USS Indianapolis

The Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship USS Indianapolis LCS 17 arrived this morning at the same time as the first wave of high winds and heavy rains.

Tugs Atlantic Fir and Spitfire III met up with the ship while it was inbound east of George's Island.

Built by Fincantieri's Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, the ship was commissioned in Burns Harbor, Indiana on October 26. It made its way down through the Lakes and Seaway, sometimes with tug escort, and a brief stopover in Quebec City. It is en route to its home port of Mayport, FL.

This is the ninth ship of its class built in Marinette, and all have called in Halifax on their delivery trips.

Hardy crew members took up station on deck when even Halifax gulls decided to remain on shore.

.

November 11

November 11 is observed as Remembrance Day and most activity comes to a halt at least for a minute at 11:00 am, the hour of the Armistice that ended World War I. As might be expected there are numerous memorial sites around Halifax recognizing the contributions from various communities and the different armed services.

Nevertheless (shamefully) the day is not a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia, so many businesses remain open and industries such as construction and shipbuilding continue unabated. Some enlightened employers however do close their doors for the day and allow their employees to observe the day in their own ways.

At Halifax Shipyard it was a regular working day, with the newly launched AOPS2 (future Margaret Brooke pennant number 431) alongside at pier 6, after yesterday's float off (and yes Shipfax did not observe that operation).

Halterm welcomed Tropic Lissette for Tropical Shipping on the usual Monday schedule. The ship was off for one trip due to some mechanical issues, and may still have some deficiencies, but is at least back in service.

Cerescorp had two ships at Fairview Cove. CLI Pride is back again after several trips to Montreal and is now headed back to Rotterdam.

The much larger Budapest Bridge had the whole terminal to itself later in the day after CLI Pride sailed.

Even National Gypsum got in on the act today with CSL Tacoma sailing this morning for Savannah with less than a full load.

Siem Hanne was alongside at the southernmost end of pier pier 9B, and late in the day the Atlantic Condor arrived for pier 9C north.

One of the most attended Remembrance Day services is at the naval memorial at Point Pleasant Park. Seen from Purcell's Cove shortly after the end of the service, it was a particularly fine day to linger along the shore while poppies were placed at the base of the monument.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the service - and maybe not noticed by participants, was the aggregation of seals on rocks just off the point as the service progressed. From one seal at the start of the service, there were at least six by the time eleven o'clock had passed.

.

Saturday business

It was typical Saturday business in Halifax, despite a light dusting of snow over night.

It was back to more typical sized ships as CMA CGM Norma arrived at Halterm and tied up at pier 41. Built in 2006 by Hyundai, Samho, it is a 107,711 gt, 113,999 dwt vessel with a capacity of 9415 TEU, including 700 reefers.

Maersk Patras tied up at pier 42. It is a regular on the five ship rotation usuallly calling on Saturday  from Montreal.

It was a different ship for Nirint's service from Cuba at pier 31. Hooge flies the Gibraltar flag while sailing in the Briese fleet.

Dating from 2006 when it was built by Shandong Weihai, the 15633 gt, 16,986 dwt ship has a capacity of 1306 TEU (870 if loaded to 14 tonnes) and has a pair of 45 tonne cranes. Both cranes were working today to unload bagged nickel cargo. (I would not have taken a picture through so many fences if it had not been a first time caller.)

The PCTC Morning Crystal managed to squeeze in at the adjacent pier 27 to unload RoRo cargo.

With a capacity of 6,215 cars, the ship can also carry a variety of wheeled cargo, some of which will be offloaded at pier 27. Built in 2011 by Imabarai Zosen in Marugame, the ship measures 59,524 gt, 18,918 dwt.

.

The Big Move - Part 1

Saturday, November 9 - the day for the big move of Boabarge37 from Halifax Shipyard to Bedford Basin seems to have come off without a hitch.

The barge's payload, AOPS #2 (the future HMCS Margaret Brooke) had been rolled aboard and secured on the barge deck.

With three tugs in attendance, the barge was eased out into the stream off pier 6 and guided through the Narrows to Bedford Basin.

Once clear of the Narrrows the barge took up position just north of anchorage 7, where it will be readied for float off tomorrow morning.

.

Short Term callers

As promised gloomy weather and early sunsets resulted in some dark images today. First in and early  out today was K-Line's Apollon Highway (Panama flag) painted in the latest K-Line livery.

The 76,299 gt, 20,321 dwt PCTC was built  by Japan Marine United, Ariake, in 2017 and has a capacity of 7,625 cars. Unlike some other autocarriers seen recently it has a side ramp.

Another short term visitor was the Malta flag La Partenais a member of the Louis Dreyfus Bulk  fleet, An open hatch type bulker of 24,604 gt, 40,652 dwt, the ship was built as Crescent Star in 2015 by Yangfan Group, Zhoushan to a B-Delta 40 fuel efficient standard design. It carries four 30 tonne cranes with grab buckets. The ship was delivered as La Partenais and entered into a long term management charter with Louis Dreyfus. It carries a variation on the traditional the "LDA" funnel [Louis Dreyfus Armateurs]. This one has "LDP" on the white band. This may stand for LDAP a partnership established with financiers FFP [Peugeot] and Bank PBS to build and own this and four similar ships.

The ship arrived from Baie Comeau, where it presumably unloaded bauxite. While tied up at pier 27 the ship appears to have landed something from its number 5 hold. It did not load or unload any cargo that I could detect.

I was determined to get a photo, despite fading light, to show the ship's bluff bow. Its next port is given as Boston - hardly noted for bulk  cargoes, so perhaps it is headed for drydock.

In for a longer stay is the tanker Anemos I at Imperial Oil #3 dock. Launched in 2007 as Anemos by Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan, the 27,916 gt, 47,823 dwt ship was renamed on delivery to owners Splendour Shipholding SA under the operation of Capital Ship Management.

The ship gave Sept-Iles, QC as it last port. That would mean it loaded its refined product cargo (likely in Antwerp) then delivered some to Imperial's depot in Sept-Iles , then came on to Halifax with the rest. Imperial's regional depots serve customers by truck.

.

Outport Report

With the possibility of winter weather coming soon, it was time to check in on nearby 'outports'.  before road travel becomes unpleasant.

Lunenburg is now home to a couple of globe trotting vessels, both of which have recently returned to port after their latest voyages.

Polar Prince, the former CCGS Sir Humphrey Gilbert (built 1959)  is tied up adjacent to Picton Castle  (built 1928).  Both vessels might be considered by some to be past their prime, but they are carrying on useful functions in research, and training and look set to continue in these roles for some time to come.

It was a  bright sunny day in Lunenburg on Wednesday as Picton Castle and Polar Prince await their next assignments. Picton Castle returned from its latest round the world trip in June, then joined Tall Ships events including a trip to the Great Lakes). Polar Prince returned to Lunenburg in late October after another summer in the north.

The future is not so bright for the vessel that appears between the two in the photo. Conversion of the trawler Primo to a sailing vessel appears to be stalled. It is listed as owned by the same owners as Picton Castle. Built in 1963 by Geo T. Davie + Sons Ltd in Lauzon, QC, it should have many more years left if work can be found for it.

Holiday Island hauled out in Pictou for refit.

The open decks are normally tarped in for the winter.

In Pictou the 1971-built summer ferry Holiday Island has been hauled out at the shipyard for refit. Replacement for the Voith-Schneider propelled ship has been the subject of speculation recently, but there did not seem to be much mention about it during the federal election. New construction seems the likely route in view of the dismal performance of some second hand ferries recently acquired in Europe.

Confederation approaching the Caribou, NS dock on its noon time crossing.

Its fleet mate Confederation was built in 1993 as a result of an election promise - (made by a sitting MP without the knowledge of his caucus or leader according to legend).  Its performance has not always been sterling either, and the Holiday Island is the go to boat. However with the season winding down it is running the Caribou, NS / Wood Island PE route solo.

What appears to be a former Province of Nova Scotia cable ferry is tied up near the shipyard,  less its wheelhouse.

Devoid of any name, but still equipped with at least one hydraulic ramp, the boat may have been converted to a work barge. It is possible that it is the former Englishtown ferry Angus MacAskill replaced in 2010. Since the Province of Nova Scotia does not register its ferries, it is difficult to trace individual units.

Tenders were supposed to close October 18 for two new cable ferries for the Province (one for Country Harbour and one for Little Narrows) but I have not heard the results yet.

.

Ocean Force closeup

The Ocean Force moved from anchor to pier 9C today, allowing a for a bit of a close up look.

As mentioned previously the ship is reported to have semi-submersible capabilities, and this seems to be confirmed by the unusual feature of draft marks extending all the way up to the main deck. Certainly not something one would want to see on a normal ship!

The ship is registered in Belize City, Belize (formerly British Honduras), a flag of convenience, and one normally reserved for aging vessels working in the Caribbean.

After completing its substitution on the St-Pierre et Miquelon service last month, the ship has been idle at anchor in Bedford Basin awaiting orders.

.