Coastal Shipping Ltd - update

 Kitikmeot W getting under way from anchorage for Argentia with a chemical cargo.

 Since making yesterday's post on Coastal Shipping Ltd's latest acquisition, the tanker Kitikmeot W, I have learned that the company has acquired three tankers, not two. I mentioned that a sister of Kitikmeot W, the Icdas-11 has been purchased, but not delivered yet, nor renamed as far as I know.

The third tanker is to be named Tuvaq W. It is currently sailing under the Swiss flag as San Pietro. Built in 2012 by Taixing Ganghua as Bering it was acquired and renamed by the current owners in 2013. It is a small ship of 5422 grt, 7598 dwt, and will be used to supply some of the ports that larger ships cannot service.

Once again the ship's new name has significance for Coastal Shipping and the Woodward Group, recalling a previous ship named Tuvaq and using the letter "W" for Woodward.

The first Tuvaq was an impressive ice breaking tanker, built in 1977 by Werft Nobiskrug in Rendsburg, Denmark, for Neste O/Y of Finland. Neste was a pioneer in winter navigation in the Baltic and the ship was built to operate without icebreaker assistance when the Baltic was iced in. It was named Tiira by Neste and measured 10,929 grt, 15,954 dwt and was powered by two V-12 Atlas engines delivering 15,600 bhp through controllable pitch propellers. Neste thought enough of the ship to re-engine it in 1997 with new MaK engines giving 15,999 bhp. Such a major expenditure is unusual in a twenty year old ship.   

Coastal Shipping purchased the ship in the autumn of 2002 for delivering their own petroleum products, but also for chartering out to others. It was registered in St.John's, NL February 14, 2003 and named Tuvaq. The word means edge of the ice, an important interface in the arctic where sea life is abundant. Under Canadian registry the ship measured 11,290 grt.

The ship made many northern trips for Coastal, but also did charter work with Ultramar and likely others, and made some trips to the Great Lakes.

Some of its calls in Halifax were documented here in 2009 and 2012.

In early 2013 Coastal sold the ship to Panama flag owners called Tuvaq International Inc, and the Canadian register was closed June 11, 2013. Identified as a crude oil carrier by this time, the ship's movements have been difficult to trace, but by October 2015 it was laid up in Magdalene River, Barranquilla, Columbia, apparently abandoned.

The new Tuvaq W has sailed from the Netherlands as San Pietro and is due in St.John's, NL next week where it will be brought under Canadian flag and renamed.
Icdas-11 is reported anchored in Singapore.

To make room for all these ships in the fleet, Coastal has recently sold Nanny (register closed March 9, 2018) and Travestern (registry closed March 19, 2018). These follow the sale of Alsterstern in April 2017 and Havelstern in October 2017.

Of these one recent caller here was Nanny, which brought in several loads for Wilson's Fuel from Come by Chance in 2015 and 2016.

Built in 1993 by Hyundai Ulsan, as Natalie Sif, the 6544 grt, 9176 dwt ship also called in Halifax in 1998 under its original name and Danish flag.  After leaving the Coastal fleet it sailed to Taipei, Taiwan.

The Coastal fleet also includes the Sten Fjord, 8882 grt, 13,670 dwt, built in 2004 as Falcon by Jiangyang, Shanghai, which joined the fleet in June 2017. It has been chartered out over the winter, and is en route from Montreal to Estonia but is expected back in Canada in time for summer arctic work.

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Nanny sails, Skyros and Elka Elefsis unload at Esso

Nanny completed unloading product for Wilson's Fuels and sailed for Come by Chance this afternoon.

After springing off the dock, she made a tight turn right off pier 9, unassisted by tugs, and headed for sea, passing west of George's Island.

 By the time I unlimbered the camera for a shot over toward Imperial Oil, the sun had faded again.
 Once more there are two Greek tankers tied up there.

Skyros arrived last night and is tied up at number 3 dock. Built by Hyundai Mipo the 23,270 grt, 36,660 dwt tanker is small for the handysize range, which usually goes at 50,000 dwt. This may explain why it has had a series of names and owners since built as Adonis in 2006. In the same year it was renamed Omega Princess, and in 2013 became Juniper 2. Later in 2013 it was renamed Morgane and in February of this year took its present name for Eletson Corp.


Elka Elefis is still at number 3 dock. It arrived April 1 and anchored in Bedford Basin http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2016/04/greek-tankers-in-basin-and-at-imperial.html 
and moved to the oil dock April 5.

It has been gradually discharging ever since. (April 10 photo).

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Another busy weekend

Stormy weather at the end of last week, and some mechanical "issues" meant some ships spent longer in port or arrived later than expected. Other ships opted to remain in port rather than sailing into bad weather. All this lead to busy times at the container terminals and in the Bedford Basin anchorages. 

NYK Diana arrived on Thursday.

On Friday it moved out to anchor in Bedford Basin, joining Bahri Jazan which had moved out earlier to layover during the incoming weather.
It was too windy to board pilots for much of the day Friday and several ship werr delayed in arriving. These including NYK Constellation, Dinkeldiep and BBC London.

On Saturday, things had returned to normal and the North Atlantic veteran Atlantic Conveyor arrived on what may be its last trip.

It is debraggled looking as little effort is made to maintain the ship which is expected to head to the scrap yard very soon.

As it arrived the Atlantic Star moved out to anchor, having been in port since Wednesday with "mechanical issues". Atlantic Conveyor then moved alongside Fairveiw Cove.

BBC London was busy at Pier 9C, unloading more riser pipe for Shell's exploration drill ship Stena Icemax. BBC London  was built in 2011 by Dongfang Shipbuilding Group in Yueqing, China as Rhoon. It was renamed in 2014. It measures 7138 grt, 7892 dwt and carrieds a pair of 80 tonne cranes that in combination can lift up to 160 tonnes. 

 Unlike the first shipment, this pipe came with the flotation collars already applied.

As Saturday wore on Bahri Jazan sailed, passing the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell tied up at pier 9A. The ship spent early Friday morning wandering around Bedford Basin dragging anchor. A pilot was called in and the ship re-established its position. See Halifax Shipping News for a plot of its track.
While Bedfrod Bassin is well sheltered from the sea, it does not provide great "holding ground" for anchored ships. High sided vessels can often find themselves drifting in windy conditions.

After disembarking some technicians by service launch, Atlantic Star sailed at low tide. 

As it made its way through the Narrows, the stern tethered escort tug Atlantic Oak earned its keep by pulling the ship's stern around as it cleared the dogleg at pier 9.

CCGS Hudson went out to Bedford Basin for trials, then cleared for sea.

At the McAsphalt dock in Eastern Passage the tanker Esta Desgagnés made one of its infrequent visits. Normally dedicated to Ultramar service on the St.Lawrence it does make the odd trip to these parts. After bunkering at anchor from Algoma Dartmouth in the afternoon, it returned to the dock then sailed Sunday morning.

A heavy snow fall early Sunday followed freezing rain Saturday night, but it was melting quickly by early afternoon

Nanny is becoming a regular at pier 9 with cargo from Come-by-Chance for Wilson's Fuel. It arrived Sunday morning and connected to the underground pipeline.

BBC London completed unloading its cargo of risers,seen neatly arrayed on pier 9C, and prepared to sail in the evening.

Another North Atlantic veteran Atlantic Compass made a westbound port call today to, making it a three ACL weekend.

Chebucto Pilot sets out as Atlantic Compass sails. It is also carrying the pilot for the next inbound ship.

That ship was the post-Panamax (for now but not for long as the new canal is about to open) OOCL Kaohsiung for Fairview Cove.

A stiff breeze blowing across the Basin gave Atlantic Fir and Atlantic Oak a bit of a workout.

The last daytime arrival was Maersk Palermo in from Montreal. It would normally be here on a Saturday, but was likely slowed by the bad weather Friday and Saturday night.

Nanny and BBC Louisiana - two blue arrivals

It was blue ship day in Halifax today with two arrivals, both blue.

Blue Ship #1
Nanny arrived at noon time from Come-by-Chance, NL with another load for Wilson's Fuels, to be unloaded at pier 9. This is the third trip since November for the ship.

Nanny passes the Nova Scotia Hospital on Mount Hope inbound to pier 9.

Built in 1993 by Hyundai, Ulsan the 6544 grt, 9170 dwt ice strengthened tanker made its first appearance here in 1998 under its original name Natalie Sif. It was renamed in 1999 when original owners KIL Shipping sold it to Alvtank Rederi of Sweden and renamed Nanny. When Woodward Group acquired the ship in 2008 they did not rename it, hence its unusual name.

The fourth residential tower of the King's Wharf development, on the site of the old Dartmouth Marine Slips, forms the background as Nanny glides across the ferry track.

North Atlantic Petroleum, operators of the Come-by-Chance refinery, have recently begun to process US shale oil and crude from the White Rose field. Previously they only used foreign petroleum to meet demand for low sulphur fuel. They supplied Newfoundland's domestic needs for gasoline and furnace oil, but apparently have decided to expand to the mainland, with what I assume is furnace oil, but may also be gasoline and diesel.


Blue Ship #2
Later this afternoon the general cargo ship BBC Louisiana put in at pier 30-31. A member of the large BBC chartering fleet of Bockstiegel Reederei headquartered in Emden, Germany, it is one of twelve ships in its class. All measure 9618 grt, 12,763 dwt and carry two 150 tonne cranes than can combine for a 300 tonne lift.

 

BBC Louisiana appears to be in ballast, so may load some special cargo in Halifax. but has some machinery components to unload.

The ship was built in 2008 by Jiangdong Shipyard in Wuhu, China and flies the Antigua and Barbuda flag, with port of registry St.John's, Antigua.

Atlantic Willow nudges the ship alongside at pier 30.

Logistec's wheeled crane unloads the cargo.

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Tankers

The Canadian flag tanker Nanny tied up at pier 9 yesterday and began to pump its cargo up to Wilson Fuel's tanks on Barrington Street.It is a small tanker of 6544 grt, 9170 dwt.


Owned by Coastal Shipping, part of the Woodward Group of Goose Bay, NL, since 2008 the tanker has retained the name it was given by Swedish owners in 1999. It was built in 1993 by Hyundai Ulsan as Natalie Sif, for Danish owners, and it was under that name that it first appeared in Halifax in July 1998. At that time it loaded equipment to allow it to pump cargo ashore by floating pipeline to remove northern ports.
 

The ship has been back to Halifax, once in June 2012 and again in March 2014, both times for bunkers.

Woodward Group purchases petroleum products on the international market and from Canadian producers and delivers it around Newfoundland and Labrador and to remote northern ports during the summer shipping season.

Unloading operations were winding up this afternoon, and the ship is expected to sail this evening.

Meanwhile in the lower harbour the tanker Zircon made a brief visit to number one anchorage for bunkers. Built earlier this year by SPP Shipbuilding in Sacheon, South Korea, the Marshall Island flag tanker operates for Marina Leasing Ltd of Hong Kong. It measures 29,767 grt, 49,990 dwt.

In for a slightly longer stay is Maersk Magellan at Imperial Oil dock #3. Built in 2010 by Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan, South Korea, as Gan-Trophy It was acquired and renamed by AP Moller in 2013. It is also handy sized at 29,669 grt, 51,551 dwt and  flies the Singapore flag. It arrived yesterday.

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Havelstern - another from Woodward's

Coastal Shipping, rare callers until this year, had their fourth ship in port inside of a month. This time it is Havelstern one of a pair of ice class coastal tankers purchased last year from Rigel Shipping of Germany. A sister to Alsterstern, the ship is 11,423 gross tons, 17,080 deadweight and was built in 1994 by WTW Schiffs. of Wismar. Owners Coastal Shipping Ltd of HappyValley-Goose Bay, NL, are part of the Woodward Group.

Havelstern anchored in number 2 anchorage to take on bunkers. It will proceed to Ultramar to load and will sail north to service remote comnunities.
For the other Woodward ships see: Nanny June 9, Alsterstern June14, Tuvaq Jume 16.

Lady Christina, HR Recommendation, Nanny - bunkers parade

Weeks can go by with few ships taking bunkers in Halifax then there is a lineup! That happened late this week as four ships called exclusively for bunkers and at least one one ship in port took bunkers. The port bunkering tnaker Algoma Dartmouth was kept very busy as a result.
First to arrive was the trim little Dutch cargo ship Lady Christina . Built in 2000 the 4,235 gross/ 5,375 deadweight vessel was built in 2000 with large hatches and a small travelling crane. Typical of many European ships these days it goes well beyond short sea routes to work all over the world.

1. Lady Christina arrived Thursday June 7 for bunkers. It sailed late that night.

On Friday the Canadian shuttle tanker Kometik took bunkers while alongside pier 26-27 for maintenance work.

2. Kometik bids a damp and foggy farewell to Halifax this afternoon. It bunkered on Friday.
And today the first to arrive was HR Recommendation  a 8,963 gross/ 10,538 deadweight vessel fitted with 250 tonne capacity heavy lift cranes. The ship is one of a large series built by for Beluga Shipping Co of Germany.  It was built in 2005 to be multi-functional, able to carry containers, bulk and general cargoes and heavy lifts and outsize cargo. When the company had to be restructured last year many of the 60 some ships were dispersed to new owners, most of whom, such as this one, merely painted over the "Beluga" name prefix and substituted a new one. Beluga had built ships in classes, E and F being the most prominent, and all ships in those classes had a second name beginning with that letter. There were only five ships in the R class, and all were built in in the Netherlands. The E/Fs were built in China.

3. The fog lifted a bit to permit a view of HR Recommendation with Algoma Dartmouth alongside this morning.

Soon after the Canadian product tanker Nanny anchored nearby. Although owned by the Woodward Group's Coastal Shipping Ltd since 2008, I believe this is its first visit to Halifax as Nanny. It was in Halifax in 1998 under its original name of Nathalie Sif. Then under Danish ownership, it loaded a hose reel for an arctic supply trip. Heavily reinforced for navigation in ice, it has continued in that role since becoming Canadian. It came to the attention of the press September 1, 2010 when it grounded 50km west of Gjoahaven and had to be lightered off by fleetmate Tuvaq before it could be refloated.
Built by Hyundai in Ulsan South Korea in 1993, the ship measures 6544 gross tons and 9,170 deadweight tonnes.

4. Bright sunshine appeared while Nanny bunkered this afternoon, but the harbour was socked in again when it sailed.

Later this evening another ship is due for bunkers. It is the cargo vessel Mustafa Kan , owned in Turkey, but registered in Panama. The 7,393 gross/ 9,250 deadweight ship is unusual, in that it is fitted with two deck crane pedestals, but the cranes have not been fitted. Since it is likely to arrive after dark, I likely won't get a photo.