Thanksgivinig Holiday

Canada declares a holiday on a mid-October Monday, and today (October 14) is the day this year. Traditionally it is the day that we face the inevitable and acknowledge that summer is really over, the leaves are turning and it is time to prepare for winter. Businesses are closed and most workers get a long week end.

It is called Thanksgiving and I want to give thanks to all readers who sent well wishes during my recent health crisis. I am also thankful that there do not appear to be any long term effects and that my return to "normal" is well underway.

That said it was not so obvious that it was a holiday in Halifax harbour today as most activities seemed to continue as usual.

Autoport had  the Hoegh Sydney as an early morning arrival that sailed at noon time. The ship has been here many times over the years since it was built in 2007 by Tsuneishi Cebu, in Balamban, Philippines.

Flying the Japanese flag, the ship is owned by Chijin Shipping SA and on charter to Hoegh Autoliners (a company 61.25% owned by Leif Hoegh  and 38.75% by AP Moller-Maersk). The 51,731 gt, 17,311 dwt ship has a capacity of 4379 CEU.

There was one lone cruise ship in port. Silver Wind tied up at pier 23.

A small (but luxurious) ship of only 17,235 gt, it has a capacity of 294 passengers with 208 crew. Built in 1995 by Canitiere Navale Visentini in Donada, Porto Viro, near Venice, Italy it sails for Silverseas Cruises.

Fairview Cove hosted two container ships, Atlantic Sea and YM Enlightenment, both scheduled to sail after dusk this evening.

It did not appear to be a holiday at Halifax Shipyard either  where workers were overside in a suspended crane basket touching up hull paint on AOPS 1 (Harry DeWolfe) before the ship starts trials - expected soon.

Irving Shipbuilding has extended the expected float off date for AOPS 2 (Margaret Brooke) to late November or even December.

The Norwegian flagged semi-submersible Boabarge 37 stands ready for the operation when it does occur. A new application has been made to for a coasting license to start November 23 and end December 23, 2019. The previous application was for the period October 18 to November 18.

The Royal Netherlands Navy's frigate RLNMS De Ruyter, after a visit shortened to one day, (thanks to foul weather) moved with civilian tug assistance from HMC Dockyard to pier 9 this afternoon for fueling. With no bunkering tanker in Halifax anymore, ships must go to the fuel or it must be brought to the ship by truck.

The tug Atlantic Fir side steps along with the ship as Spitfire III provides the propulsion.

Once in position off pier 9 the tugs swung the ship in the channel and placed it smartly alongside.

Wilson's Fuel's depot on Barrington Street, connected by pipeline to Pier 9, has been the fuel source of choice for offshore vessels and other smaller ships. Irving Oil also provides bunkering at its  Woodside terminal and can accommodate larger ships. To my knowledge Imperial Oil does not offer alongside bunkering, but may provide fuel by truck.

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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.

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