Thanksgivinig Holiday

Canada declares a holiday on a mid-October Monday, and today (October 14) is the day this year. Traditionally it is the day that we face the inevitable and acknowledge that summer is really over, the leaves are turning and it is time to prepare for winter. Businesses are closed and most workers get a long week end.

It is called Thanksgiving and I want to give thanks to all readers who sent well wishes during my recent health crisis. I am also thankful that there do not appear to be any long term effects and that my return to "normal" is well underway.

That said it was not so obvious that it was a holiday in Halifax harbour today as most activities seemed to continue as usual.

Autoport had  the Hoegh Sydney as an early morning arrival that sailed at noon time. The ship has been here many times over the years since it was built in 2007 by Tsuneishi Cebu, in Balamban, Philippines.

Flying the Japanese flag, the ship is owned by Chijin Shipping SA and on charter to Hoegh Autoliners (a company 61.25% owned by Leif Hoegh  and 38.75% by AP Moller-Maersk). The 51,731 gt, 17,311 dwt ship has a capacity of 4379 CEU.

There was one lone cruise ship in port. Silver Wind tied up at pier 23.

A small (but luxurious) ship of only 17,235 gt, it has a capacity of 294 passengers with 208 crew. Built in 1995 by Canitiere Navale Visentini in Donada, Porto Viro, near Venice, Italy it sails for Silverseas Cruises.

Fairview Cove hosted two container ships, Atlantic Sea and YM Enlightenment, both scheduled to sail after dusk this evening.

It did not appear to be a holiday at Halifax Shipyard either  where workers were overside in a suspended crane basket touching up hull paint on AOPS 1 (Harry DeWolfe) before the ship starts trials - expected soon.

Irving Shipbuilding has extended the expected float off date for AOPS 2 (Margaret Brooke) to late November or even December.

The Norwegian flagged semi-submersible Boabarge 37 stands ready for the operation when it does occur. A new application has been made to for a coasting license to start November 23 and end December 23, 2019. The previous application was for the period October 18 to November 18.

The Royal Netherlands Navy's frigate RLNMS De Ruyter, after a visit shortened to one day, (thanks to foul weather) moved with civilian tug assistance from HMC Dockyard to pier 9 this afternoon for fueling. With no bunkering tanker in Halifax anymore, ships must go to the fuel or it must be brought to the ship by truck.

The tug Atlantic Fir side steps along with the ship as Spitfire III provides the propulsion.

Once in position off pier 9 the tugs swung the ship in the channel and placed it smartly alongside.

Wilson's Fuel's depot on Barrington Street, connected by pipeline to Pier 9, has been the fuel source of choice for offshore vessels and other smaller ships. Irving Oil also provides bunkering at its  Woodside terminal and can accommodate larger ships. To my knowledge Imperial Oil does not offer alongside bunkering, but may provide fuel by truck.

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