More Algo - revised

 Algoma Tankers Ltd continues to make the news, this time not with a purchase, but with a sale*. The Algonorth a frequent visitor to Halifax has been sold* to an Algoma partner company Furetank and is en route to Kalundborg, Denmark for handover. A reliable report says that it will be drydocked, then renamed.[Algoma and Furetank operate a 50/50 owned company in European trades]. 

[ Revision - there ship may not have been sold, but has been transferred the 50.50 operation]

The ship was last in Halifax earlier this month, arrriving January 11 from Lévis, QC. After unloading at Imperial Oil, it moved over to Pier 28 where it was bow to bow with one of Algoma's recent additions the Chantaco, which was subsequently renamed Algotitan. The latter is still in Halifax and is due to sail this evening, January 30, for Sydney, NS, with its first cargo.

On January 17 Algonorth moved back to Imperial Oil and loaded for Sydney, sailing January 18. Arriving there January 19 it discharged cargo and departed January 20 for Baltimore.

The purpose of its visit to Baltimore is unknown, but its sailing draft was reported to be 6.7m (nearly 22 ft), so it must have loaded some cargo there. It sailed January 25 and is now due in Kalundborg on February 8.

At 12,164 gt,16,979 dwt, 144m x 23m, the Algonorth has a slightly smaller cargo capacity than the Algotitan's 11,793 gt, 18,734 dwt, 143m x 23m. Built in 2008 it is one year newer than the Algotitan. Both were built in Turkey, but at different yeards, Algonorth at Tuzla Gemi and Algotitan at R.M.K. Tuzla. There must be some feature of the Algonorth that makes it desirable to Furetank, but as previously reported it is due for survey this year.

Algonorth's bright red hull paint and white racing stripe made it an easily identifiable (and admired) member of the Algoma Tankers fleet.

 

Unfortunatetly, several years of work in the Seaway locks left the ship much worse for the wear (at least in appearance).

Algoma did not own the ship long enough for a required drydocking and repainting in traditional Algoma colours, so it was a standout in the fleet even if a bit shop worn. Originally named Gan-Gesture for various Turkish owners it was renamed Ramira in 2009 by Swedish owners Alvtank Rederi AB and carried that name until 2019 when renamed by Algoma.

Algoma Tankers also operates the 2004 built Algoscotia on the east coast. It is a 13,352 gt, 18,610 dwt ship. The company also has ships that see mostly Great Lakes service and rarely travel to the Atlantic. They sold one of those ships earlier this year too. The Algoma Hansa, renamed Algo sailed from Halifax January 21 and is due in Las Palmas February 2 where  it will be drydocked before taking up a new career reported to be as a shuttle tanker, possibly in Africa.

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Last Man Standing

 The Ocean Terminals piers recently had four ships alongside but the last one will be sailing today, January 25. The Algoma Tankers' Algotitan (ex Chantaco) moved from Pier 27 via anchorage yesterday to Imperial Oil this morning, and the former Algoma Hansa sailed from Pier 25 as Algo on January 21. The high-heat tanker Iver Ambition sailed in the very early hours of this morning from Pier 26, resuming its trip to Ghent, Belgium, although giving suburban Zelzate as its destination.

The newly renamed Algotitan posed for photos at anchor yesterday.

 That left the bulk carrier Midland Trader to finish loading wood pellets at Pier 28. By this afternoon the ship was buttoned up and ready to sail for Skagen, Denmark where the wood will be converted to "sulphur and fossil free" bio-fuel. The ship arrived here January 16 [see previous posts.]

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Algo, Algoing, Algone

 The tanker Algo sailed from Halifax this morning (January 21) to take up its new career. After serving Algoma Tankers Ltd as Algoma Hansa since 2008 it is headed for refit in one of the shipyards in Las Plamas de Canaria.

It has been reported that new owners Hero Navigation SA (incorporated in the Marshall Islands) plan to use the ship for shuttle work (likely in Africa.). Now registered in Liberia, with all certificates renewed, that leaves only its classification to be renewed within the next thirteen months. 

Typical of a ship that has worked on the Great Lakes it got underway from Pier 26 without tugs and cleared the ship ahead of it at Pier 26 with ease. [See Iver Ambition in a subsequent post].
 

Underway and headed for sea,in ballast, it will not be long before it reaches the warmer temperatures of the Gulf Stream, and any traces of snow on deck will be gone.

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Snow Day

 The first significant snow fall of the winter today (January 20) - about 10cm and counting - resulted in some delays and re-scheduling due to conditions on shore.

The tanker Algo - the former Canadian tanker Algoma Hansa -was due to sail, but the departure was cancelled. The ship has been alongside at Pier 25 since January 7.

The ship was retired from the Algoma Tankers Ltd fleet earlier this month and has been sold, renamed and registered in Liberia. (The ship's new owners are incorporated in the Marshall Islands). Informed opinion is that it will be used in shuttle or bunkering service somewhere in the third world. According to on-line sources, all the ship's certificates were renewed this month and it has from February 2023 to March 2024 to renew its current classification. (That classification may not be renewed depending on the Owner's plans. Twenty-five year refits to maintain status are very costly and therefore rare.)

Another long-stay ship was due to sail today, and return tomorrow - possibly for sea trials - but that has been delayed. Thorco Legacy arrived on December 22, 2022  and took up an anchorage position in Bedford Basin. It then moved alongside Pier 9B on January 7 where it has been fitted up with steel racks for undersea fibreoptic cable.

 While alongside the ship may also have undergone some maintenance which requires testing before the ship can sail to its next port. Most ships fitted with cable racks go on to Portsmouth (Newington) NH where the cable is manufactured by Subcom Cable Systems LLC. Subcom also installs, manages and maintains cable networks world wide.

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Algo Update

 With Algoma tankers all over Halifax harbour (four at least count if you include ex vessels) it is time for a brief update.

The former Algoma Hansa, officially removed from the Canadian register on January 13 and renamed Algo remains at Pier 25 -26. The weather has finally co-operated enough for the painters to modify the name and add Monrovia as the port of registry. 

The painters also hastily covered the Algoma crest on the funnel. Most ships sold for scrap are renamed (as economically as possible) and any traces of prior ownersdhip are obliterated before sailing.

If the ship is going to India for scrap it is usually re-registered under a marginal flag of convenience such as St.Kitts and Nevis. However registering the ship in Liberia (a higher standard flag of convenience) indicates that the ship will remain insured until it reaches its destination, likely Turkey, and will sail under its own power, rather than in tow. There is little chance that the ship will be re-sold for further trading, but that is still an outside possibility. I have heard reports that it will be used for bunkering or for shuttle service.

Once the Algoma shield was painted over on the funnel, there appeared the original Dannebrog swallow tail pennant which was not just painted on, but built on, with steel plate.

 Algoma's latest acquistion Algotitan (ex Chataco) remains at Pier 27. Algonorth is due to sail this afternoon with the newly arrived Algoscotia standing by to to take its berth.

Street views of the harbour, such as this one from Sackville Street, are sometimes rewarding. Algoscotia arriving from Sept Iles, did a "harbour tour" around George's Island while the Algonorth was getting underway for Sydney.

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