Kopit Hopson 1752

 Thanks to the blog Halifax Shipping News we have learned that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has quietly renamed CCGS Edward Cornwallis. As per yesterday's post the ship is still in refit at Shelburne, but the new name shows up on line on Transport Canada's Vessel Registration Query System.

No official announcement has been made - perhaps that will await redelivery of the ship following its Vessel Life Extension refit - but the new name is listed as Kopit Hopson 1752.

As explained on Halifax Shipping News the name commemorates two signatories to the November 1752 Peace and Friendship Treaty signed by Chief Kopit of the Mi'kmaq nation and Peregrine Thomas Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia.

As noted here yesterday the Minister stated that the new name would be chosen in consultation with First Nations.

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Renaming ahead

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Bernadette Jordan, whose federal riding, South Shore - St.Margarets,  includes Shelburne, NS, has announced that the CCGS Edward Cornwallis, currently in Vessel Life Extension refit at Irving Shipbuilding's Shelburne Ship Repair facility, will be renamed.

The original namesake, cited as founder of Halifax in 1749 and governor of Nova Scotia, has been in disrepute for sometime for his policies regarding indigenous people. In recent years a statue in a Halifax park named for him has been removed and a junior high school renamed. A city street still bears his name, but a church on that street has been renamed. Several other references can still be found in and around Halifax despite the public attention drawn to the issue.

The current ship is the second to bear the name and the official policy was that the second ship was named for the first, and that renaming existing ships was just not done. My infamous open letter to the previous minister (which was not popular with all readers) likely had no bearing, but it does summarize the situation as I saw it.

http://shipfax.blogspot.com/2018/01/edward-cornwallis-open-letter.html

Pressure was brought to bear by indigenous leaders, and the Minister has invited the leaders to suggest a new name. This will be an important devitation from policy and a welcome openness to dealing positively with issues.

There can be no doubt that the current ship and its predecessor did excellent work during their careers, and it is unfortunate that the original name choice will cloud those achievements. The pride that seafarers had in their ships was not misplaced, however it is not too late to acknowledge a wrong.

One name suggestion that has already been heard is the name of Donald Marshall Jr. That is a doubly

important name in Canada and Nova Scotia / Mi'kmaq relations, but perhaps still controversial since the ship is tasked with fisheries patrols from time to time. There are still pockets of resentment on both sides over the Supreme Court's granting of fishing rights to indigenous communities.

If you are not aware of the significance of Donald Marshall Jr's name, there is a barely adequate summary on Wikipedia:

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Marshall_Jr.

I predict continuing controversy on this topic as long as the Canadian government insists on naming ships after people.

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Back to the Basin

The action was in Bedford Basin this morning, with ACL's Atlantic Sail arriving for the Cerescorp terminal at Fairview Cove.

Second ship in the G4 series of ConRos, Atlantic Sail was out of service for eight months in 2019 for unspecified mechanical issues. It has been back in regular rotation since January 2020.

At anchorage in the Basin CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent was tied up with CCGS Edward Cornwallis transferring fuel. The Cornwallis will be going into a major vessel life extension (VLE) rebuild at Shelburne, so will not be needing much fuel in the near term.

The navy pup tug Merrickville was likely tasked with positioning fenders between the two ships.

CCGS Sir William Alexander moved from BIO to an anchorage in the Basin. It may be getting some fuel too. As part of the Edward Cornwallis VLE it will be getting new lifting gear - maybe a crane like the Alexander.

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Buoy oh buoy

Due to the many rocky shoals and shallows, navigation into and out of Halifax harbour requires skill and knowledge. Harbour pilots have this in abundance, and coupled with their use of radar and satellite technology, they make hundreds of safe transits every year.

However not all mariners using the port have that skill and local knowledge. And surely there are times when the radar and Satnav may not be working. In such cases finding the channels and maintaining a safe course may have to rely on such centuries old devices as buoys and lighthouses.

Unless of course that century is the 21st and the year is 2020 and the time is right now.
I have it that at least three buoys and one lighthouse are currently unlit and have been so since before Christmas. Although these failures were reported to the CG nothing has been done to make repairs.

The Canadian Coast Guard has the responsibility for maintaining what are known as NAVAIDS (Aids to Navigation) and has its base right in Halifax harbour, at the Bedford Institute.

Under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Bedford Institute is also the Canadian Coast Guard base.

The buoy maintenance and repair facility is right here in the port and is to the left in the photo.

The buoy yard at the old Coast Guard base in Dartmouth (seen here in 1977) was relocated to the Bedford Institute when the old Coast Guard base  was shut down.

Even though the CCG is responsible for maintaining the buoys and lights in Halifax harbour (and throughout much of Nova Scotia and beyond) I cannot place all the blame for this on the CCG. Thanks to government policy (or lack of it) they have been chronically underfunded and under resourced for years. With aged ships constantly in need of repairs and the others stretched thin, it is no wonder there is a waiting list for work. Nevertheless working Navaids should be essential in a busy harbour.

There are three Navaids ships based in Halifax, but with multi-tasking required of CCG ships these days all are also expected to do Search and Rescue and icebreaking, so are only part time Navaids vessels. So where are these ships now?

CCGS Sir William Alexander has been undergoing a lengthy in water refit at the Bedford Institute, that included rebuilding its crane. Despite some sea trials recently, the ship has not yet returned to service.

CCGS Edward Cornwallis 

In December the ship was sent to the Great Lakes to cover the closing of the St.Lawrence Seaway. Presumably this was to break ice and prevent a recurrence of late season blockages, or maybe to lift some summer buoys.  This trip must have been to cover for a ship in the Central Region that was unavailable.

The Edward Cornwallis was then sent to the Gulf of St.Lawrence for ice breaking and is currently in Sydney., NS.

CCGS Earl Grey

The Earl Grey has been at work icebreaking in Newfoundland, as far north as the Strait of Belle Isle and now in Botwood. Again it is probably covering for a ship from the Newfoundland region that is unavailable. CCGS Ann Harvey, which ran aground in 2015 and was extensively rebuilt afterwards may or may not be in service.

The federal government has finally decided on how they will get around to building replacements for these three ships (and several others including heavy icebreakers) by going with Davie Shipbuilding in Quebec. In one way this was a good decision - Davie has the physical capacity  to build the ships and a very thin order book. However they have no recent experience building icebreakers and no track record of building multi ships orders, quickly. Yes they should be building two or three (or four or more) big icebreakers but that is it.

In order to re-equip the CCG quickly with smaller ships, there needs to be at least one more shipyard brought into the equation. There is the skeleton of a shipyard in St.Catharines, ON, the former Port Weller Dry Dock. To re-equip it to build ten to twelve new navaids ships would be worth the investment if a suitable operator was selected. (The federal government already owns the drydock and land). Heddle Marine thinks they are capable of operating such a yard,but a proper selection process is still needed. Particularly if it is a build / maintain contract, a dedicated CCG shipyard might be worth considering.

But back to Halifax. There is no doubt that the CCG is in need of many replacement ships, but is that the reason why Halifax harbour navigation aids are being neglected?

Perhaps the old question could be asked - how many Coast Guard ships does it take to change a light bulb?

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More of the same, a newby and some old stuff

More of the same

It was five cruise ships today, but much fewer passengers, and two of them were small and one was a hold over.

Disney Magic (2400 passengers) remained in port all night and only sailed this afternoon, giving its passengers a second look around Halifax or shore excursions farther afield.

The extra day gave the ship time to take on fuel and perform some other chores.

 Algoma Dartmouth delivers fuel on the port side and platform lift works from the dock side, and as always the painter attends to the ship's name.

Disney Magic is certainly one of the most striking looking cruise ships.

Zuiderdam (1916 passengers) and Crystal Serenity (1080 passengers) also spent the day in port.

 Zuiderdam is free of the decorative excesses of some other lines and has a remarkably clear upper deck.

Pearl Mist arrived at pier 23 on her final visit of the season. The Halifax-built ship sailed mid-afternoon. With a capacity for 210 passengers, it has a gross tonnage of 5109 grt.

Pearl Mist sailed for Lunenburg, where it will spend the night.

Victory I arrived at pier 24 and sailed mid-afternoon for Yarmouth. It has a capacity of 210 to 215 passengers.

 The ship was a late addition to the cruise schedule after its previous operators went bankrupt after a collision with the end wall of a Seaway lock last year. The former Saint Laurent was hastily re-branded and went back into service. It spent the summer on the Great Lakes from July, with cruises from Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. 

Built as the Cape May Light in 2001 it also carried the name Sea Voyager from 2009 to 2015. Last year's planned cruises from Florida to Cuba were cancelled but are scheduled for this winter. 

A newby

Atlantic Sea is the third of ACL's new G4 ConRos. It tied up at Fairview Cove early this morning and sailed late this evening.

The 100,430 grt ship is registered in Liverpool. UK, where it will be welcomed October 10 for a christening ceremony. The sponsor will be Princess Anne. 

Some oldies 

I have been mentioning that Shipfax was started in 1986, and that is the same year that two active Canadian Coast Guard ships were built. In the background of the Atlantic Sea photo above is CCGS Earl Grey, built by Pictou Industries in Pictou, NS. It entered service in June 1986. The ship received a nine month $11mn+ Vessel Life Extension refit at Davie Quebec and returned to Halifax in January of this year.

Also recently refitted is CCGS Edward Cornwallis. It had a $2.6mn re-do at Newdock, St.John's a year ago. It arrived this afternoon.

Built by Marine Industries Ltd in Sorel, QC, it arrived in Halifax for the first time August 21, 1986, with a firetug greeting. It did not enter service immediately due to engine and derrick problems and first set sail in December, but returned to port with electrical problems. It still had issues in January and February of 1987 but those were apparently worked out by March when it was at work icebreaking in the Gulf of St.Lawrence as far north as Blanc Sablon.

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Edward Cornwallis - part ii

1. The first CCGS Edward Cornwallis at the Dartmouth base, loaded with buoys, 1985-10-09.

2. CCGS Edward Cornwallis (ii) fitting out at the Marine Industries Ltd shipyard in Sorel, QC. The impractical red funnel cap was soon repainted in black.

Since I normally don't get many comments on my blog, I guess I was taken aback somewhat by any response at all to this item.

My thoughts were on the Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation hearings going on in Halifax, at this time. What messages are we sending when we don't acknowledge that we are are the inheritors of our history? What is our responsibility for past mistakes?

It is not sufficient to say that we didn't make the mistakes. It is our responsibility to acknowledge them, and to make up for them if we can. One way to do that is to rebalance. My suggestion that the ship be renamed would in no way ignore 263 years of history. Instead it would be a way of acknowledging grievances and signalling an intent to do better in the future.

Edward Cornwallis was an historical figure-his contributions won't go away, nor will the attitude of the colonial authorities to the native populations. But what can happen is the we can acknowledge what we have learned from history.

Revisionist? I don't think so. I am not suggesting rewriting history, but redressing an imbalance that has gone on for too long.

A glance at the Canadian Coast Guard's ship naming policy, for example, will show that self-serving partisan politics is responsible for naming our most important ships. Ignoring other historical figures will not help to redress the balance.

http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/e0013696

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Edward Cornwallis - time for a change

1. CCGS Edward Cornwallis (i) was built in 1949 for the Department of Transport, and joined the CCG when it was founded 49 years ago. It was a steamer and served with distinction until its replacement came along. It was eventually broken up in 1993.
[I took this photo on Coast Guard Day 1975, from the bridge of CCGS Alert. CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent and Labrador are on the left.]

2. CCGS Edward Cornwallis (ii) was built in 1986 and has also served well. The City its namesake founded has changed with the times, and it is now time for a change. She is seen here leaving port October 24.

The founder of Halifax was one Edward Cornwallis, governor of Nova Scotia from 1749 to 1752. He has a river, a military base, at least one street, a park and many other places named for him, not to mention two ships. A Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army he was later appointed governor of Gibraltar where he died. His brief time in Nova Scotia was marked by his terrible treatment of the indigenous population, and as a result he has now been discredited by many, and there is a move afoot to have his name removed from these commemorations.

This should also include the current CCGS Edward Cornwallis a navaids tender and light icebreaker, based in Halifax. It was built in 1986 and replaced a steam driven vessel of the same name built in 1949.

Both ships have served with distinction, but it is now time to make a change. There are many distinguished indigenous Canadian individuals who would be quite deserving of such an honour.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard - a good time to do the right thing.

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Rare sight - sisterships together

Although the two ship are based in Halifax, it is certainly a rare sight to see CCGS Edward Cornwallis and CCGS Sir William Alexander side by side as they were for time this afternoon at the Bedford Institute dock in Dartmouth.
Ostensibly sisters, members of a larger class called the 1100 series, the two ships are not identical. Edward Cornwallis was built in 1986 by Marine Industries Ltd in Sorel, QC and launched July 12, 1986. She had engine trouble on her way to Halifax, but has had a largely trouble free life in service as a navaids tender and light icebreaker. She is powered by three 3,500 bhp Alco diesels (built by Bombardier) through three 2,100kW generators to two 3,550 shp electric motors. Total power is given as 10,500 hp.
Sir William Alexander was built at the same yard in 1987, and was launched October 19, 1986, leaving the yard May 14, 1987, and arriving Halifax May 20 with a stop in Charlottetown on the way. She had a grounding in 1994 but was repaired at Halifax Shipyard. In 1998 during a two month refit her derrick was removed and a crane installed instead. This change in her profile makes her easy to distinguish from her sister. She is also less powerful than her sister, being driven by three 2,991 bhp Alco diesels (built by Bombardier), through three 2,100 kW generators to two 2,991 shp electric motors, giving total power of 8,973 hp.
These are both the second ships of the name to to serve the Canadian Coast Guard. The first ships were not sisters however.

The first CCGS Edward Cornwallis was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd in Montreal in 1949. She was steam powered, by engines built by Canadian Vickers. At the time the CCG did not exist, and she served for the Department of Transport in their black hull/ tan funnel scheme until the CCG was formed. Originally classed as a lighthouse tender, she was a buoy tender and light icebreaker also. In May 1986 she was renamed Edward to free up the name for her replacement. In 1987 she was towed to Coburg, ON by the tug W.N.Twolan to be converted to a hotel, but the scheme did not last and in 1993 she was broken up in Port Maitland, ON.

The first CCGS Sir William Alexander also pre-dated the Canadian Coast Guard, and was launched by Halifax Shipyard December 13, 1958. She was delivered in 1959 and was reputed to be the best ship the Coast Guard had at the time. Power came from four 1333bhp Fairbanks Morse engines (built by Canadian Locomotive Works in Kingston, ON) through two 865kW generators to two 2,125 bhp electric motors. In 1987 the ship was renamed William to free up the name but served concurrently with her replacement until she was decommissioned in July 1989.

In February 1990 she was renamed H22 and put up for sale. She moved around to various berths in Halifax until August 27, 1992 when she moved to Shediac, NB. Then in 1993 she was reported sold to Belize flag interests and renamed Pilar Del Caribe. Lloyd's still lists her under that name, but now with no flag and no owner.

Both of the current ships are on the long list for replacement someday (at 24 and 25 years old they have a few years to reach to the 38 and 30 of their predecessors.) However new ships will likely not repeat the names. Edward Cornwallis, the founder of Halifax, has been discredited for his treatment of indigenous people. Sir William Alexander had the idea of colonizing Nova Scotia , but is now considered to have been merely a well connected speculator.

Update: Thanks to Jason - see comment below, I have been directed to a photo of Pilar Del Carib ex William, wrecked on a beach in Jamaica. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1575484

It turns out that the ship was operating in Jamaica when cocaine was found on board in 1995. It was seized by the Jamaican government and sold for scrap. However it went ashore and became a favourite for photographers. It has since been broken up in place. The last photos of her in more or less intact condition were taken in 2008.

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Thank you Sir Sam

1. Queen Mary 2 steams in from sea.

2. Swinging around north of George's Island.

3. The mandatory bow shot.

4. Lining up for pier 22.

Thanks to a very late arrival I was treated to Queen Mary 2 with the sun behind me instead of behind the ship as it would be for an early morning arrival.

The ship passed the pilot station at noon, instead of the usual 0600, after assisting in a vessel in distress.[see update below]

The magnificent ship draws crowds as no other. Some day she will be as popular as Queen Elizabeh 2, but she will have to share the limelight with the Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth.

It is wonderful to think that Halifax native Sir Samuel Cunard's name lives on through the heyday of steamships to the depth of the decline, when QE2 was the sole transatlantic liner left, to the now growing fleet of Cunarders (owned by Carnival.)

QM2 made a wonderful sight as she steamed in from sea, with some speed still on, then swung majestically around George's Island for the mandatory bow on shot! She also gave whistle signals each time she changed course- which she did without the aid of tugs- thanks to three bow thrusters. The thrusters are very quiet compared to cargo ships, and there was hardly a sound to be heard.

As compared to last year, her hull paint looks even and consistent - no patches - but her tremendous horns were a little asthmatic.

This is her third visit this year, and she scheduled to close out the cruise season for this port on October 30.

Update: details later emerged on the reason for the delay. At about 2200 hrs ADT last night QM2 diverted from her course at the request of the Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax. A small US pleasure craft caled Santa Lucia had lost power 90 km west of Yarmouth and QM2 was the nearest ship. Unbeknowst to the passengers, QM2 changed course and at about 0045hrs ADT today she reached the craft, which was also taking some water. I am assuming QM2 formed a lee for the boat (QM2 forms a multi-storey wall which would blank off much of the wind and calm the seas.) The pleasure craft was able to restore power and CCGS Edward Cornwallis [see yesterdays's post] reached the scene at about 0400 ADT and escorted the so far not named craft to Yarmouth.

QM2 resumed her voyage and passengers were informed over breakfast that the ship had assisted in the mission. A CBC radio report stated that the big ship was "rocking" - they meant rolling- and some passengers were thrown from their beds.

This would not be surprising since stabilizers really only work well when the ship is steaming. When stopped, particularly if it is trying to create a lee and maintain position, it will certainly pitch and definitely roll with the seas.

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Edward Cornwallis

CCGS Edward Cornwallis sails this morning for navaids duties. The ship is one of two light icebreaking/ buoy tenders of the 1100 class operated from Halifax. They were both built by Marine Industiries Ltd (MIL) at their Tracy, Quebec yard. They were the last ships built in the yard, with Edward Cornwallis bearing hull number 450 and sister Sir William Alexander number 451. Cornwallis was delivered in August 1986 and Alexander in 1987.

Edward Cornwallis has recently come out of a refit at Newdock in St.John's and is looking quite sharp, despite her age. Plans to replace these ships are in talking stage, but no word yet on when or how.

As the Coast Guard prepares to vacate it traditional base in Dartmouth, these ships are now based at the Bedford Institute, which certainly allows for better picture taking opportunities from the Halifax side of the harbour.

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Anchored off

1. Left Arsos, right Stellar Lily in the outer anchorages.

2. CCGS Edward Cornwallis rolls a bit as she sails close inshore. Arsos blocks the view of Stellar Lily.

Eastern Passage provided a good viewing spot this afternoon. There were two ships anchored off and one passing. The outer anchorages are used by ships not wishing to enter port, as no pilot is required to reach the area from sea. It is not good holding ground however, and is only used when winds are moderate.

The container ships Arsos, is anchored until tomorrow, when she will berth at pier 42 for CMA/CGM.

Stellar Lily is a specialized wood chip carrier. She is bound for Sheet Harbour and is awaiting a berth there. She will take a pilot from Halifax. She will also need tugs. These have usually been provided by Svitzer, but with the change in tug service in Halifax under the new joint venture with Atlantic Towing, it is likely that tow Atlantic tugs will be dispatched. Since it is almost a 100 mile round trip to Sheet Harbour, taking a good chunk out of the day for tugs, the ship may also be waiting for a time when tugs are available for that long a period.

The Coast Guard's Edward Cornwallis was arriving from work on the Eastern Shore and was sailing along the coast. This route is outside the normal shipping lanes, and so it is rare to see a ship this close to shore.

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