Nord Swift at Imperial

 The Danish flag Nord Swift arrived at Imperial Oil's number 3 dock this morning, July 5, with refined product from Houston, TX. Recently Imperial has been importing most of its fuel from Antwerp.

In addition to the usual background of empty autorack rail cars, there is also activity at number 3 oil dock itself, which is being rebuilt, with all weather mooring capability.

Nord Swift is part of the huge DS Norden shipping company which owns or manages more than 250 dry cargo ships and 124 tankers from its headquarters in Hellerup, near Copenhagen. The tankers are operated by Norden and Interorient Navigation Co Ltd in the Norient Pool of 88 MidRange and 36 Handysize ships.

Built in 2015 by STX Offshore + Shipbuilding, in Jinhae, South Korea, the ship is a 30,229 gt, 49,579 dwt MidRange type.

Although registered in Norden's home port of Hellerup, Nord Swift is enrolled in the Danish International Register, which allows companies based in Denmark to employ third country seafarers, and to pay Danish seafarers net wages without tax deductions. It is one means of promoting Danish maritime skills while remaining competitive internationally. (The country also has a tonnage tax and other measures to promote Danish ship owning.)

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Tanker Parade

 It was almost a parade of tankers today with three arrivals. First in was Gold Point for Irving Oil. It berthed at the Woodside terminal shortly after 0630 hrs but sailed again at 1100, giving Point Tupper as its destination.

The ship dates from 2011 when it was built by STX Shipbuilding Co in Jinhae, South Korea. It measures 29,717 gt, 51,063 dwt. The ship appears to be in ballast so today's visit may have been to take on fuel for its own use.

Around 1000 hrs Nord Swift arrived at Imperial Oil from Antwerp, Belgium. It is a product of the same STX Jinhae shipyard but in 2015. It measures 30,179 gt, 49,579 dwt. Due to its location it isn't easily photograph-able from the Halifax side of the harbour.

Finally at about 1100 hrs the Cape Gavi sailed through the harbour to anchor in Bedford Basin.

The ship is easily the most familiar foreign flag tanker calling in Halifax, as it has done so under three names, and was here before as recently as June:

http://shipfax.blogspot.com/2020/07/cape-gavi-returns.htm

The ship apparently finds most of its work from Irving Oil. It arrived this time from Saint John, but will be anchored in Bedford Basin for a time before unloading.

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