Pre-Holiday

To avoid being in port over Christmas, the race was onto get as many ships as possible in and out of port today (December 23). The term "Christmas" as far as the port is concerned, starts December 24 and extends through the 25th (actual Christmas Day) and the 26th (Boxing Day). Premium wage rates apply for longshore workers on these holidays, and terminal gates are closed to truck traffic. To add to the volume of traffic was the fact that most of today's arrivals had been holding offshore due to weather for a day or two.

Almost every berth was occupied for the better part of the day today, with coming and going at some.

Starting in the north end of the port, the Baie St.Paul arrived at Gold Bond gypsum in Bedford Basin this morning, to squeeze in another cargo. The Canadian flagged ship may be heading for a Great Lakes port, so is in a rush to load and go before the St.Lawrence Seaway closes for the winter. This season's January 5 closing is the latest for the modern day system, which opened in 1959. (The old St.Lawrence Canals which preceded the Seaway usually closed before Christmas.) The Canso Canal closing date may also be a factor, as the ship would likely take that route. (The Canal / Lock usually closes on December 23 for repair and maintenance work.)

The Baie St.Paul is built to maximum Seaway dimensions, and was reinforced to make short ocean voyages - usually only as far as Halifax. For a ship built as recently as 2012 (by Chnengxi Shipyard Jiangyin, Jiangsu) it certainly appears in hard shape.

Aside from the usual late season "lock rash" that all maximum breadth Seaway ships exhibit, the ship also has the "hungry horse" look. That effect, where  hull plates have contorted between ribs, is usually the result of many years of torsional forces.

The Baie St. Paul is a 24,340 gt, 37,690 dwt ship but when loaded to maximum Seaway draft of 8.08 meters (26'-6")(in fresh water) it loads about 29,650 tonnes of gypsum in Halifax. 

Seaway maximum hull dimensions are 225.5m (740') x 23.77m (78'). Since the locks are 24.4m (80') wide, and ships usually slide along the approach wall to ensure that they enter the lock cleanly, "lock rash" is inevitable. However a factor in the "hungry horse" look is twisting of the the long and narrow hull form, so may also be inevitable over time.

The Baie St.Paul is a perfect fit at the Gold Bond dock in Lower Burnside. The facility's traveling conveyor moves back and forth along the length of the ship for even loading.

 PSA Fairview Cove was all out today with the early morning departure of the storm delayed NYK Rigel alongside since yesterday and Oceanex Sanderling waiting its turn at anchor.

On its weekly run to St.John's, the Oceanex Sanderling may be in no great hurry as it would not wish to arrive in St.John's on Christmas Day. It did manage to squeeze in a brief call at Autoport but in any event there is at least one more ship ahead of it for Fairview Cove.

The ZIM feeder Annie B (see yesterday's post) moved out to anchor this morning, but will likely move back in after the Navios Indigo sails. That ship arrived at PSA Fairview Cove this morning on the ZCA / AL7 service from Mediterranean ports.

 The 4250 TEU ship made its first call in Halifax October19, 2023 on the joint ZIM Container Services Atlantic/ Hapag-Lloyd route from the Mediterranean to North America east coast. That route's easternmost ports are Haifa and Ashdod, with scheduled calls in Egypt, Turkey, Italy and Spain. From Halifax it is due to call in New York, Norfolk and Savannah before heading eastbound again.

At PSA Halifax Gateway it was similarly busy with the Ultra size ONE Eagle alongside Pier 41 until late tonight. MSC Alyssa occupied Pier 42 most of the day with MSC Marianna due to take its place later. Also due is Eimskip's Lagarfoss and an ultra-size, CMA CGM T. Jefferson, is anchored offshore waiting its turn.

Some ice from the recent freezing rain still coats the grass and a picnic table at Point Pleasant Park while cranes work the MSC Alyssa at Pier 42. 

There was also a run on autocarriers trying to beat the deadline. The SFL Conductor made an unusual late night call last night, sailing at 0200 hrs this morning. Morning Concert arrived yesterday afternoon at Pier 9C to offload the usual array of machinery before moving to Autoport this morning to disembark cars. It will sail late this afternoon.

 The Grande Luanda is anchored off Halifax and is due this evening, after dark and is due to sail tomorrow mid-day.

The pilot boat Capt. E.T.Rogers makes its way inbound in glassy calm conditions as Grande Luanda rides at anchor offshore.

 Thr tanker Algocanada is still at anchor. It moved there to wait out the recent storm, but I assumed it would move to Imperial Oil's number 3 dock as soon as conditions calmed down. However another Canadian tanker, the Kivalliq W., arriving from Sarnia, put in this morning - it had been holding offshore due to weather. (The extra overtime rates do not apply at the oil terminals which are privately operated, but the supplies of fuel products are constantly in demand and deliveries are scheduled weeks or even months in advance. Depending on the product being carried some ships would be given priority to offload.)

Algocanada is fully loaded.

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Algoma meetup

 Algoma tankers seldom spend long in port, and then usually only at Imperial Oil's number 3 dock to load or unload product. Today, December 17, saw two Algoma tankers in port at the same time for a few hours at Pier 9C, far from the oil dock.

Algocanada, a fairly rare visitor, arrived late last night, December 16 and went directly to Pier 9C.

The ship was built in 2008 by Eregli Gemi in Turkey, and is a 8,009 gt, 11,267 dwt chemical / product tanker, and appears to be scrubber equipped. (The free standing box astern with the two tanks below indicates that it is a closed loop scrubber. Pollutants are stored aboard until they can be sent ashore for treatment.)

The Algocanada has product aboard, likely from Sarnia, and was reported downbound through the St.Lawrence Seaway December 12-13. 

Early this afternoon fleet mate Algoscotia moved from the number 3 oil dock to Pier 9C. It arrived in Halifax December 15 from its usual rounds between the eastern ports of Sept-Iles, Sydney and CornerBrook.

Algoscotia was built in 2004 by the Hangnan Shipyard Group at the Qiuxin Shipyard in Shanghai. It is a 13,352 gt, 18,610 dwt ship. Tying up immediately astern of the Algocanada gave the rare opportiunity of seeing both ships at the same time.

Algoscotia is due to sail this evening, but Algocanada appears set to stay at Pier 9C until the latest storm passes by tonight and tomorrow.

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Tankers to Anchor

 The coastal tankers that come to Halifax are usually in and out of port quickly, so it was unusual that the Algocanada arrived yesterday, November 21, and anchored in number 2 anchorage - not far from its usual berth at Imperial Oil dock 3.

The Algocanada was built for Algoma Tankers by Med Marine Group in Eregli, Turkey in 2008. It is a 8,009 gt, 11,267 dwt ship, ice class 1A with polymer lined tanks. It is carrying refined product loaded at Imperial Oil's refinery in Nanticoke, ON and sailed from there on November 16.

There was construction activity at the oil dock during the day today, November 22, with Eagle Beach Contractors Ltd's tug and crane barge alongside. The ship was due to move in this afternoon, but that did not happen, likely due to high winds.

Also at anchor is the Harbour Feature which also arrived yesterday, November 21, from New York.

The 11,896 gt, 16,909 dwt ship dates from 2011 when it was built by Yangfan Group in Zhoushan, China. It initially tied up at the Irving Oil terminal in Woodside, but moved out to anchor this morning.

There has also been construction activity at the Irving Oil dock too, and that may be the reason for the move. The ship does not appear to have much cargo left on board. 

The ship is well known in Canadian waters including the Great Lakes and previous calls in Halifax. It also works up and down the east coast. Since October 25 it has been Houston, TX, Point Comfort, TX October 27-28, Quebec City November 11-12 and New York November 19.
 

The Harbour Feature downbound in the St-Lambert Lock of the St.Lawrence Seaway.

Let it Blow (x 3)

 The weather outside is frightful, but at least it was not snowing in Halifax (unlike northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, where there was heavy snow) today December 13. But it was the wind that probably accounted for today's relative dearth of shipping activity in the harbour.

The coastal tanker Algocanada was straining at its anchor in #4 anchorage in the lower harbour.

Although there were few whitecaps to tell of high wind, the bar taught anchor chain was the giveaway as Algocanada bides its time at anchor.

 The ship arrived Thursday December 8 from Sarnia but anchored awaiting its turn at Imperial Oil. (It had to wait for the Gaia Desgagnés which arrived from Lévis, also on December 8 and sailed on December 10, and the Algoscotia which arrived December 10 from CornerBrook.

 Gaia Desgagnés, a rare visitor, sailed from Halifax with cargo for CornerBrook.

On Monday (December 12) when the Algoscotia sailed, it was Algocanada's turn at Imperial Oil, but  later the same evening it moved out to anchor again.  With the winds predicted to die down the ship is expected to move back to Imperial Oil tonight.

The only container ship in Halifax was the ZIM Luanda but high winds may have have slowed or stalled crane operations.

 Built in 2009 by Samsung Shipbuilding and Heavy Industry in Koje, it is a 40,030 gt, 50,697 dwt ship with a capacity of 4253 TEU. It has been a regular caller for many years on ZIM's Zim Container Atlantic (ZCA) service. It is not schduled to sail until tomorrow morning.

The only real indication of the high winds and rough conditions was a bit of splash at the bow of CCGS Jean Goodwill as it returned to its BIO base from SAR patrol.

 The ship was the only Canadian Coast Guard all weather ship available in Halifax for the past few weeks as several ships are in refit and others have been relocated to cover for them.

Noteworthy however is CCGS Kopit Hopson 1752 [See December 2 post] which has moved from Irving Shipbuilding's Woodside facility to the BIO base. Whether the ship is fully commissioned yet or not is unknown, but it must be close if it has been handed over to the CCG.

After such multi-year VLE refits, the ship must be stored, equipment must be tuned and crew must be oriented - a process that could take weeks.

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More Algomas

Four Algoma tankers in port at one time is a unique event as far as I know. Even in the days when Imperial owned its own fleet and operated a refinery it was rare to have four ships in port at once.

Three of the tankers were at anchor late this afternoon and one was unloading at number 3 dock. The best camera angle to include all four ships in one shot was from the Angus L. Macdonald bridge. I confess I did not take the initiative to make that jaunt.

 Instead I tried for three in one.

Algocanada was closest to the camera awaiting its turn to unload, with Algoterra close behind and Algonorth in the distance..

Their various colour schemes provide an interesting composition, but also a reminder of their different histories.

Algonorth, at little used number 2 anchorage, and possibly less than fully loaded, still appears in the attractive colour scheme of its previous Swedish owners, and has a non-typical funnel marking.  http://shipfax.blogspot.com/2018/12/new-for-algoma.html

Algoterra still carries its Knutsen orange hull paint.  http://shipfax.blogspot.com/2019/04/algomas-latest-tanker.html .

It had first arrived at the Irving Oil dock for bunkers before going to anchor. It also did not appear to be carrying much cargo.

Algoscotia  had moved to Imperial Oil dock 3.

Algoscotia was built for Algoma Tankers, so has always worn the company's dark blue hull colour.

With Algonova's departure yesterday that makes five Algoma tankers in port in a 24 hour period, also a unique event in my experience.

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A run on tankers and a ZIM feeder

There seems to be a real run on Algoma tankers right now, which is odd in view of the lack of demand for petroleum products. Perhaps the large tank farm that used to be the Imperial Oil refinery is an attractive storage place for fuel that no one wants. Algoscotianova sailed this afternoon, Algocanada is in port and Algonorth is due tomorrow morning.

Algoscotianova lets its lines go from Imperial Oil.

Algocanada awaits its turn at anchor.

ZIM's feeder service brought in Taipei Trader from New York.

Built by Jiangsu Yangzijiang in 2014 with its present name, it carried the name Cap Avatele from 2014 to 2016. A 99332 grt, 13,063 dwt ship it has a capacity of 1102 TEU, including 220 reefers and has a pair of 45 tonne cranes.

Port activity seems to be keeping up with ship visits, but tonnages may be well down.  Also the number of auto imports is down. The cars unloaded at pier 9C by the Grand Diamond on April 6 are now being moved by truck to Autoport. http://shipfax.blogspot.com/2020/04/autos-and-more-autos.html

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He Chi - follow up

 It is not often that I get to actually follow up on the movement of a ship. It is also rare to get a decent photo from the window of a commercial aircraft. However I got a chance yesterday when, flying into Montreal en route to Toronto, the airplane flew directly over Section 103, the Shell Canada dock. On the North side of the dock, the Chinese tanker He Chi was berthing with assistance of two Groupe Océan tugs.

It is also interesting to see ships from a different angle. The tanker's manifolds are clearly visible.

On the south side of the dock is the Canadian tanker Algocanada.

Also visible is the "winch only" signage for a helicopter landing spot.

The He Chi had bunkered in Halifax last week - see Shipfax June 15

A low level view of the He Chi with Algoma Dartmouth bunkering in Halifax last week.

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