Flags of many nations - Part 2

More flags to be seen or implied from my second peak at the harbour today. With three cruise ships sailing at about the same time, just as the sun was sinking, it was a good time for a look see.

First off was Celebrity Summit, registered in Valetta, Malta. Built in 2001 as GTS Summit and renamed in 2008, the ship was here first in 2010, and has been here yearly ever since.

Heading out from pier 31 Celebrity Summit does a bit of "vaping" as it makes its turn to sea.

Following closely behind was the Norwegian Viking Sea. Long shadows from landside structures gave the ship a mottled appearance.

Nevertheless Oceanex Sanderling was able to fall in behind Celebrity Summit before Viking Sea came up, also allowing a sailer to scoot across the channel.

The prime attraction for waterfront gazers was the departure of Queen Mary 2 - a ship that draws crowds whenever it calls.

  Barely off the dock, QM2 hugs the Halifax shore so as the make its turn around George's Island in one move. The ship doesn't make tight turns like the more agile cruise ships.


Queen Mary 2 was also flying a seldom seen flag these days. The Blue Ensign is flown by British ships that are in command of  a Royal Navy Reserve officer. Once more common, the Blue Ensign was a sign of prestige for the ship, and the shipping company. Aside from suspension of the privilege during war time,  it has been in use for centuries, and was of encouraging ship's officers to join the RNR.

 The ship was also flying the Cunard house flag with is crown and rampant lion, and the Canadian flag as a courtesy (although its proportions look a bit irregular).


Speaking of irregular, In addition to saluting the Viking Sea when it sailed, QM2 appeared to salute the Harbour Hopper 3 as they passed. A great whoop went up from passengers on the ship when HH3 began to flash its lights, and almost immediately QM2 sounded three deep blasts. Go figure.

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A bit of everything

There was a bit of everything happening in Halifax harbour today - tankers, container ships and of course  cruise ships.

The Panamanian flag Challenge Procyon arrived during the night and anchored for bunkers, then moved to Imperial Oil;'s number 3 dock.

At sunup Challenge Procyon was bunkering in number 5 anchorage.

 

Built in 2011 by Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co Ltd in Onishi, Japan, the 28,735 grt, 45,996 dwt tanker arrived from Mongstad, Norway.

Meanwhile at Imperial Oil, the tanker Steel moved from number 3 dock to number 4. It had arrived from Porvoo, Finland on Wednesday October 3, but appears not to have unloaded any of its cargo.

As of yesterday afternoon, Steel appeared not to have unloaded any cargo.

 

Built in 2000 by Hyundai Mipo in Ulsan, as Rocket, it changed names in 2013.  It measures  23,248 grt, 37,889 dwt.

Imperial's usual source of supply for refined has been the US Gulf, mostly Texas. With recent hurricanes, I am assuming supply may have been limited and they chose to buy on the spot market.  Finland has no domestic source of fossil fuel, much of their oil-based supply coming from Russia, but they do have refining capability and export gasoline to other Baltic countries. Perhaps this cargo did not meet Imperial's standards.

Fairview Cove was keeping busy, with NYK Atlas and Atlantic Sail sailing and Glen Canyon Bridge arriving.

With the sun making a short visit, Glen Canyon Bridge strides up through the Narrows, with Atlantic Fire providing tethered escort. A crew on the forepeak are washing the anchor chain in readiness to anchor, but the ship was due to go alongside directly to the berth vacated by Atlantic Sail.


Built in 20016 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, the ship has a capacity of 5624 TEU on 68,570 grt and 71,291 dwt.

Early arrivers this morning were two cruise ships.

The veteran Saga Sapphire was in the lead, with a tug alongside to assist it backing in to its pier. Viking Sea was then able to overtake.

Built by Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack in 1981 it has carried the names Europe, 99: Superstar Europa, 99: Superstar Aries, 04: Holiday Dream, 08: Bleu de France, finally taking the name Saga Sapphire in 2012.
The ship has a capacity of 720.

Second in line was Viking Sea. Built in 2016 by Fincantieri Italiani in Ancona, it carries 930 passengers and measures 47,842 grt. It was launched as Viking Sky but switched names with a sister ship delivered this year. Both ship are callers in Halifax this year.

Later in the morning a third cruise ship,  Norwegian Dawn added 2300 more passengers to the count.

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