season. Algoma has recently applied to extend the license (originally from July 1 - September 30) to November 30 to meet unexpected demand for heavy fuel.

 I saw the ship earlier this summer transiting the St.Lawrence Seaway.

Line handlers are no longer needed in the locks, since magnetic suction plates hold the ship alongside during lock filling and emptying.

The ship sailed this evening for Sarnia, ON.

Victory II and Hugh R. Sharp

Two American built vessels made appearances in Halifax this morning.

The cruise ship Victory II was in only briefly en route from the Great Lakes to Gloucester. After a somewhat late start due to an extensive refit, the ship missed its inaugural call in Halifax June 2, but was able to enter service in July in Detroit (after a mandatory pre-Seaway call in Montreal). Its first call in Halifax was August 15.

Now completed with its Great Lakes tour season, it will carry out New England / Maritime cruises for the autumn. Built as  Cape Cod Light in 2004 by Atlantic Marine in Jacksonville, FL, it is a sister ship to Victory I, built as Cape May Light, and both somewhat checkered histories, but seem now to have found profitable work for Victory Cruise Lines. They can carry 202 passengers.



Also arriving this morning the US flag research vessel Hugh R. Sharp tied up at pier 26. The ship was built in 2005 by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, WA for the University of Delaware. It can accommodate 12 scientists in addition to its crew of 8.

The ship measures 495 grt, and is powered by four Cummins engines driving two Schottel Z-drives.

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Harmen Oldendorff for gypdum

There were two shipments from National Gypsum this weekend, one on Atlantic Huron, bound for Bayside, NB and the second on Harment Oldendorff for Baltimore.

It has been some time since the latter ship visited Halifax. It first called here in 2007 and has been an off an on visitor, but rarely in recent years. Its last few movements indicate it has been operating in Europe or farther east. It was on the St.Lawrence to Montreal last week on a voyage from Casablanca. The ship operates in the CSL Americas pool with CSL and Algoma.

Harmen Oldendorff exits Bedford Basin, while emitting warning blasts to several sailboats in the Narrows.

The ship was built in 2005 as a Panamax bulk carrier by Damen Okean in Mykolayiv, Ukraine, which may explain its unsual if not unique, angled superstructure. Converted to a self-unloader in 2006 , it now measures 42,033 grt, 66,187 dwt, which means it cannot take a full load at the National Gypsum dock in Burnside. Its self-unloading apparatus is mounted forward, (a much easier installation to make as a conversion) and can discharge at a rate of 4,000 tonnes per hour. Its unloading boom is 76 meters long and can extend outwards at an angle of 95 degrees.

Clearing the MacKay bridge with room to spare as anglers set up to fish for mackerel from Seaview Park.

Harmen Odendorff  is bound for Baltimore, the port that Algoma Integrity has been serving lately, but that ship is bound back to work within Canada for a three month stint under a coasting license. It will shuttle from Port Cartier to Contrecouer with iron ore pellets, and monthly from Port Cartier to Lower Cove, NL with aggregates. It is expected to transfer 525,000 tonnes of pellets and 150,000 tonnes of stone from September 12 to December 11 in a tightly choreographed schedule before winter freeze up.

Algoma Integrity will be returning to the St.Lawrence shuttle service, but not under Canadian flag.

The ship served essentially the same route for three years before returning to foreign flag in April of this year. It then began calling in Halifax to load gypsum for Baltimore.

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