Weather Watch

High winds and rough conditions meant that the port has been on weather watch for more than 24 hours. With pilotage operations at the pilot station suspended Friday afternoon there was little harbour activity to report Saturday. Conditions will be reviewed  again at 2130 hrs ADT Saturday.

Self-piloted vessels,  such as Oceanex Sanderling and Nolhan Ava that did not have to embark or disembark a pilot were able to sail on Friday evening, but other ships that arrived Friday and required pilots to depart, remained in port over night. Arriving ships either put back out to sea to await improvements or by-passed their Halifax call.

It was a gloomy sight that greeted overnighting cruise ship passengers this morning. Pearl Mist remained tied up at pier 23 and Serenade of the Seas loomed over at pier 22.

Driving rain probably convinced most passengers to remain aboard.

Serenade of the Seas did manage to sail late Saturday morning, but whether they carried the pilot over en route to Boston is not known to me. Container ships Zim Yokohama and Brighton also remained in port all day.

Two cruise ships opted to by-pass Halifax. Adventure of the Seas from Sydney, NS carried on for Bar Harbor and Amadea from Baie-Comeau kept on for New York.

Commercial traffic such as Maersk Patras is holding off until Sunday morning along with CMA CGM Elbe. The Netherlands warship HNLMS De Ruyter also put back to sea.

Movements within the harbour returned to normal today. The tanker BW Lynx moved from Imperial Oil to anchor in Bedford Basin Friday evening due to high winds, but returned to Imperial Oil Saturday evening.

The Halifax Police Department boat Garrett Cotter was out and about for a time this morning despite the unpleasant conditions.

.

Business as Usual

There was nothing particularly remarkable happening in the harbour today, but as with most days there were arrivals and departures, sometimes with a little more than meets the eye.

The cruise ship Seven Seas Navigator arrived early this morning, and due to its relatively small size, tucked in at pier 24, its usual berth.

The tug Gulf Spray and its barge remove refuse from the ship for disposal on shore. At least some of the material appears to be recyclables.The rest will be incinerated as "international waste."

The seawall, piers 20-22 was left open for Adventure of the Seas which made a somewhat odd noon arrival at the pilot station.

The Singapore flag product tanker BW Lynx arrived for Imperial Oil from Philadelphia with what appears to be a partial cargo.

Tugs line the ship up and push it alongside Number 3 dock.

 The former Elandra Lynx to 2014, was built in 2013 by SPP Tongyeong, and measures 29,737 gt and 49,999 dwt.

The Integrated Tug / Barge Leo A. McArthur / John J. Carrick arrived from the Great Lakes and tied up at the McAsphalt dock in Eastern Passage.

It made a wide swing west and north of George's Island, instead of cutting south of the Island at Ives Knoll. It probably did this to allow the autocarrier Valiant Ace to clear Autoport, which is the adjacent dock to McAsphalt.

CCGC G.Peddle S.C. sailed from the Bedford Institute for patrol along the South Shore.

The Peddle is regularly based here, and shared patrol duties with Corporal McLaren M.M.V. That boat has still not returned to service since vandals severed is mooring lines and it slipped off its cradle at Sambro last November. CCGC Constable Carrière has been drafted in from the Central Region to take its place.

Freezing Fog

Before the sun penetrated through the sea smoke this morning there were freezing fog conditions in Halifax. Cold steel - particularly on ships - is an ideal surface for attracting frozen fog, but most ships that were visible seemed little effected. After yesterday's very busy day in the port, things are returning to relative calm again.

BW Lynx sailed from number one anchorage. It had been at Valero Eastern Passage until last night when it moved out for bunkers.

Atlantic Conveyor sailed from Fairview Cove on its usual routine, passing Connors Diving's Eastcom off Point Pleasant Park.

Anchored in the main harbor British Integrity awaits its turn for bunkers.

And George's Island remains anchored in its usual position, with a nice coating of snow.

The orange buoys have been set out to mark the anchors for Waterworks Construction's barge that is working on the new cruise ship bollard at Tall Ship Quay.

.