New Bulker
A bulk carrier that was handed over by the shipyard in October made a brief call in Halifax today, November 20. The BBC Pluto is one a series of Supramax ships that is part of BBC Chartering's foray into new territory.
BBC Chartering, based in Leer, Germany, is best known for its fleet of 140 multi-purpose general cargo ships, often equipped with heavy lift cranes. In 2024 the company accepted the first of its fifteen revolutionary (wheelhouse forward) Laker-Max class ships equipped for 500 tonne lifts.
For the past three years the company has also been adding Supramax ships of about 40,000 dwt with four cranes, and now number ten in its fleet. BBC Pluto comes from Jiangmen Nanyoung Ship Engineering, It is a 25,173 ft, 40,459 dwt vessel with four 30 tonne capacity cranes. It is also features full length hatches and box shaped holds.
The ship arrival from Sundsvall, Sweden and is bound for Searsport, Maine. Reason for calling in Halifax: unknown; reason for going to Searsport: unknown.
Old Car Boat
Tenty-two years of age is getting on for auto carriers. A booming demand after an industry-wide clear out a few years ago, is keeping even older ships on the hop.
The Spendid Ace dates from 2003 when it was built by Minami Nippon Shipbuilding Co Ltd in Osuki City. Gross tonnage has been quoted at both 36,026 gt and 56,439 gt. (the latter seems more accurate) and 19,863 dwt. Its capacity is 5,281 standard cars, but has also been noted at 6,400 medium size cars. Side ramps are not as common as they once were, but port side ramps are even rarer. On line photos show that the ship has a starboard side ramp too.
On this trip the ship sailed from several ports in Japan, the last being Yokohama October 16. It has since called in San Juan, Brunswick, Dundalk (Baltimore) and New York. It is presumably carrying Japanese built cars, but avoiding the usual west coast auto terminals.
Fill'er Up
Tankers need to refuel, and when they do they usually show brand loyalty. But in the case of Algoma Tankers, there may be choices. The company has ships on charter to both Imperial Oil and to Irving Oil. So when the Algoscotia (which serves Imperial Oil) needs to refuel, it might be expected to use Esso product. Imperial has no refueling capability at its Woodside Dartmouth terminal, nor truck access on the docks, so ships need to tie up at a location where tanks trucks can reach the ship. Pier 9C was the choice this time.
Imperial may supply the fuel, but it is RST that delivers it to the ship. RST (Road and Sea Transport) is owned by J.D.Irving Ltd - a totally separate company from Irving Oil - and the trucks and the gear to pump the fuel aboard. They will carry fuel from Imperial or Irving as required.
Algoscotia normally works from Halifax primarily to Sydney, but also to Charlottetown, Corner Brook and Sept-Ies, QC.
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