Bahri Hofuf - large cargo

The Saudi ship Bahri Hofuf had a large consignment of cargo to load today. There were numerous RoRo items including the usual quantity of a dozen or so military LAVs and a large wheel loader. The ship also worked containers using its own cranes.

Bahri Hofuf was accepted from builder Hyundai Mipo on May 1 of this year, and was the second of the new 50,000 gross ton ConRos to be delivered. The ship is deceptive looking. It is so proportioned that it is not until alongside that its size can really be appreciated.

Its giant stern tamp looks capable of gobbling up just about any conceivable cargo, including the diminutive MSM Don at the next berth. The pickup truck beside the ramp gives some idea of the scale.

Note: Despite my hopeful prediction it did not  load the cargo of windmill blades. They remain on the pier for another ship.

.

Saudi Hofuf

1. Tugs Atlantic Willow (bow) and Atlantic Larch (stern) take Saudi Hofuf in hand for berthing at pier 31. [see Tugfax for a closeup]

2. As Saudi Hofuf is lined up to back in to pier 31 she shows off her huge stern ramp in its stowed position. Her side hatch is just forward of the banner letters, and can be picked out by the drain ports below the flush fitted hatch cover.

3. In this file photo a transformer is driven off the stern ramp on a transporter trailer rated at 110 tonnes. A.W.Leil's M.A.N. prime mover tractor arrived in Halifax on board a Saudi ship.

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA) has been a regular caller in Halifax for many years. It brings in some cargo, but usually takes away oversize loads such as machinery and containers.

Saturday's visit by Saudi Hofuf may have been an exception, because I did not see its huge stern ramp in operation, as it may not have loaded any RoRo cargo. This very useful ship can carry 2310 containers, 534 cars and a variety of heavy and oversize RoRo cargo. The immense stern ramp has a capacity of 400 tonnes. A smaller side ramp can carry 90 tonnes.

Built by Kockums of Malmo, Sweden, as far back as 1983, the ship will probably be kept running for many years, since this type of vessel is very expensive to build. Similar to (but smaller than) the Atlantic Container Line ships, there has been talk of replacements, but none are on the horizon so far.