HS Beethoven - out for repairs

The container ship HS Beethoven put out to sea this evening bound for the repair yard. After three weeks  in port to clean up the mess in its hold from a punctured bunker tank, the ship was finally in condition to sail for a shipyard in Antwerp.

HS Beethoven at pier 36-37 during cleanup operations- on a sunny day (unlike today). 

The ship arrived December 2, and was damaged soon after by an errant container. Since them the ship was  completely unloaded of undamaged containers, which were sent on by other ships. The ship then moved to pier 36-37, Halterm, where damaged and contaminated containers were cleaned and removed, and the holds pumped out and cleaned.
The ship is giving a January 2 arrival date in Antwerp. An unladen container ship in the North Atlantic in winter, would be a sight to see from afar - not one I would want to experience first hand.

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HS Beethoven (again) icky, srticky, mess

I hear that HS Beethoven is likely to be in Halifax for a long time. Currently there are containers still in the ships hold, coated in heavy fuel oil, and unreachable by the container crane spreader. Riggers have been making up special lashings to allow the crane to raise the containers above the deck where they are cleaned before unloading. There is still bunker oil sloshing around in the lower reaches of the hold.
Over the weekend, in some very cold weather, the hatch was closed and heaters put in place to keep the mess in a more or less liquid state.
There will continue to be a lot of pumping and cleaning before actual repairs can begin.

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Famous Germans in port: Fritz Reuter - ready to work, HS Beethoven - not so much

The Melfi Lines charter Fritz Reuter arrived this afternoon and is ready to work cargo Monday morning.

1. Fritz Reuter at mid-berth Halterm has her cargo booms swung out clear to allow shore cranes to work containers.

Built by Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard Co Ltd in China in 2006 as Maruba Zonda, the ship was renamed Fritz Reuter on delivery to owners Norddeutsche Reederei Schuldt, Hamburg. Flying the Liberian flag, the ship can carry 1732 TEUs (379 reefers) and has two 45 tonne cranes. Her gross tonnage is 18,480 and deadweight is 23,732 tonnes.

Fritz Reuter, the man (1810-1874), was a prominent writer of his day. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Reuter

Meanwhile at the other end of the port HS Beethoven lies at Fairview Cove east berth, unloaded and de-ballasted for repairs to her tank top.

2. HS Beethoven is all lit up, but it is hard to tell if repair work is underway or not.

Although there is little outward sign of activity on repairs, it must be assumed that her owners are doing what they can to get her back in service as soon as possible. The penalties for going "off charter" are usually quite severe, especially on a scheduled container ship service.

Ludvig von Beethoven, the man, needs no introduction from me.

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HS Beethoven - all may become clear- REVISED DECEMBER 5

When HS Beethoven arrived at dusk and in foggy, rainy, misty conditions on Monday December 2, it looked like a routine arrival, albeit the ship is not a regular caller.
The ship first appeared in Halifax on August 21, 2013 for Atlantic Container Line, as a substitute while regular ACL ships were in refit or under repair.    Monday's arrival was for Hapag-Lloyd, and again as a substitute on H-L's ATA Service, its traditional Transatlantic service between Europe and the North American east coast.
That it did nor leave on time on Tuesday was not particularly unusual because of high winds and heavy rain, which would have slowed unloading.
Now however we hear that there was an incident aboard involving the possible collapse of a container stack and the puncture of a fuel tank.
Repairs will take a considerable time, and the ship may well have be unloaded before it can sail again.
Updates will be posted when available.

HS Beethoven was built by Hanjin Heavy Industries of Busan, South Korea in 2002 as HS Voyager for Hansa Shipping of Germany - its current owners. It was renamed MSC Arizona in 2003 for a charter and then APL Italy in 2005 for a charter. It received its present name in 2009. It measures 50,243 gross tons and had a capacity of 4,350 TEU (500 refrigerated.)

DECEMBER 5

HS Beethoven at Fairview Cove this morning was still being unloaded. It does appear that the ship will have to be completely unloaded, and its cargo transferred to other ships.

HS Beethoven - all may become clear

When HS Beethovern arrived at dusk and in foggy, rainy, misty conditions on Monday December 2, it looked like a routine arrival, albeit the ship is not a regular caller.
The ship first appeared in Halifax on August 21, 2013 for Atlantic Container Line, as a substitute while regular ACL ships were in refit or under repair.    Monday's arrival was for Hapag-Lloyd, and again as a substitute on H-L's ATA Service, its traditional Transatlantic service between Europe and the North American east coast.
That it did nor leave on time on Tuesday was not particularly unusual because of high winds and heavy rain, which would have slowed unloading.
Now however we hear that there was an incident aboard involving the possible collapse of a container stack and the puncture of a fuel tank.
Repairs will take a considerable time, and the ship may well have be unloaded before it can sail again.
Updates will be posted when available. 

HS Beethoven was built by Hanjin Heavy Industries of Busan, South Korea in 2002 as HS Voyager for Hansa Shipping of Germany - its current owners. It was renamed MSC Arizona in 2003 for a charter and then APL Italy in 2005 for a charter. It received its present name in 2009. It measures 50,243 gross tons and had a capacity of 4,350 TEU (500 refrigerated0.