Coast Guard vessel G.Peddle S.C., Cold Move

 The Canadian Coast Guard patrol vessel G.Peddle S.C. had been hauled out on the cradle at the CME shipyard in Sambro, NS for some time. Today it was moved back into Halifax harbour, where refit work will be continued at the Bedford Institute. I noted that a scaffolding structure has been erected on the  after deck.

 

The cold move was conducted by Dominion Diving's new small tugs Dominion Rumbler (towing) and Dominion Enforcer (with a stern line). The Coast Guard's lifeboat Hare Bay, which has been stationed in Sambro accompanied the tow into port then returned to Sambro.

 

It is unsual for refits to be split like this, but perhaps the shipyard needed the cradle for another vessel. The G.Peddle S.C. was removed from service in June 2020 reportedly to have its engines replaced.

See my previous post on this: Previous Post

Also buzzing around the area at the same time was the CGE 316 (an unofficial name).

 Since the boat is under 15 gross tons, it is not required to be registered by name, so it carries the registration number C19179NS. According to Transport Canada's on line system that registration has been "Suspended". Interesting.

Speaking of suspension, the boat's weight of 12,674 lbs has been posted on the wheelhouse just above the side windows, no doubt to facilitate craning aboard a truck.

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Bluenose II - arrival armada

 This year marks the 100th anniversary of the launch of the original schooner Bluenose. To commemorate the event the controversial, and much rebuilt (but still beloved) replica Bluenose II will be touring Atlantic Canada. It will not be spending much time in Halifax, with today's visit to an anchorage off Bedford as its only Halifax call. Due to COVID restrictions imposed earlier in the year all sail tours were cancelled, although there will be "open deck" at some port calls. See the 2021 schedule here

The Bluenose II's arrival in Halifax today was a foggy drizzly affair, but there were some spectators on the waterfront. The more interesting aspect, at least to me, was the flotilla of harbour craft on hand to greet the schooner.

Scotia Pilot, inbound from an assignment joined the party.

HMCS Oriole went out earlier in the morning to greet the arrival.

YDT 325 Defender is a Canadian navy "Cutter, Area Command" a 32 footer built by ABCO as a patrol and workboat, and works under the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic.

The harbour tug Atlantic Oak also went out to great Bluenose II and accompany it inbound.

Dominion Enforcer is one of the two new tugs built in the Netherlands for Dominion Diving Ltd.

Sister tug Dominion Rumbler  also joined the party.

Ocean Seeker owned by Kraken Robotics, and based at the C.O.V.E. in Dartmouth has been conducting seabed mapping in the area in recent weeks. It is the former RCMP Murray.

Alutasi is Canada's first hybrid diesel / battery - electric powered 12 plus passenger boat. The former Peggy's Cove Express has been retrofitted with lithium-ion batteries and now carries out some of its fishing tours using slow speed (and quiet) electric power.

Carrying the identifier 1C-2870 this RHIB is operates as a private patrol boat by Sma'knis Maritime Safety + Security Inc, based at the C.O.V.E. in Dartmouth.

Local  builders Rosborough Boats turns out a wide variety of craft (such as the RHIB in previous photo). This twin hull centre console is a new type to me. Outboard motors, as they increase in power for small size,  are becoming more popular as a means of propulsion where inboard used to be the norm.

The Coast Guard lifeboat Hare Bay was part of the flotilla. Delivered by Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspe in May, the boat is temporarily assigned to Sambro while the local boat is in refit. Hare Bay will be assigned to Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

CCGS Ann Harvey returning from SAR East patrol brought an end to the escorts. On loan from the Newfoundland region while Halifax based boats are in refit or are reassigned, it has now been joined by the George R. Pearkes also from Newfoundland.

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Dutch Day

 Even though April 27 is the Dutch national holiday, one would be forgiven for thinking that today (December 8) was some sort of special event for the Netherlands.

A procession proceeded up harbour this morning with the lead vessel, a Dutch built tug of course,  towing a Dutch built barge, itself carrying three small Dutch built tugs, and accompanied astern by another Dutch-built multi-purpose craft. 

All this was in aid of the delivery of two of the small tugs to the local Halifax company Dominion Diving. It was their utility craft, Dominion Warrior bringing up the stern. 

Dominion Warrior flying the flag of the Netherlands as a courtesy, bringing up the rear.

The two small tugs, Dominion Enforcer and Dominion Rumbler were offloaded using one of the container cranes at Ceresorp's Fairview Cove container terminal.

After unloading the two small tugs, the lead tug, Amy Lynn D and the barge Jacob Joseph C will  proceed onward to Picton, ON where they will be taken over by their owners the Doornkamp family, owners of a large aggregates and port operation at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, called Picton Terminals.

The third small tug, Saint-Georges  was built to the account of Quebec owners and will be delivered en route.

The Dutch company Damen, responsible for building the four tugs and the barge (called a pontoon in European parlance) have a world-wide business building and operating tugs, barges and a variety of other types of ships. They even provide the delivery crews for the ships that they sell. This particular transaction concluded with the larger tug Amy Lynn D towing the pontoon and its precious cargo, across the Atlantic from Algeciras (Gibraltar) to Halifax in frightful weather, with no apparent damage.

For more detail on the tugs, see recent posts on Tugfax including:  December 6

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