MSC moves for CMA CGM, and other activity

 PSA Halifax usually has room to spare, since it operates both container terminals in the Port of Halifax. However it takes considerable advance coordination to shift cargo or ships from one facility to the other, because schedules are usuallly set weeks if not months ahead of time. Ships of the same line almost always dock at the same terminal, but there are exceptions (see MOL Charisma earlier in the week). Also due to size limits, some ships can only dock at the Southend terminal (PSA Atlantic Gateway).

Yesterday (March 10) the MSC Rossella arrived from Montreal on the Canada Express 2 service for Spain and Italy. After topping up with some cargo at Pier 41 PSA Atlantic Gateway, the ship moved out to anchor in Bedford Basin. I am assuming it moved to make way for today's arrival, CMA CGM Otello, and will move back alongside tomorrow or the next  day.

 The MSC Rossella was built in 1993 by Samsung Shipbuilding + Heavy Industry on Geoge Island (formerly rendered as Koje) South Korea. Launched as Hansa Europe it was renamed Ville de Carina on delivery. It became MSC Rossella in 1997. The 37,938 gt, 43,605 dwt ship has a capacity of 3398 TEU. 

MSC has come under criticism in recent days for running older ships, which it always has, but in poor condition. One ship was banned from Australia and another lost 45 empty containers overboard en route from Boston to the Dominican Republic. According to sources the company has acquired 292 second hand ships since August 2020 - an "unprecedented event in the history of shipping."

CMA CGM Otello arrived this afternoon from Tanger Med, Morocco on Ocean Alliance's Asia / North America Columbus JAX service. The last port of call for ships on this line used to be Colombo, Sri Lanka. Recently the ships have been stopping in the Morocco port, which is a useful depot for European feeder services. (MSC uses Sines Portugal in a similar way).

Built in 2006 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, the 91,410 grt, 101,810 dwt ship has a capacity of 8488 TEU (including 700 reefers). The ship made its first call here July 8, 2017, but this was the first opportunity I have had for a photo.

The CAM CGM Otello needed the larger cranes at Pier 41, while one of the smaller cranes at Pier 42 was working Melfi Lines X-Press Irazu.

The ship dates from 2007 when it was built by Guangzhou Wenchang Shipyard Co Ltd. At 18,480 gt, 23,716 dwt, it has a capacity of 1732 TEU including 379 reefers. It also carries a pair of 45 tonne capacity cranes.

The Melfi route, called MEDCAN, is westbound from Livorno, Genoa, Barcelona, Valencia, Setubal (for Lisbon), Halifax, then Mariel, Cuba.

At Irving Oil's Woodside terminal the Aldabra was discharging refined product loaded in Amsterdam.

 Onomichi Zosen, in Onomichi, Japan delivered the ship in 2008 as Nord Organiser. In 2020 it was renamed Dee4 Dogwood and in 2022 it took on its current name. The 26,900 gt, 47,399 dwt MidRange type tanker operates in the Hafnia MR pool.

Another Japanese built ship was also in port, tied up at Pier 9C. The Fairwind Legion is the former Thorco Legion (to 2020) a 13,110 gt, 16,957 gt multi-purpose general cargo ship built in 2015 by Honda Shipbuilding in Saiki, and equipped with a pair of 50 tonne SWL cranes. Several of its "L" class sisters have also been here to be fitted with fibreoptic cable storage racks. (See March 4, 2023 post and  for example December 22, 2022.)

 

For the sake of completeness there was another arrival today, the auto carrier Elektra at Autoport. It is a regular on the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean trans Atlantic run.

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Wallenius Wilhelmsen - double header

Autocarriers from Wallenius Wilhelmsen are such familiar sights in Halifax that they draw little attention. However when there are two in port at the same time, it is worthy of mention.

Don Carlos picks up its tugs inbound for Autoport.

As per a previous post the Don Carlos arrived at Autoport on Sunday January 29. After discharging a mix of European autos it sailed again at noon time on Monday. While it was at Autoport, its younger sister ship Elektra arrived at Pier 9C early Monday. It offloaded RoRo cargo consisting of the usual hoard of JCBs, several Sandvik mine trucks and a mix of shrink wrapped boats an other wheeled equipment.

Only a small portion of Elektra's cargo had been offloaded when I took this photo.

Elektra dates from 1999 (Don Carlos from 1997) when it was built by Daewoo Okpo. As with its sister, it was lengthened 28 meters in 2005 and is now 67,264 gt, 28,126 dwt with a capacity of 7,194  autos.  Its stern ramp is rated for 125 tonnes. 

The Elektra moved to Autoport this morning (January 31) to unload cars, while the berth at Pier 9C was immediately occupied by the BBC Topaz (see previous post). Autoport operations were delayed today by a 5cm snow fall, so the ship is now scheduled to sail tomorrow Febraury 1.

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Ro Ro Ro and more CFIA

There was welcome RoRo action in Halifax today June 29 and more work for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

 RoRoRo

The autocarrier Elektra actually arrived early yesterday at Autoport and spent two days alongside. This is very unusual as most of these ships are in port for only one working day.

The ship was built in 1999 by Daewoo, Okpo and in 2005 it was lengthened from 199.2m to 228.0m length overall. This increased tonnages from 57,018gt, 22,588 dwt to 67,264 gt, 28,126 dwt. The new capacity is 7194 CEU.

Originally a Wallenius Line ship, it was painted in the traditional Wallenius green and white colours.

 Wallenius and Wilhelmsen worked together retaining their individual identities (green for Wallenius, red/orange for Wilhelmsen), but eventually merged the operation of their two lines, and have repainted the ships in a new common colour scheme.

As the ship sailed this afternoon its berth at Autoport was not vacant for long as the ConRo ship Oceanex Sanderling moved over from Pier 41 to load new cars for Newfoundland.

The Oceanex Sanderling arrived this morning after a six month absence from the Halifax - St.John's weekly service. The ship was subject of a major refit and classification renewal survey at the Damen shipyard in Amsterdam since December 2021. It only just returned to St.John's June 27. 

During that six months Oceanex alternated its other two ships, which normally run between Montreal and St.John's, with calls in Halifax. That meant that there was only one weekly call in Montreal and RoRo cargo could only be handled every two weeks at Halifax and Montreal. Some RoRo cargo was handled as LoLo, but there was still a backlog. 

By my count the fleetmates Oceanex Avalon (containers only) made 12 round trips between St.John's and Halifax and Oceanex Connaigra (containers and RoRo) made 13 round trips between St.John's and Halifax. Now with Oceanex Sanderling back in harness there will be weekly container and RoRo service again to/from Halifax, and twice weekly service to/from Montreal to St.John's.

It is certainly a tribute to the Oceanex Sanderling that it has stood up to such rigorous use on that service since 1987. Built in 1977 by Sasebo Heavy Industries in Sasebo, Japan, the ship's current measurements are 21,849 gt, 15,195 dwt, with a capacity of 1,125 TEU (I assume that includes trailers, because other sources say 522 TEU). One unusual, but important feature is the 157 tonne capacity slewing stern ramp that can swivel to port or starboard.

It is certainly a senior citizen among cargo ships, but it is of such an unusual type and size, that it would be very costly to replace and is apparently worth the extensive refit to keep it in class for another five years. Oceanex must be planning a replacement, but no word has leaked out to my ears.

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to examine ships that have been in Asian waters to ensure that they do not carry the larva of the invasive species LDA moth. Ships are checked out at anchor in Halifax before they sail for the St.Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, where the moth pose the greatest risk to coniferous forests. Today's candidate for inpsection is the Nomadic Milde a Marshall Islands flag vessel operated by New Nomadic Short Sea Shipping of Norway.("Milde" is a district in the company's hometown of Bergen.)

The ship was built by Jiangsu Yangzijiang, in Jiangyin, China in 2011. It is a multi-purpose, open hatch, tween deck type of 9530 gt, 12,959 dwt and carries two 80 tonne capacity cranes.

The ship is now due to sail at 2230 hrs tonight, which is a considerably longer stay in port than the usual CFIA inspection stop. It may therefore have been doing some work or taking stores. It certainly appears to be high in the water, so is likely destined for a loading port.

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Saturday Arrivals

MSC Eleni emerging from a snow shower.

Despite a short snow shower than came close to "white-out" conditions, my foray to Ferguson's Cove this morning paid off with photos of two of today's three arrivals. The reason for the "off peninsula" trip was to get around a potentially awkward sun angle. Around the 1000 hrs - 1030 hrs AST* pilot times the sun would have been directly behind the ships, making for undesirable silhouette photos. 

The first of three arrivals this morning was Maersk Palermo, a repeat customer, but the first Maersk in many weeks as the St.Lawrence service was avoiding Halifax. Due to ice conditions on the St.Lawrence River and Gulf, the ships were often late arriving and sailing from Montreal, and in order to maintain a semblance of their schedule they have been skipping their customary eastbound Halifax top up. Maersk Palermo arrived at 0600 - too dark (and too early) for photos.

The next arrivals, MSC Eleni and Elektra arrived in quick succession. MSC Eleni has become a regular now that MSC ships call in Halifax to decant and top off cargo to meet St.Lawrence River draft limitations. The ship did make a "one of" visit December 8, 2019, then made its first regular call January 21 of this year.

A well laden MSC Eleni picking up its tug in the Middle Ground area.

Among auto carriers the Wallenius owned Elektra certainly qualifies as a regular, having been here countless times since it was built in 1999. Today's arrival was my first chance to catch the ship in the Wallenius Wilhelmsen paint scheme. The Wallenius ships (named for operatic characters) carried an attractive deep green and white hull, as seen in this 2018 photo:

Now that the two companies have merged their operations formally after years of cooperation they have adopted a new scheme. It is being applied as ships undergo regular dry dockings and maintenance.

As seen from Purcell's Cove, Elektra shows off the new colour scheme.

Elektra was built in 1999, making it a senior citizen among auto carriers. Original builders Daewoo Heavy Industries, Okpo, delivered the 57,108 gt ship, but in 2005 Hyundai Vinaship shipyard in Vietnam added a 30 meter hull section increasing tonnage to 67,264 and 7,194 CEU (car equivalent units).

Both Wallenius and Wilhelmsen are bringing ships out of cold layup as auto manufacturing and sales are rebounding from COV-19.

Just for the record I am not impressed with the new scheme, which I think is insipid. I call for a return to the "heritage" colours.

* Tonight's shift from Atlantic Standard Time [GMT/CUT -4 hrs] to Atlantic Daylight Saving Time [GMT/CUT -3 hrs] will mean more photo opportunities in the late afternoon and evening when ships are leaving port.

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Repeat Performances

Seeing the same ships several times poses challenges for original photos. The same ship in the same place over and over again begins to dull the senses. Fortunately today, although the ships were the familiar, there was something different.

When USS Arleigh Burke sailed this afternoon, the sun was on the Halifax side of the ship - unlike morning arrivals, which is the usual time to see warships.

 Name ship of its class, Arleigh Burke is proceeding cautiously as it leaves Halifax.

Also of course there is the desire to take the photo from forward, but a going away shot can provide some interest too. The ship arrived September 7 and was able to stay in port for a few days. Its May 10, 2017 visit was much briefer, arriving at 1000 hrs and sailing at 1600 hrs.

The autocarrier Elektra is such a regular caller, that I don't photograph it often.  Built in 1999 the ship is still in fine form despite its age. Classed as a Large Car and Truck Carrier (LCTC) it has a capacity of 7,194 cars. This is partly thanks to the 2005 lengthening that increased the ship's grt from 57,018 to 67,264.

Elektra moves from Autoport to pier 28 to off load some non-cars.

Original builder of the ship was Daewoo Heavy Industries, Okpo and the lengthening operation was carried out by Hyundai-Vinishin in Vietnam. A new section of nearly 30 meters was added, increasing the ship's capacity by 20%. It was the first of five Wallenius ships to get the upgrade.

The tanker Alpine Venture was here once before, and that was March 14, 2017, also from Antwerp.  Predictably it was built by Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan and is 29,130 grt, 46,046 dwt. On that last visit it had to move to Bedford Basin to wait out a storm. That is unlikely to happen this time.

When the ship was here last, most of the refinery was still intact, although de-commissioned. It is all gone now except for the tanks.

Another regular caller, usually seen approaching or sailing from Halterm is Bomar Rebecca. Plowing a regular furrow for Tropical Shipping, it calls every second Monday, regular as clockwork. Today however was different. It unloaded completely, then moved in ballast to pier 25-26.

It is unusual to see a container ship underway in ballast.

Because Hurricane Florence is expected to make shore in the Carolinas later this week, the ship is taking a trip off. It may also be an opportunity for some maintenance with the ship idled for a week. Its counterpart calling alternate weeks, Asian Sun is likely sitting this one out at the southern end of the route. It will not be calling next Monday, when Bomar Rebecca is scheduled to sail.

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Afra Oak - thirsty tanker

The Liberian flag Afra Oak anchored in Halifax for the third time in recent weeks. The ship is making its second of two trips from Whiffen Head, NL to Canaport (Saint John), NB under a coasting license for Irving Oil. It is apparently gauging the amount of fuel it uses on these trips by filling up before and during the contract.

Getting under way from number one anchorage south of George's Island, this morning, the ship will exit right (south) from this photo. In the background  the Wallenius-Wilhelmsen auto carrier Elektra unloads at Autoport in Eastern Passage.




Later

Elektra finished work at Autoport and moved over to pier 31 to unload some non-automobile cargo.

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Saturday Summary

It was quiet in Halifax harbour for most of the day, then all activity seemed to be happening at once for a short time, before quietng down again. Here is a north to south tour:

Early this morning saw CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent at BIO undergoing maintenance in preparation for her summer duties.

Louis S. St-Laurent at BIO, and behind her Sir William Alexander prepares for  trials trip.\

At pier 9C the beleaguered Harefield, still undergoing repairs since March 21, has been keeping her crew busy on daywork touching up paint and maintaining the two gantry cranes. 

 I noticed last evening one of the gantry cranes had been moved toward midships, and the crew were working on deck.

Today I discovered why...

They had built a net screen around their basketball hoop, to contain errant free throws. After being in port for nearly two months, and to now built this net, suggests that they expect to be here for some time to come.

At pier 9 the classic herring seiner Margaret Elizabeth No.1 put in one of her occasional appearances.

The grande dame of the herring fleet was built in 1971 in Pictou and has been featured here before. It was joined later in the day by Lady Melissa and Leroy and Barry II both also elder statesmen in the fleet. 

http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2012/04/margaret-elizabeth-no1-is-number-one.html

http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2011/06/halifax-herring-season-winds-down.html

Early this morning the autocarrier Grand Ruby anchored for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to conduct a check for Asian Gypsy Moth.

Built by Toyohashi Shipbuidlig in Japam, the 59,217 grt, 18,117 dwt ship flies the Panama flag and operates for Cido Shipping Korea Ltd.

 Once the berth at Autoport was clear later this afternoon, the ship weighed anchor and got underway.

At Autoport since mid-day yesterday, Wallenius Wilhelmsen's Elektra finished its work mid-afternoon and got underway to move over to the Halifax side to unload machinery at pier 31. 

 The tugs Atlantic Willow, bow, and Atlantic Larch stern, made fast,

and turned the ship in number one anchorage to back it in to pier 31. Appearing on the right is the arrival for Halterm:

Maersk Pembroke looks pretty good in the afternoon sun, on arrival from Montreal.

But on close inspection the ship is definitely showing signs of heavy use. The wrinkled bow plates speak of heavy slamming into seas as it makes its way back and forth across the Atlantic. 

The port then returned to relative quietude.

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Morning becomes Elektra + Update

A dull morning, but with some glimpse of light as the Elektra discharges some oversize cargo at pier 31.

First off were a pair of large dump trucks, the first a Terex. It may only have been moved off the ship to allow other cargo to be unloaded.

Elektra was built in 1999 and is classed as a Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) and is fitted with three hoistable car decks to allow for oversize vehicles.  Its 125 tonne capacity ramp is suited for the largest vehicles and some RoRo loads. Its capacity of 7,195 cars places it in the intermediate size range, now that 8,600 car behemoths are in service.

The ship would normally discharge automobiles at Autoport, but oversize cargo that will not be forwarded on by railroad autoracks, or distributed locally by truck comes to pier 31. It can then be loaded on trucks or flat cars.

Update:
Elektra unloaded the components for a large crane, all on MAFI type trailers, and the fleet of dump trucks was loaded back on board.

 



The ship then moved to Autoport where it worked its regular automobile cargo.

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