More tankers: Maersk Katalin, Piltene and Desgagnés

The tankers keep rolling into Halifax, with both Imperial (Esso) and Ultramar (Valero)  hosting a steady stream of ships.
The Latvian Shipping Company's Piltene arrived on January 29 and tied up at Ultramar in Eastern Passage. Then yesterday it moved to #1 anchorage, which would normally mean a short stay. However she will remain there until at least tomorrow.

Built by the 3 Maj shipyard in Rijeka, Crotia in 2007, Piltene measures 30,641 gross otns, 52,648 deadweight.

Also arriving on January 29, Maersk Katalin, from Houston, has been anchored in Bedford Basin ever since. She had under water surveys going on all day yesterday. Built by Guangzhou International Shipyard in China, she is a very similar ship to the tanker Alice built in the same yard in 2013, and which sailed for Saint John January 29 after a prolonged stay in Halifax since January 5.

Maersk Katalin was built in 2012 and measures 24,463 gross tons, 39, 724 deadweight. Registered in Singapore, she is owned by Maersk Tankers Singapore. She carries the full Maersk colour scheme, unlike fleet mate Maersk Elliot (which sails for Maersk Tankers France) which still has the white superstructure from a previous owner's paint scheme.

Maersk Elliot, now anchored in Bedford Basin  has been in port since January 6 and has been on and off berth.

This morning's arrival was the Canadian flag tanker Maria Desgagnés which is understood to be on charter to Imperial Oil. She anchored for bunkers from Algoma Dartmouth (the first such operation since Sterling Fuels took over harbour bunkering in Halifax.)

The ship is due to move to Imperial Oil this evening, and fleet mate Sarah Desgagnés is also due in port this evening. Maria Desgagnés was due to layup for repairs for about a month. When she leaves Imperial Oil, her place is to be taken by Piltene.

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Wild Night in the Harbour

Winds gusting in excess of 70 knots tore through Halifax over night creating difficult conditions in the harbour. There were no actual mishaps as far as I can tell, but there were some tense moments.

CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent arrived for fuel (see previous post) but it was too rough to tie up at Imperial Oil, so she went to anchor in Bedford Basin, moving to Imperial Oil dock #3 first thing this morning.(It will take 24 hours to fill her tanks.)

1. Louis S. St-Laurent moving to Imperial Oil this morning.

Next to arrive was the diminutive feeder ship Fusion. After a stormy crossing from St-Pierre, the ship went to Bedford Basin and after a couple of tries managed to anchor securely. Big swells coming in to pier 36 made it unwise to tie up there. The adjacent berth, pier 34 was also untenable so the bunkering tanker Algoma Dartmouth had already moved down to pier 9.

While this was happening the bulker Barkald at National Gypsum was straining its lines and its winches started to payout after reaching their strain limit. Fortunately the tug Atlantic Oak, which had sought shelter at Fairview Cove was nearby and was dispatched by Halifax Traffic. It got to the ship in a matter of minutes and managed to get it back alongside before any lines parted.

2. Barkald in more pleasant conditions last April.

The weather also delayed loading operations, and the ship's departure, which was scheduled for 0500 Sunday morning, was postponed to mid -afternoon. Monday

The lower harbour anchorages also became untenable, and the tanker Alice was on storm watch as it was at the limits of its scope. However its anchor held more or less, but its position was noticeably different this morning. Not so with Energy Pioneer. Its anchor must have been dragging too, and the decision was made to go to sea instead. It is due to return this morning and tie up at Imperial Oil #4.

3. Energy Pioneer in anchorage #3 yesterday morning

Things seemed to be under control within HMC Dockyard, but the fireboat Firebird spent the night at Jetty Lima on the Dartmouth side of the harbour instead of her normal berth on the Halifax side.

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Tanker shuffle

Another tanker shuffle today saw three  tankers on the move.
Alice moved off #4 oil dock to anchor.

As soon as the tugs were free, they moved to the arriving Energy Pioneer, which was making its way slowly into port waiting for the berth.

Energy Pioneer  arrived off Halifax December 29 and has been anchored at various positions, going back and forth out to sea during storms and high winds. It was expected to go alongside #4 dock, but at the last minute, it went to anchor instead. The cold temperatures may have been a factor-frozen winches are often problem in this weather.

Built by STX Shipbuilding in Busan, South Korea, the ship is operated by Golden Energy Management and is a clone of Energy Protector which was also anchored off Halifax and in port from December 7 to 24 before going alongside at Imperial Oil December 24 and sailing December 28. Both ships measure 30,008 grt, 51,319 dwt and were built  in 2004 by the same builder.

When Energy Pioneer did not go alongside, the tanker North Contender, which has been in port since January 5, was called in from anchorage in Bedford Basin.

North Contender anchored in the lower harbour when it first arrived, but moved to Bedford Basin the next day-indicative of a longer stay in port.

Also arriving late this evening is Irving Oil's Acadian , but it is destined for #3 dock which now seems to be devoted to domestic work, while #4 dock is dealing with foreign ships.

Meanwhile #5 dock, the crude oil import dock remains unused.  

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Someday Alice...

The Bahamas flag tanker Alice moved from outer anchorage to Imperial Oil dock number 4 early this afternoon. The ship arrived off Halifax January 5 and was waiting for the berth to be vacated by Marianne Kirk. In terms of waiting time, this was not a long wait - some ships have to wait a week or more. North Contender is still waiting in Bedford Basin after arriving on the same day.

Owned by Gotland Rederi of Visby, Sweden, Alice is a very new ship, delivered in 2013 by Guangzhou International Shipyard in Guangzhou, China. It is a handy-sized chemical/product tanker of 24,600 grt, 39,316 dwt.

With the tug Atlantic Willow alongside, Alice waits in the north end of anchorage #1 for the the departure of Marinanne Kirk and a second tug before going alongside Imperial Oil dock #4.

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Tanker Parade - never ending

Halifax has become a parade ground for tankers- the seemingly never ending parade continues today with two more tankers in port.

Arriving last night Mariannne Kirk is a product tanker of 29,955 grt/ 51,291 dwt and is another typical product of STX Offshore + Shipbuilding of Jinhae, South Korea. Built in 2009 as Blue Jade it was renamed in 2011. It is operated by Tome Ship Management of Singapore for Hafnia Tankers of Hellerup, Denmark.

1. Marianne Kirk has an impressive display of 12 manifolds for different cargoes and tanks. Each manifold location is marked by a symbol near the deck, just aft of midships.

A slightly different tanker anchored this morning after a trip down from the St.Lawrence River. North Contender is more of a chemical tanker, as can be seen from the variety of vents and other devices on deck. It has 18 different stainless steel tanks suitable for carrying a variety of chemicals, and a pump for each. Built in 2005 by Fukuoka Shipbuilding in Japan, it flies the Panamanian flag and runs under the Eitzen Chemical USA LLC brand. However it is owned by a company associated with Carisbrooke Shipping of Cowes, IOW, UK. It measures 11,662 grt/ 19,925 dwt.

2. and 3. North Contender has no manifold markings on the hull and has an array of vents and other equipment on deck. In addition to the usual "No Smoking" sign on the superstructure, it has an added "Dangerous Cargo".  What appears to be a containment boom around the ship is just a reflection.

Meanwhile the tanker Energy Pioneer seems to have forsaken Halifax. It arrived and anchored off Devil's Island December 29. It put to sea during the January 3 storm, but was returning toward Halifax last night, then put back to sea on a southeasterly course.

Today another tanker, Alice  arrived at anchorage off Chebucto Head, giving Halifax as a destination. It is another intermediate sized product tanker of 24,400 grt, 39,316 dwt, built in 2013.

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