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Among the arrivals and departures in Halifax today (Sunday, November 6) there were three ships to mention:

Algoma Mariner

Arriving Friday November 4 from Thunder Bay with a load of grain, the Algoma Mariner tied up at Pier 26 to unload.

The Seaway size ship is equipped with a self-unloading system that transports cargo by conveyors along the bottom of the hold and up to a long boom that swings out over the dock. A special hopper fitted to the tower on the dock collects the cargo and feeds it by more conveyor belts to the Halifax Grain Elevator.

By coincidence the Halifax Chronicle-Herald published a photo on October 13, 2022 showing the first ship to use the grain hopper, which was the Algobay on August 8, 1986. Prior to the hopper system self-unloaders could not be accommodated and ships were unloaded using a bucket ladder type conveyor called a "grain leg", which was  much slower.

The Algobay was originally built in 1978 but in 2009 was rebuilt with a new forebody in China. It is still operting for Algoma as the Radcliffe R. Latimer. Algoma Mariner was built in Chian in 2010. Its cargo section was built first and was to be attached to the older ship Algoport, however that ship sank under tow to China so a new engine/accommodation block was constructed for this ship, which thus slightly predated the new Equinox class of Chinese built ships.

Asian Vision

It was a two point stop for the autocarrier Asian Vision, which arrived yesterday, November 5 at Pier 9C. There it unloaded a large quantity of machinery, including wheeled vehicles and crates. 

As a result Pier 9C is crowded with cargo, since there is still material from the previous ship Don Carlos, which was here November 3-4. That ship's RoRo cargo included the US registered helicopter N65MK, A Bell Textron 2063:

Asian Vision moved to Autoport early this morning to unload the automobile portion of its cargo:

Built in 1997 by Hyundai, Ulsan, the 55,680 gt, 21,421 dwt ship has a capacity of 6246 cars (RT43 measurement)(6460 CEU in the Korean Register) and is equipped with a 150 tonne stern ramp. Its side ramp looks sizeable too and is placed well aft (most ships have the side ramp farther forward.)

[If the foreground looks a little surrealistic it is because unusually warm temperatures for the last few days have caused many plants and wildflowers to re-blossom.]

Although it carries the EUKOR banner and flies the South Korean flag, the ship is operated by the parent organization Wallenius Wilhelmsen and works on their transatlantic service and other loops. When COVID broke out there was speculation that the ship, along with several others, would be laid up and scrapped due to its age. However it is still operating, and as demand for cars has rebounded, it is likely to remain in service at least until it next special survey in 2027.

Franbo Lohas

While the name may not be familiar the shape may be recognizeable as one of s series of Japanese multi-purpose carriers. Franbo Lohas arrived this afternoon (November 6) and went to anchor in Bedford Basin. 

The Honda shipyard in Saiki, Japan built the ship in 2016. [Honda is a family name in Japan - and there is no connection between the shipyard and the car builder]. One of a dozen or more similar ships, built for Thorco, it was delievered as Thorco Lohas. The 13,110 gt, 16,966 dwt ship has box shaped holds, moveable tween decks and a pair of 50 tonne SWL cranes. It was renamed Frambo Lohas in 2021.

The ship is likely in port to load fibreoptic cable racks, as several sister ships have been here previously for that purpose.

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