Back in Business-1000 hrs update

1. Pearl River I at pier 36 - the first arrival since Sunday.

2. Pearl River weighs anchor at 1000, and is the first piloted vessel to sail since Sunday.

By 1000 hrs AST the Port of Halifax was back in business, with ships entering and leaving. First to arrive was Pearl River I, a Zim container ship, bound for Halterm. It picked up its pilot about 0930.

First to leave was Pearl River, the CMA/CGM ship that has been in port since Sunday. It got underway from anchorage at 1000.

It is not unheard of, but certainly rare that two ships with such similar names would be passing each other in the harbour!

Pearl River I is a Liberian flag vessel, built in 2007 by Dalian New Shipbuilding in China. It is a 39,906 gross tons ship with a 4250 TEU capacity. It was built as Zim Vancouver, but adopted its current name soon after. It is owned by Ofer (Ships Holding) Ltd of Haifa- the principal shareholders in Zim. It is of the same class as other Zim ships that call here, but is the only ship on the rotation without a Zim name.

There will be a steady stream of ships coming in for the rest of the day, and pilots and tugs will be kept very busy.

.

Weather Watch continues 0800 hrs

As of 0800 hrs this morning the pilot boat was still on weather watch due to sea conditions at the pilot station.

The pilot boarding area is off Chebucto Head, and although it is not visible in the photo (it is around the point on the right hand side of the photo) what was visible from the shore this morning were seas still breaking over numerous shallows out on the horizon.

Also visible to the sharp eyed were four ships at anchor awaiting improved conditions. According to information received there are 8 ships due today. Four of them are container ships bound for Halterm (which has three berths) so even when they do get in there will be delays.

Not So Fast! 2100 hrs update.

1. Peaceful conditions inside the harbour are deceptive. Big seas are still running outside. The accommodation rig Chemul rides at anchor, and the Port Authority work boat Maintainer I returns to berth at 4 pm.

All did not get back to normal in fact as swells and high seas off Halifax did not calm down as expected. The pilot boat attempted to board a pilot on the container ship Paris Express about 2030 hrs, but could not do so due to the sea state. The ship was turned back, and the pilot boat will now be off station until 0800 hrs in the morning.

Ships are stacking up outside, some at anchor. These include Aegean Pride, Summit Europe, Butterfly, Nirint Canada and Maersk Patras.

All that is not so say there is no activity in the port. The CCGS Earl Grey sailed this evening (but it does not require a pilot.) The supplier Trinity Sea fueled at Imperial Oil. It will not require a pilot when it sails, but both it and McDermott fleet mate Panuke Sea are in port for the time being since it is too rough to work off Sable.

The container ship Pearl River moved to anchorage inside the harbour after completing cargo work. The ship cleared the berth for incoming ships, whenever they may be able to get in.

.