Algoma Hansa - retires

 The Canadian flag tanker Algoma Hansa arrived in Halifax on January 7. It came from the Great Lakes with stops at Kildair Sorel-Tracy and Montreal. It arrived in ballast (and likely with tanks cleaned and gas freed) and will be laid up until it can be transferred to new owners.

The ship was built in 1998 and is nearing the end of its economic life. After twenty-five years of service ships must undergo a major refit to maintain their classification, and the expense is usually not warranted. Owners then sell the ship for further use where its classification will not be renewed, or in many cases the ship goes to scrap.

Algoma Hansa is an unusual ship in many ways. It was built at Alabama Shipyard in Mobile, AB for Dannebrog Rederi A/S of Denmark. Named Amelienborg it was delivered in April 1998 and a sistership, named Aggersborg was delivered in November of the same year. Measuring 11,290 gt, and 16,775 dwt it was registered in Denmark and was a double hull chemical / product tanker with phenolic coated cargo tanks. Algoma Tankers Ltd acquired the ship in 2006 and operated it in the Hanseatic and later Navig8 tanker pools, largely in Europe, but it did make some trips to the Great Lakes. 

Algoma renamed the Aggersborg as Algosea in 2005 and registered it in Canada. They renamed the Amalienborg to Algoma Hansa in 2008 but did not bring into Canadian registry until 2014. By that time its projecting bridge wings had been cut back flush with the ship's sides to permit safe passage through the St.Lawrence Seaway locks.

It will now be replaced in the Algoma fleet by the recently acquired Chantaco which arrived in Halifax December 30 [see post]. Algoma has selected the name Algotitan for the new acquistion, and when it enters service (expected shortly) it will operate this winter with Algoscotia which arrived in Halifax January 8. 

Algoscotia sailed again January 9 for Sydney with cargo from Imperial Oil for its Sydney depot.

There is no word yet on when the sister Algosea will be retired, and it is operating this winter on the Great Lakes. Its replacement, the future Algoberta, is currently working in Europe as Chiberta.

On Monday January 9 the Algoma Hansa swapped places with its replacement. The Chantaco moved to Pier 27 and the Algoma Hansa to Pier 25. Once along side at Pier 25 the workboat Allen Clipper came along to carry out some underwaterwork (perhaps hull cleaning or camera survey). 

There is some indication that a sale has already been arranged for the Algoma Hansa and handover and renaming will take place shortly.

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Name Changer

On December 22 Algoma Central Corporation of St.Catharines, ON, announced that its Algoma Tankers subsidiary had acquired two ships to replace older units in its domestic Canadian tanker fleet and third ship to join the fleet at a later date.

One ship, currently carrying the name Birgit Knutsen, was acquired in the third quarter of 2022 and is working internationally under charter. It is a sister to Algoma's Algoterra. Built in 2010 by Jiangnan, Shanghai, it is a 11,889 gt, 16,536 dwt vessel. No date has been suggested for its arrival in Canada.

The other two ships are sister ships, built in 2007 by RMK Marine in Tuzla, Turkey for Sea Tankers Shipping SASU of France. The  ships named Chantaco 11,793 gt, 18,734 dwt and Chiberta 11,799 gt, 18,734 dwt will be renamed Algotitan and Algoberta upon handover to Algoma.

Hand over of the Chantaco is expected very soon as the ship arrived in Halifax today, December 30 after a trip into the Great Lakes from Milford Haven. The ship sailed from the UK port December 4 and arrived in Hamilton, ON December 20. It sailed from there December 22 and passed Montreal December 25. 

 

On arrival today the ship backed in to Pier 25 where the handover and renaming will take place.

 From an "examination" of the stern of the ship it appears that it is a twin screw ice class vessel as two ice knives can be seen under the counter in line with the rudders. The twin funnels would also suggest two engines and twin screws. 

Once the Algotitan is in service it will replace the Algoma Hansa in coastal trade this winter. The latter ship was built in 1998 and is en route to Halifax for layup and sale. More on that when it arrives. The Chiberta / future Algoberta is still operating in Europe under charter to Furetank AB of Sweden and will be coming to Canada sometime in 2023. It is due to replace the Algosea.

About the Names

On a somewhat whimsical note, it is fairly obvious that Chiberta's name suggests the Province of Alberta, source of most of Canada's crude oil. Therefore the name Algoberta makes a certain amount of sense for a tanker.

I can't say as much for the name Algotitan. There does not seem to be any obvious reason for that choice (the similarity to "Titanic" is rather uncomfortable however). But I am glad that Algoma did not follow the previous example and borrow the last syllable of the Chataco for a rather unappetizing choice.

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Cars and Gasoline for Cars

 The supply of new cars from Europe continues with another Volkswagen charter at Autoport today. SFL Conductor may be a first time caller. (its fleet mate SFL Composer was here June 22.)

Built in 2006 as Favorite Ace by Shin Kurushima, Hiroshima, the 60,118 gt, 17,709 dwt ship was renamed Glovis Conductor in 2012 and SFL Conductor in 2019. It has a capacity of 6500 Car Equivalent Units. The ship gave Baltimore as its destinaiton on departure late this afternoon (July 14).

To keep the cars running, the oil companies continue to bring in refined products such as gasoline and diesel. Today's arrival was the Canadian flagged Algosea, docking at Imperial Oil's number 3 dock.

The ship sailed from Sarnia, on July 8 and recorded no port calls en route.

Cars also move to and from Newfoundland thanks to Oceanex, and its Oceanex Sanderling has returned to its regular schedule, arriving from St.John's yesterday (July 13) at Autoport. After loading cars it went to anchorage number 5* in the lower harbour last evening.

Early this morning it moved to the South End terminal, PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub to work containers and other RoRo cargo. It is due to depart at its usual time of 1800 hrs ADT tomorrow (Friday, July 15).

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* I have received requests to give more detailed information about the anchorages in Halifax harbour. I am preparing a map which will be available soon, and I will devise a link from this blog so that it can be accessed for reference.

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Algosea the third

 The Algoma Central Corporation traces it orgins to 1899 when the Algoma Central Railway Company was founded in Sault St.Marie, ON. Reorganizations and reconstitutions have resulted in the present day company that is the largest owner of Canadian flagged ships, also with significant holdings in international shipping. The company has direct ownership of 22 Canadian bulkers, 8 Canadian tankers, 7 foreign flag bulkers and participates in joint ventures with the Luxembourg Company Nova Marine Carriers SA to operate more than 40 small bulk carriers, including three Canadian flag cement carriers.

Many of the company's ships were named by fusing the prefix "Algo" with a theme related to the ship's trade such as -steel, -rail, or even -wood. Nowadays the domestic and foreign bulk fleets use the entire word "Algoma" in the ship's name, or have named the ship for a person. Algoma Tankers Co Ltd was founded in 1998 when Algoma acquired the Imperial Oil tanker fleet, and renamed the ships. Since then it has rebuilt the fleet and usually maintained the "Algo" prefix tradition.

The arrival in Halifax on Friday May 20 of the tanker Algosea from Nanticoke, ON with refined product for Imperial Oil, reminded me that it is the third Algoma ship to carry the name.  

As a Great Lakes shipping company almost exclusively, they rarely had ships running as far east as the Gulf of St.Lawrence, and into ocean waters. When they acquired the bulk carrier Brooknes in 1976 it was a major departure. The ship, built in 1970 at Lithgow's East Yard in Port Glasgow Scotland was rebuilt in 1976 with a new, longer mid-body and wheelhouse by Swan Hunter Ship Repairers in North Shields. It then crossed the Atlantic to Port Colborne, ON where it was fitted with self-unloading machinery. At the end of that season it was assigned to ocean work, and so its new name, Algosea, was entirely appropriate.

 The ship was re-engined in Saint John, NB in 1981, received a new bulbous bow structure at Port Arthur in 1982 and was then renamed Saunière to operate a long term charter carrying salt from the Magdalen Islands. The ship received major hull work in 1999, 2001 and 2007 and was retired in December 2009. In June 2011 the ship was towed to Aliaga, Turkey and scrapped.

The first Algosea was better known in Halifax as Saunière. When not employed carrying salt, it often came here to load gypsum.

The second Algosea only carried the name very briefly. Built in 1983 by Port Weller Dry Dock as the Canadian Ambassador it was a Seaway size self-unloader. In 1986 it was reflagged to Vanuatu and worked internationally in the CSL pool but was owned by Marbulk, a subsidiary of Upper Lakes Shipping. Algoma bought 50% of Marbulk in 1997 and in 2000 CSL bought the remaining 50% from Upper Lakes.

In February 2000 the ship delivered a cargo of coal from Venezuela to Pier 9C in Halifax. The cargo was trucked to Brookfield, NS as fuel for the Lafarge cement plant.

 After unloading, the ship went into refit at Halifax Shipyard where on April 13, 2000 it was renamed Algosea and re-registered Canadian, with Halifax as the port of registry. It operated for Algoma on the Great Lakes in the year 2000 season.

Then on December 21, 2000 while at Trois-Rivières, QC it was named Ambassaor again under Vanuatu flag, and resumed foreign trade in the CSL pool.

In late 2012 the ship was sold to Indonesian owners and in 2013 renamed Pramudita. It was under that name, while unloading coal in Banten, Java, in September 2013, that fire gutted the superstructure and conveyor system.  The hull and engine also received severe damage and it was declared a total loss. The ship was renamed Pramuda for the delivery trip to Gadani Beach where it was broken up in November 2014.

This brings us to the third and current Algosea.

Alabama Shipyard in Mobile, AB delivered the 11,290 gt, 16,775 dwt chemical tanker Aggersborg to Danish owners Dannebrog in 1998. A double hulled ship with phenolic epoxy coated tanks it went into international service under Danish flag. Algoma acquired the ship in the first quarter of 2005 and it arrived in Halifax from the Middle East on June 13, 2005.

 

The ship underwent a "Canadianization" at Pier 9B, which included fitting it for the St.Lawrence Seaway. New fairleads were installed, and a stern anchor, but the most noticeable work was to trim back the ship's prominent bridge wings, so that they did not project beyond the ship's hull. (Bridge wings could be damaged when ships use the Seaway locks.) That paring reduced the ships gt to 11,285.

The work was completed by July and the ship sailed July 26, 2005 as the third Algosea.

 

Since then the ship has been in almost constant operation for Algoma, however as it nears the 25 year mark, its days may be numbered as other ships of similar vintage are going to third world operators or the scrappers. The former Maria Desgagnés, built in 1999, sailed from Montreal on May 17 under its new named Aram Khachaturian with the destination an unnamed port in (perhaps) China. Its Lloyd's certification was suspended in March, and it was detained 25 days by Port State Control for undisclosed deficiencies while under Panamanian flag.

The tug Atlantic Willow catches up to the Algosea to assist in berthing at Imperial Oil, May 20, 2022.

The Algosea [iii] sailed from Halifax May 21 for Sarnia, ON. 

It sister ship, built by the same shipyard as Amalienborg, also in 1998, was acquired by Algoma Tankers in 2006 and was renamed Algoma Hansa. It traded under foreign flag until 2013. It also received a similar bridge wing trim and other work in Halifax in 2013 but did not come under Canadian flag until 2014. Since then it has confined itself to the Great Lakes / St.Lawrence region.

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More tanker activity

1. Algosea moves down the harbour toward Imperial Oil.

2. The handsome Histria Tiger awaits a berth at Imperial Oil.

3. Clipper Legend also waits at anchor for its turn.

The Imperial Oil refinery continues to be busy with a variety of chemical and product tankers shuttling in and out of berths to unload and load.

Today's activity included Algosea moving from anchor in Bedford Basin to the oil dock this afternoon. On the way is passed two tankers at anchor awaiting berths: Histria Tiger and Clipper Legend.

Algosea was built in 1998 at Alabama Shipyards in Mobile for Danish owners, Danneborg. It traded internationally for them until 2005 when Algoma Tankers acquired the ship and modified it for Canadian service. It is an ice class, double hulled vessel with phenolic epoxy coated tanks. It measures 11,290 gross tons and 16,775 deadweight.

Histria Tiger is owned in Romania, but registered in Liberia and is a chemical and oil products tanker measuring 25,864 gross tons and 40,416 deadweight. The ship was built in 2008. Romanian ships are very rare in Halifax, but the country has developed a shipbuilding industry, with major yards in Constanta and Galati. This ship was built at the former yard. [Istria refers to the first Greek colony in what is now Romania.]

Clipper Legend is sister to Clipper Lancer which was in earlier in the week. Measuring 6522 gross and 10,048 deadweight it is a chemical tanker, registered in the Bahamas, and owned by the Danish group Nordic Tankers. It was built in 2004 by the Yardimci Tersanesi A.S. in Tuzla, Turkey.

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Halifax Parking Lot

Halifax Harbour looked like a parking lot this afternoon as the first nor'easter of the autumn season bore down on Atlantic Canada, sending ships scurrying for cover.
At least one ship cancelled its visit to Halifax - the cruise ship MSC Poesia, but the ships that did arrive opted not to tie up due to the strong winds.
1. AFL New England, Seaconger, Algosea and Canada Express anchored in the Basin. Unfazed by rough conditions the tug Roseway and a stores barge have cleared Seaconger and are headed back to Dartmouth Cove.

2. Seaconger arrives for bunkers. The German owned/built and registered tanker dates from 2005 and measures 21,329 gross tons, 32,200 deadweight.

3. Canada Express was the OOCL Dubai until last year when Hapag-Lloyd took over the charter and gave the post-panamax ship a Hapag name.

In the Basin, in no particular order, were Canada Express and AFL New England, both destined for the Fairview Cove container terminal. With seas washing over the pier face at high tide, it was thought wise to hold off.

The tanker Seaconger is in for bunkers, but will have to wait until things calm down. Algosea is also at anchor after loading at Imperial Oil for a coastal trip.

At the head of the line is the interesting survey ship Coriolis II on what is probably her first visit to Halifax- see following post.

Meanwhile in the lower harbour Algoscotia and Fusion occupy two of the anchorages, and the cruise ship Maasdam is in port for the night. Another cruise ship, Seabourn Sojourn, opted to stay in for a second night.

Tomorrow will see the delayed arrival of two autocarriers. Both Manon and Grand Pioneer were orginally due today.