Long tow sets off

 The container ship MSC Sao Paulo V set out from Halifax today under tow of the tug ALP Sweeper. Indications are that the ship is headed for Naples, which may mean that it could be repaired and returned to service - unlikely as that seems. The ship was built in 1998 and after the engine room fire that started March 3, many were of the opinion that the ship would not be repaired, but send for scrap. However with the current demand for ships, in part due to the Red Sea war zone diversions, very few ships are going for scrap these days but are kept running beyond normal retirement dates.

After the fire was extinguished after several days, the ship was towed to Quebec City for survey, then departed in tow as a dead ship on March 27, arriving Halifax April 2. Its cargo of containers has been offloaded at PSA Halifax Atlantic Gateway. The boxes are now being transshipped to the MSC Shristi (in port at Pier 41) and MSC Cornelia (standing by offshore) and will be sent on to the orginal destinations of Sines, Portugal and Mediterranean ports.

With no power on deck it took several hours to let go and recover the mooring lines and gangways and to get underway from Pier 42. The ALP Sweeper was made up with heavy towing gear, ready to pull away.

Unfortunately the clear conditions earlier in the morning had vanished by noon with drizzle setting in making the ship nearly invisible from shore by the time it reached open water.

 

Views from Purcell's Cove (upper photo) and Ferguson's Cove (lower photo) were less than ideal.

The tugs Atlantic Bear and Atlantic Beaver with Atlantic Oak tethered astern, assisted the tow while Dominion Diving's launch Halmar disembarked a local crew of deckhands when their work was done.

The two Quebec tugs Océan Taïga and Océan Raynald T. stood by until the ship was clear of the dock, then went to Pier 9B to replenish some stores. They had been holding the ship alongside the whole time it was in Halifax. (They received assistance from the Atlantic Elm during the height of the bad weather during the past week.)

 It may appear that Ocean Taïga's superstructure is a light brown colour. I believe however that it is streaked with iron ore dust accumulated while working at Baffinland Iron's Milne Inlet port. The iron oxidizes rapidly and sticks to everything. Groupe Océan tugs have white superstructures like its fleet mate in the foreground.

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MSC Sao Paulo V - update

 The container ship Sao Paulo V en route to Halifax in a dead ship tow of the tug Océan Taïga with Océan Raynald T on a stern line has put back to seek shelter. After clearing the Cabot Strait the tug's AIS signal showed progess along the coast past Chedabucto Bay and Cape Canso, and perhaps as far south as Country Harbour. Then, due to an intense weather system, the whole tow came about and returned to the area off Sydney Bight where it is standing off in the lee of high land.

Océan Taïga and sister Océan Tundra are 8,000 bhp, 100 tonne bollard pull arctic class tugs. 

The Océan Taïga and its sister are the most powerful tugs on the St.Lawrence River, but are essentially large harbour and escort tugs. Every summer they work in the high arctic at the Baffinland Iron Mines Corp's Milne Inlet port and travel independantly to Baffin Island and back. However even with that power, trying to tow a fully laden and powerless container ship in severe weather was probably beyond its ability. The Océan Raynald T is a harbour tug, so it was wise to seek shelter under the circumstances

 There is now no ETA for Halifax, but when the weather eases and the effects of the system pass, the tow will need at least two days to reach Halifax.

The MSC Sao Paulo V was en route from Montreal to Sines, Portugal on March 3 when it suffered an engine room fire. (see previous posts). When the fire was finally extinguished the ship was towed to Quebec City for survey. Meanwhile the large ocean going tug ALP Sweeper was dispatched from Portugal. It arrived in Halifax on March 26 and it standing by to tow the ship to Europe.

 

According to reports there was no damage to the ship's cargo but the accommodation may have been burned out. It is expected that the ship will be towed to Portugal, but it may be partially or fully offloaded here first for safety and stability reasons.

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MSC SaoPaulo V - update

 A quick recap and update on the MSC Sao Paulo V.

As previously reported  on  March 5 through  March 9  (with updates) the fire damaged MSC Sao Paulo V was towed to Quebec City for damage survey. Since Quebec City has no facilities for unloading or storing containers it became a quesiton as to what would become of the ship's cargo. I have no confirmation on this, but it is likely that General Average was declared and all cargo owners will have to contribute to a general fund before their cargo can be released. In the meantime the ship will have to be unloaded and its entire cargo impounded.

It has now been confirmed that the ship was been towed out of Quebec City March 22 and is bound for Halifax. The Quebec City based Océan Taïga is towing and the Océan Raynald T has a line astern. This morning, March 24, AIS showed the tugs and tow in the lee of the land off Cap Trinité between Baie-Comeau and Sept-Iles, in high winds. Later in the day they were well underway again at 6.6 knots with an ETA in Halifax of March 28.

Meanwhile the big Dutch tug ALP Sweeper departed Ponta Delgada, Portugal March 19 for Halifax and is due March 26. It is expected to tow the ship away - destination as yet unknown. It is fairly certain that the ship will be completely unloaded in Halifax before going. It then depends on the condition of the ship whether it will be repaired or sent to the scrappers. Prospects for a ship built in 1998 do not appear favourable after an engine room fire that spread to accommodations.

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