Onego Deusto

 The multi-purpose general cargo ship Onego Deusto sailed early this afternoon after approximately twelve hours in port. The ship has called here several times with rail from Poland. This time however the ship arrived from Belfast, Northern Ireland, which would normally mean that it was carrying an aircraft component or components, such as a fuselage section or tail assembly. Yesterday the Industrial Charger also arrived from Belfast, presumably with the same type of cargo. However, since I did not actually lay eyes on any cargo from either ship, I can't say for certain what they were carrying. Both ships docked at Pier 9C where cargo could have been trucked away fairly promptly.

On sailing this afternoon (photo above) the ship gave its destination as Houston, and judging from the ship's draft it has cargo on board.

The Onego Deusto has an interesting history (recounted here before, but worth repeating.)

The ship was built by Vahali Shipyard's Belgrade yard in 2008 for the now defunct Beluga Shipping. The 6312 gt, 9832 dwt ship is of the open hatch design (hatch is full width of hold) with moveable pontoon type tweendecks, two box shaped holds, equipped with two 40 tonne SWL cranes. 

It was built as Beluga Skysails, and fitted with a telescopic jib boom on the bow, which could carry a para sail to assist in propulsion. When Beluga failed, the ship became BBC Skysails in 2011, then Onego Deusto in 2019. On its first few visits in Halifax, as BBC Skysails, it still carried the jib boom but that has since been removed. 

In these July 11, 2015 photos, the jib is the black object well forward, and is in the retracted position.

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Departures

It was mostly a day of departures as far as my camera was concerned.

The auto carrier Bishu Highway, I beliewve oin its first visit to Halifax, arrived in fog and sailed into fog, but it was clear while making its way out of Eastern Passage into the lower harbour.

Built in 2009 by Shin Kurushima in Toyohashi the 56,978 grt ship is operated by K-Line under the Japanese flag.

Fog lingered off Meagher's Beach and the ship soon disappeared from view.

Another Japanese owned first time caller was NYK Romulus, which also arrived in fog and sailed into fog. Its outbound passage through the harbour was clear however.

It flies the Singapore flag for NYK Line and was built in 2009 by Hyundai in Samho, South Korea. It is a 55,487 grt, 65,883 dwt ship with a capacity of 4922 TEU , including 330 reefers.

The last sailing before fog really took over the harbour was Stadt Cadiz which finally got underway from Bedford Basin after five weeks in port for main engine repairs.

During that time the crew managed to do a lot of painting, but only got about halfway aft on the starboard side. The ship is givning Brooklyn, NY as its next port of call.

Also in the fog-free north end of the harbour is the cargo ship BBC Skysails is unloading large diameter gas pipe at pier pier 9C (I still think it should be called pier 9D).

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Saturday in the port

After last evening's extravaganza with Queen Mary 2, it was difficult to get too enthusiastic about today's activities, but there were some movements of interest.

The former Algobay (at least in parts) clears the A. Murray MacKay bridge outbound from Bedford Basin.

Radcliffe R. Latimer sailed with its load of gypsum. Although its departure was a bit later than expected, it did get underway at noon time. If you track the ship on AIS you will be amused to see that its name has been garbled and shows at "Riffadcle R Latimer".

BBC Skysails is sail assisted, but only when well out at sea.

Late this afternoon there were two arrivals in close order. First in was BBC Skysails. Its name describes it to a degree. Built in 2008  for the doomed Beluga Shipping Co as Beluga Skysails, it was fitted with a short mast in the bow which is the mooring point for a large para sail.  When Beluga failed in 2011 the ship was taken over by Briese Schiffahrts, renamed with the BBC prefix, and continues to use the sail when at sea, giving a boost of a knot or two. Whether the investment has paid of is unknown, but since the ship still carries to sail function it must have a measurable benefit, even if it is not used all the time.

 The black structure forward is a mast that secures the para sail .

The 6312 grt, 9747 dwt ship went to anchor in Bedford Basin awaiting orders. Vahali shipyard in Belgrade started construction of the ship, which was then delivered as a hull to the Volharding yard in Foxhol, Netherlands where it was completed.

 Foresight keeps its midship hatches clear to access its cargo.

Following close behind was a another former Beluga ship. Beluga Foresight came from the Qingshan yard in Wuhan in 2008, as a typical "F" class Beluga ship of 9611 grt, 12,669 dwt, with with a pair of heavy lift cranes. The German company Peter Doehle took over ownership in 2011 and simply dropped the "Beluga" suffix..
The ship initially went to anchor for CFIA inspection for Asian gypsy moth. It will move to pier 31 to unload its cargo of nickel concentrate from Cuba for Nirint Shipping. It will then proceed to Matane,  QC to load paper pulp and head for Rotterdam. It appears to be on a one trip spot charter to Nirint.

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