BBC Topaz at Pier 9C

The heavy lift ship BBC Topaz arrived at Pier 9C this morning, January 31, to load a consignment of four package boilers, which arrived in Halifax some time ago on rail cars. The boilers were built by IST (Innovative Steam Techologies) based in Cambridge, ON. The "Once Through Heat Recovery Steam Generators" employ waste heat from gas turbines and other industrial processes, to generate steam.

Large green and yellow package boilers on rail cars are positioned along the pier face ready to be lifted on the ship by its own cranes.(A fourth unit is out of sight to the right).

BBC Chartering operates the BBC Topaz which was built in 2010 by Sainty Jiangdu shipyard in China. The 12,810 gt, 14,288 dwt ship is equipped with two 400 tonne capacity and one 80 tonne capacity cranes. It also has large and unobstructed holds with two position tween decks and can be configured to carry a wide variety of heavy and oversize cargoes. With its accommodation block and wheelhouse forward, it can carry high deck loads that would otherwise obstruct visibility. 

The ship was launched as the Eris J but delivered as Industrial Fighter. In 2013 it became HHI Everest then Eris J again in 2014, Daniella in 2015, Eris J in 2015, Industrial Fighter again in 2018 and BBC Topaz in 2019. Although operating in the BBC Chartering fleet the ship is owned by Jüngerhans Heavy-Lift and is still shown as member of the fleet on the Reederei Jüngerhans website as Eris J.

Weather permitting (it is expected to snow all day) the loading should be completed by late afternoon. The boilers, built as package units, are relatively easy to stow, as they don't require special rigging to secure. The destination for the boilers is unknown to me, but the ship is giving an ETA of February 7 for the Panama Canal.

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