Containers on the way

The K-Line container ship VERRAZANO BRIDGE sailed this afternoon for Singapore via the Suez Canal.

Big Tanker

The tanker MINDANAO, 147, 447 tonnes deadweight sailed for West Africa this afternoon after discharging crude oil at Imperial Oil. The ship arrived on Friday.

Although registered in Singapore, the ship is managed by Gemini Tankers of Stamford, CT, USA.

Busy Afternoon

It was a busy late afternoon in the harbour as two cruise ships, two container ships and a tanker all sailed within a few minutes of each other.

The very impressive EURODAM, new last year, was the second cruise ship to sail after the earlier departure of NORWEGIAN MAJESTY. EURODAM is headed for Sydney and NORWEGIAN MAJESTY is going to Portland.

Cruise Ship Season

We are now in the peak of the cruise ship season. There were three ships in on Tuesday and there are four in today. Since most of the ships are only in for the day, there is an interesting parade of arrivals for 8 am. Departures are usually from 4:30 onward.

I caught Crystal Symphony leaving on Tuesday.

Aurora

One of the best looking cruise ships to call in Halifax made a visit today. Aurora, at 76,152 gross tons, and built in 2000 is not one of the newest or biggest or flashiest ships. She was designed and built for P&O, a company than once epitomized British good taste and good sense, and respected naval architectural tradition.

P&O is now part of Carnival PLC, and is one of many brands within the group, such as Holland America, etc., Carnival had the good sense to keep the P&O tradition and not tamper with the ship.

Interestingly she left with a close tug escort (Atlantic Spruce). This is so rare as to be remarkable. I conclude that she has a mechanical problem that effected her steering, and so required an escort in case something went wrong.

The ship has an unfortunate history of breakdowns, often related to her electric propulsion motors. She is able to sail on one motor, but this does concern pilots when the ship is in restricted waters, such as a navigation channel. A recent motor problem was corrected by the ship's engineers over night.

Wikipedia has a potted history of the ship and some of her troubles.

Update: the problem seems to have been with one of her anchors. The ship also required tug escort in her subsequent visit to Quebec City, and another blog reported that she had an anchor problem. Ships are supposed to have two functioning anchors. When they don't, they may be detained until repairs take place, or as in this case, take the precaution of having a tug in attendance in case of emergency. With this ship's history of mechanical breakdowns, the precaution was well advised.

Zélada Desgagnés in for repairs

This afternoon the general cargo ship Zélada Desgagnés arrived at pier 27. She is one of three sister ships operated by Transport Desgagnés of Quebec as part of their now large fleet of cargo ships, tankers and tugs.

The three ships were built in China, in a venture with the German shipowners Beluga. The ships are standard Beluga class vessels with heavy lift capability, but are owned by Desgagnés, primarily for northern supply work in the summer. When not so employed they will be pooled into the Beluga fleet for world-wide trading.

Rosaire A. Desgagnés was built in 2007 as Beluga Fortification.

Zélada Desgagnés in 2009 as Beluga Freedom and Sedna Desgagnés in 2009 as Beluga Festivity.

Both Rosaire A. and Zélada are in use this summer in northern supply. Sedna is apparently not needed this year, due to the reduction in mining activity in the north, and has therefore been placed in the Beluga pool and will trade internationally.

The ships are fitted with cranes which, when working together, can lift 360 tons. The ships are classed for work in ice. Zélada and Sedna were christened together in a ceremony at Quebec City June 29. The paint on her lower hull does not look new, and this is because the ship was in actual service for several months, working her way from China, and has made at least one trip to the north.

It was not a good start to Zélada's first northern supply season. She ran aground in Puvirnituq on August 31 and received significant bottom damage. She proceeded to Inukjuaq for shelter and survey, and repair crews were flown in to make temporary repairs.

After unloading some remaining cargo at pier 27 tonight, she will go to drydock at Halifax Shipyard tomorrow.

In the background

Most attention in Halifax harbour today was drawn by the four cruise ships which were in at the same time. AidaAura, Norwegian Majesty, Caribbean Princess and Carnival Triumph made quite a sight as they lined the waterfront. They disgorged significant numbers of tourists into the area, and rejoicing was heard from various merchants.

However, as I like to watch the background there were other interesting arrivals.

At noon the US flag tug/ barge Lucy Reinauer/ RTC 83 tied up at Imperial Oil. The tug was built as far back as 1973, but the barge is more modern - again with a ship like bow, permitting it to sail in all weather.

The Owners are Reinauer Transportation of New York, which operates several tug/ barge combinations and harbour tugs in Boston.