Tanker Twins

 

When Irving Oil contracted with Algoma Tankers to provide two products tankers on long term charter, it was inevitable that both ships would eventually appear in Halifax at the same time. Today, December 5 was the first time, according to my records.

The ships essentially identical, at 23,451 gt, 37,242 dwt and were built by Hyundai Mipo in Ulsan. They replaced two chartered ships named East Coast and Acadian and were given the names Algoma East Coast and Algoma Acadian. Since the end of the charters to Irving Oil the older ships, owned by the Dutch company Vroon, are operating in Europe without change of name.

The new ships work on a fairly tight loop out of Saint John, NB where Irving Oil's refinery turns out refined products for eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Since delivery in the spring of this year both ships have been frequent callers at Irving Oil's distribution terminal in Halifax harbour. Located in the Woodside area on the Dartmouth side of the harbour, the terminal stores various grades of fuel until it is transferred to trucks for delivery to outlets mostly in mainland Nova Scotia. The ships go on to ports such as Charlottetown and St. John's, with occasional runs to Portland, ME or other US ports and as far west as Montreal (they are too large for the St.Lawrence Seaway.)
The Algoma Acadian (left in photo above) arrived yesterday from Saint John and sailed this afternoon for Charlottetown. The Algoma East Coast arrived from Saint John, picking up  dusting of frozen spray en route. 

 At Imperial Oil (background in photo above) the tanker Success is offloading refined products from Houston. It is 29,335 gt, 46,803 dwt ship, built in 2004 by Hyundai Mipo. Originally named British Security it sailed for BP until 2016 when it was renamed Security. In 2019 it was renamed Success under the flag of India.

 

 Algoma Tankers also has tankers contracted to Imperial Oil. They are wider ranging, with trips to Great Lakes ports, such as Sarnia and Nanticoke where Imperial has refineries. They bring fule to Halifax bit also carry fuel from their Woodside storage facility to regional ports such as Sydney.

Today the Algoscotia arrived in ballast from Sydney and tied up at Pier 26. (The Success is occupying the only operational berth at Imperial Oil.)

 While alongside the ship may be able to carry out some maintenance work that can't be done at the oil dock. Built in 2004 by the Jiangnan Shipyard Group at the Qiuxin yard in Shanghai, the 13,352 grt, 18,610 dwt double hulled tanker normally runs year round with a few weeks respite during mid-winter when the St.Lawrence Seaway is closed.

Two Grachts, etc.,

The Amsterdam based Spliethoff Group, which includes Big Lift Shipping and Forestwave, operates about 145 ships. The company has found several niches for trade that can take their ships to the four corners of the earth. Even so it is rare to have two of their ships in the Port of Halifax on the same day (but not at the same time.)

Today, November 11 was such a day, and despite it being a national day of remembrance, there was some activity in the port. The truck gates at the two container terminals were closed, but the two ships at PSA Fairview Cove sailed in the morning.

The first to sail was the Jamaica followed a bit later by the Muntgracht [see yesterday's post.]

The Jamaica ex ZIM Luanda outbound in the Narrows this morning has cleared the A. Murray MacKay bridge and is passing Pier 9 (left background).

The Muntgracht with a deck load of unusual objects sailed from Fairview Cove and is headed for Matane, QC. Number one hatch has been left clear for future load or unload. That port handles a variety of cargoes including export of paper pulp, import of wind turbine components and due to a train and car ferry services to Baie Comeau and Sept-Iles, can also transship other products.

The second "Gracht" (Dutch for 'canal') arrived this afternoon From Belfast and docked at Pier 9C.  

One of Spliethoff's niche trades is yacht transport, and on this trip, it is carrying new boats representing several models from the same builder. 

Since visiting the Great Lakes in early September, the ship has been to Naples September 30 to October 3, Gdansk October 10-18, then Belfast October 28 -29. On sailing today the ship gave Palm Beach as its destination. (Despite having been to the Lakes, the ship does not appear to have suffered the same case of "lock rash" as its fleet mate.)

On arrival the ship made a neat turn off the dock, assisted by the Atlantic Oak and came alongside starboard side to. 

 

Predictably, the ship off loaded a large aircraft component package (loaded in Belfast), which was landed directly on a trombone (extendible) truck trailer and whisked away.

The Floretgracht is a member of Spliethoff's "F"class and is similar to the "M" class, and was also built in 2012, but by Jiangsu Yangzi Changbo Shipyard Co Ltd. The 8620 gt, 12,500 dwt ship is a multi-purpose type with box shaped holds and full width hatches. It has three cranes rated at 80 tonnes SWL, which can combine and can carry 658 TEU.

 Etc.,

There was also activity at the Irving Oil terminal in Woodside with the Algoma East Coast arriving with product from Saint John.

 And at Autoport it was the Morning Cornelia on an interesting rotation. 

 

The ship sailed from Nagoya September 5 and Toyohashi September 7 and was next reported in Sagunto (Valencia) Spain October 13. That would indicate a Suez passage, but was not reported as such in my usual sources. It then called in Portbury, UK October 18, Zeebrugge October 20-24 and Goteborg October 26 to 28. 

Built by Imabari Zosen in Japan in 2010 it is a 60,002 gt, 22,530 dwt ship with a capacity of 6,458 cars. In addition to the usual stern ramp, it has a small starboard side ramp as well.

As a bit of an update, the asphalt tanker ATB Leo A. McArthur, John J. Carrick was still unloading at the McAsphalt dock, and the orange buoy in the photo above marks the mooring point for the tanker's stern line. (seen from a different view point in the photo below). The sun was behind heavy cloud cover this morning, so there was no glare to spoil a picture.

 

Not to be left out, there was another arrival in Halifax today, the Atlantic Star made its way inbound from Liverpool and berthed at PSA Fairview Cove and then another coincidence occurred.

Later in the afternoon the big stern trawler Mersey Venture moved from its berth at COVE to an anchorage in Bedford Basin.

 It is a 2337 gt freezer trawler built in 1988. Construction was started by Tangen Verft, and completed by Langsten Slip, Tomrefjord. It fishes predominantly in the Greenland area for shrimp and cod but during seasonal layup it is often hired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for research work. It is likely doing some calibrations or other preparations for another research trip.

The coincidence is that it is also based in Liverpool, but not the same Liverpool. Liverpool, Nova Scotia is a small port on the southeast shore of Nova Scotia, predictably situated at the mouth of the Mersey River. (The original British settlers had a cruel sense of humour). It is home to Mersey Seafoods, owners of the trawler pictured above. 

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Busy Day

 It was a busy day in the Port of Halifax today, September 10, with activity at almost every facility - and with multiple moves at some of them. Shipfax is still only able to be in one place at a time, so this report must be less than exhaustive.

Autoport had an early arrival, the Morning Cello -(I believe a first time caller).  Built in 2007 by Hyundai Samho it is a 57,542 gt, 21,055 dwt ship with a capacity of 6500 CEU. Arriving from Bremerhaven, Goteborg, Zeebrugge and Southampton it is heading for New York.

 

There was activity at the two oil terminals, with a ship alongside and another waiting at both.

At Irving Oil it was the colourful Gulf Muttrah which arrived from Amsterdam unloading refined product on September 8.

 

A 29,535 gt, 46,556 dwt ship, it was built at Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan in 2009.

Yesterday's arrival, the Canadian flagged Algoma East Coast is at anchor in the lower harbour awaiting its turn at the berth.

 

At Imperial Oil, the Ocean Nisa completed offloading product from Antwerp. It arrived September 7 and this afternoon, September 10, moved to Pier 9B to refuel from trucks.  It was escorted to Bedford Basin and turned to come back into the Narrows and tied up starboard side to the pier.

 

 

Big tankers are rare sights in Bedford Basin, but this move may be because there were no berths available in the Ocean Terminals, in the south end of the harbour. Refueling would usually happen at Pier 27, but the Nirint ship Gotland was unloading its regular cargo of nickel sulfides from Cuba at that berth.

Awaiting its turn at Imperial Oil, the coastal tanker Algoscotia took up a position in anchorage number 2. It moved to Imperial's dock #3 soon after Ocean Nisa moved off.

 

Number 2 anchorage is to the north of Macnab's Island, between Ives Knoll and Indian Point, and is rarely used except for ships waiting for Imperial Oil and then only for short term since it may obstruct the entrance to EasternPassage for large ships. 

Inbound for Fairview Cove was a first time caller for ZIM's ZCA (Mediterranean - North America) service. Carmel I is quite apparently a charter from the large Greek owner Navios.

 Built in 2010 by Hyunda HIC-Phil in Subic, Philippines,  it is a 40,741 gt, 52,382 dwt vessel with a capacity of 4330 TEU. It was built as Bermuda but was renamed APL Bahrain on delivery and in 2014 became Bermuda again then ZIM Carmel in 2022 and Carmel I in 2023.

Tugs Atlantic Willow at the bow and Altantic Cedar tethered astern shepherded the ship through the Narrows. And while the Ocean Nisa was turning well to the north, the Cedar provided braking and assisted the turn toward PSA Fairview Cove.
 

 The cruise ships Liberty of  the Seas and Seabourn Sojourn added to the mix, 

 

( I missed the Island Princess).

The Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat Hare Bay made its way into port from its station in Sambro, then met a little slop on the way out. 

CCGS Earl Grey also sailed toward the south shore for navaids work.

 
 Also in port was the Lars D at Pier 42 for Melfi:

 

... and sailing from the C.O.V.E for sea trials was the Singapore flag multi-purpose offshore support vessel  Armada 78 02. It returned later in the day.

 

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Colourful Comings and Goings

 There were several comings and goings in Halifax today (June 2) - some of which were notable for their colour.

A quick visit was all that was required for the product tanker Torm India to receive clearance from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to proceed on its way from Texas City to Montreal. Presumably the ship was in Asian waters in the last year where it could have picked up an invasive species of moth that would be particularly harmful to Canadian softwood forests.

 Ships of the Danish company Torm A/S always stand out due to their burnt orange coloured superstructure. In addition to the company name on the jet black hull, there is also a version of the company flag.

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co Ltd built the ship in 2010 with the name Atlantic Queen. The 29,141 gt, 46,838 dwt product tanker was renamed by Torm in 2020,

Another outbound was the new tanker Algoma East Coast which will become a regular caller as it delivers Irving Oil product to regional ports. Its deep blue hull is very different from the traditional Irving Oil colours, which will soon be history.

A new sister ship the Algoma Acadian is en route from Hyundai, Ulsan and was last reported in Brasil en route to Savannah. It will replace the Acadian which is still in service in the area en route from Saint John to Portland.

There was another colourful arrival, the ONE Aquila on the Premier Alliance's EC3 Asia-North America service, direct from Colombo via the Cape of Good Hope.

The ONE Aquila used the main channel (not the western deepwater channel as I expected) and met the Algoma East Coast in the Middle Ground between Maugher's Beach and Ives Knoll for a starboard to starboard passing.

It still had lots of room to turn and back into Pier 41, using three tugs.

 ONE Aquila a 145,647 gt, 138,611 dwt ship built in 2018 by Japan Marine United in Kure, has a capacity of just over 14,000 TEU. Most sources have it at 14,065 for ships of this class. It is managed by NYK Line and works in the Ocean Network Express consortium of Japanese container lines, and uses the Latin word for Eagle in its name.

Meanwhile at Pier 41 MSC Cagliari IV was in from Montreal on MSC's North Europe - North America service. Wearing the usual MSC Colours, there was an exceptioanlly large housing for the exhaust gas scrubber system, which was painted out the same buff colour as the adjacent superstructure.

A 2017 product of the Dalian Shipbuilding Co, it started life as the ZIM Genova presumably for a ten year charter, after which it was renamed Genova in 2018, and MSC Cagliari IV in 2022. It is a 40,372 gt, 52,943 dwt ship of the 4250 TEU class, now rated at 4253 TEU, with 400 reefer plugs. 

Most MSC ships that carry a Roman Numeral in their name use a number at the top end of their TEU rating. A "IV" would normally be applied to a ship with a capacity in the high 3,000s of TEUs.

At Pier 20 to 22 were two ships with what might or might not be "colour schemes". Holland America's Zuiderdam follows tradition and is black and white. (Colour theorists will say that black is all colours and white is no colour.) The ship came from Fincantieri Trieste in 2002 and at 82,820 gt has a total passenger capacity of 2278 (or 2388), in 824 cabins, with a crew of 767 (others say 842).

Silverseas Cruises was represented by the Silver Dawn, which is mostly white. A 2021 build by Fincantieri Italiani, Ancona, it is a 40,855 gt ship with a passenger capacity of 660 in 298 cabins and 423 crew in 262 cabins.The ship is enroute from Boston to St.John's, NL.

After a day in port the Zuiderdam was the first to get away, backing out to the number 1 anchorage, turning, then heading for sea - destination Sydney. 

Whether organized or not there was a flypast of two helicopters, both wearing camo paint schemes - clearly not Royal Canadian Navy - but perhaps flying out of Shearwater.

 Shipfax considers its mandate to be "in, on, under and above" the water (hence the "beyond" in the subtitle.)

Silver Dawn got straight away from Pier 20 and headed north about to pass west of George's Island. I thought the ship would be all white, but instead the hull from about deck five down is a non descript browny light gray.

 It was soon shown up - colourwise at least - by the ubiquitous Harbour Hopper in its virulant green hull. (Likely the Harbour Hopper 4, but I did not read the name.)

As far as I can tell from online sources, early Silver Cruises ships were was all white up to 2019, when the two tone new colour scheme was introduced. This ship has always been two tone, but I am suggesting it was designed to be monchrome white as there is no natural break line between colours, such as a deck line (see Zuiderdam above.)

 

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Algoma East Coast - good bye kiss

 The new tanker Algoma East Coast arrived in Halifax April 13 fresh from the Hyundai Mipo Shipyard. It carried the Liberian flag for the delivery trip, but was registered in Saint John, NB on April 14. The 23,451 gt, 37,242 dwt ship underwent some post-delivery maintenance and was made ready to sail this afternoon April 26. It is headed for Saint John, NB to take on its first cargo on long term charter to Irving Oil, replacing the 2005 built East Coast. That ship's charter to Irving Oil ended last month and the ship is now in service inTurkey.

Getting away from Pier 9C the ship had the tug Atlantic Fir made up astern. It had no tug forward as it is equipped with a bow thruster.

 

Once clear of the berth the ship was to make its way northward to Bedford Basin then turn and head southbound for sea. However things did not go quite as planned. I believe the intention was for the tug to swing in alongside and accompany the ship to the Basin and assist in the turn.

However as the tug came in there was a steel-on-steel grinding crunch. From where I was standing (between Pier 9B and 9C) I could not see the actual contact.

 

But as the tug backed away the damage became evident.

 Apparently the tug got in under the ship's overhang and there was contact with the tug's davit/crane and the operator's platform.

 

The platform was partially displaced and deformed and the davit arm was knocked off its base. There did not appear to be any contact with the tug's hull or superstructure.

There was a brief pause in the operation but the move resumed and the tug accompanied the ship to the Basin and assisted in the turn... (that is the tanker Goldway at anchor - see yesterday's post).

 ... than let go and proceeded independantly.

As the two passed the Africville boat ramp I could not see any damage to the ship - other than some scraped paint just aft of the draft marks.

Damage to the tug has certainly put the boat davit out of commission for a time.

 

 The Algoma East Coast will be a frequent caller in Halifax in future, and I am sure that tug operators will be very wary of operating close under the ship's stern overhang.

 

The following photo shows the configuration of the davit and platform:

At one time the tugs rigged a rigid hull inflatible (RHIB) rescue boat under the davit, as in this older photo of sister tug Atlantic Oak...

...but that does not seem to be the case anymore. It seems now that the davit is used as a stores crane only.  I also think the access platform around the crane base was not original equipment but was added later. The davit may have been added later too.

 

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