Victory II and Hugh R. Sharp

Two American built vessels made appearances in Halifax this morning.

The cruise ship Victory II was in only briefly en route from the Great Lakes to Gloucester. After a somewhat late start due to an extensive refit, the ship missed its inaugural call in Halifax June 2, but was able to enter service in July in Detroit (after a mandatory pre-Seaway call in Montreal). Its first call in Halifax was August 15.

Now completed with its Great Lakes tour season, it will carry out New England / Maritime cruises for the autumn. Built as  Cape Cod Light in 2004 by Atlantic Marine in Jacksonville, FL, it is a sister ship to Victory I, built as Cape May Light, and both somewhat checkered histories, but seem now to have found profitable work for Victory Cruise Lines. They can carry 202 passengers.



Also arriving this morning the US flag research vessel Hugh R. Sharp tied up at pier 26. The ship was built in 2005 by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, WA for the University of Delaware. It can accommodate 12 scientists in addition to its crew of 8.

The ship measures 495 grt, and is powered by four Cummins engines driving two Schottel Z-drives.

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Victory II delayed

The "new" cruise ship Victory II did not make its inaugural visit in Halifax today as originally planned. The ship's refit in Europe has taken longer than hoped, and it will not make its appearance until July - if then.

 

Saint Laurent called in Halifax in 2015.

The ship was one of two small 200 passenger cruise ships built by Atlantic Marine in Jacksonville, FL, to be named Cape May Light (2001) and Cape Cod Light (2004). The retro look ships were to sail to smaller ports on the east coast and Caribbean.  After owners American Classic Voyages folded in 2004 Cape May Light lay idle for some time until it was pressed into service for workers accommodation in Deception Bay in 2011. After that it was renamed Sea Voyager and in 2015 Saint Laurent. It visited Halifax under that name June 4, 2015 but on  June 18 it impacted the Eisenhower Lock sill on the St.Lawrence Seaway and had to be evacuated.   It was repaired and back in service in a month, but after calling in Halifax October 30, 2015 it went on to Portland. ME where the operators filed for bankruptcy protection.
After that was all sorted out, the ship was renamed Victory I and re-entered service in the 2016 season with new operators, Clipper Cruises Ltd.

Victory I has been operating ssuccessfully since 2016.

After two successful seasons, the owners decided to refit the sister ship, built as Cape Cod Light in 2004 but since renamed in 2007 Coastal Queen, 2009 Clipper Discoverer and also in 2009 Sea Discoverer II. It had been laid up in Tilbury, UK after use as an accommodation vessel in Germany. After work is completed in Helsingborg, Sweden it will become Victory II .



With that process delayed, the ship is now scheduled to start its Great Lakes touring season in  Montreal July 27. Whether it will call in Halifax en route has not been announced. Promo material for Victory II shows an identical ship, less the prominenent steer pole on the bow.

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