The idle bulk carrier Ale has changed hands and as of mid-March is part of CSL Europe Ltd. The European branch of Canada Steamship Lines operates four ships, three of which are conveyor belt type self-unloaders and one is a subsea rock installer. The Ale seems an odd choice as it is a crane equipped bulker, built to St.Lawrence Seaway dimensions, but perhaps the price was right as the ship is in a damaged condition.
As previously reported January 18, 2023 and January 4, 2023 the ship grounded in Long Pond, Newfoundland last September, damaging rudder, prop and bottom. It was towed to Méchins, QC for temporary repairs at the Verreault Shipyard (owned by Groupe Océan). The Italian tug Kamarina was sent from Europe to tow the ship to Portugal for permanent repairs, but there were problems on departing Méchins and the tug and tow diverted to Halifax. After standing by for more than a month the tow was cancelled and the Kamarina sailed February 15 for Lisbon, light tug.
Since then the Ale has remained in Halifax with a crew on board, but no outward sign of activity, and no repairs to prop, rudder or hull. Nor has there been any sign of ownership change, and as of today the ship is still bearing the previous owner's funnel marking.
The ship was built in 2012 by Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering Co in Taizhou, China, and had a full shipyard ten-year class renewal in August 2022. Orginally the Polish flagged Raba it acquired its current name in 2021 when it was acquired by Oslo Venture Private Ltd.
CSL's plans for the ship are not known, but one thing is certain, it will have to go into drydock for major repairs and it will have to go there under tow.
Ale moved off its berth in Halifax January 18 2023 to make way for another ship..
The well known Polish Ocean Lines funnel mark is stll visible beneath the last owners logo, but that will be changing.
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