More bad news
Thanks to Armchair Captain for giving the heads up on Melfi Line's decision to skip Halifax. The Cuban line is the successor to Coral and other lines that have served Cuba from Canada over the years. It is essentially a Cuban owned container line, but it also carries other types of cargo.
Over the years they have loaded innumerable used trucks, busses and other vehicles for Cuba (but most of these have orginated in Quebec.)
The last ship to call will be MELFI IBERIA June 11- June 12. After that date, the ships will sail from Montreal direct to Cuba.
Agents for Melfi are Protos Shipping Ltd.

BAD NEWS

As the Halifax Chronicle Herald Reported on Friday, Pearl Mist Cruises have cancelled the rest of the 2009 season for their ship PEARL MIST, built by Halifax Shipyards. The much delayed ship, and the US economy (where cruise companies are struggling) are both factors in this bad news.

The ship left Halifax Friday, despite reported deficiencies, and possibly still incomplete.

The photo shows her returning from one of her sea trials trips.

I hope we will see her next year when she is scheduled (for now) on a series of east coast and Great Lakes tours.

Seajacks Kraken

The liftboat SEAJACKS KRAKEN sailed on Friday May 22 to work on the Deep Panuke gas field off Sable Island. The veesel made a trials trip earlier in the week (she is brand new.)

She is seen here with the tugs ATLANTIC OAK and ATLANTIC SPRUCE assisting with steering.

German warships

The frigate Sachsen is seen here sailing Friday morning May 22. She is a new "Stealth" design intended to reduce her radar image to enemy ships. As we have heard with submarines, that are invisisible to each other - this can lead to collisions! Let's hope she has a safe trip.

German warships

Two German warships visisted Halifax this week. FRANKFURT AM MAIN is a supply vessel - just what Canada needs, but can't make up its mind to build. Here she is leaving port on Friday.

Busy, busy week

The week of May 18-22 was a very busy week in Halifax harbour. The number of ships arriving and departing was well above average, and many of the ships were unique or of special interest.

Three visiting naval vessels were among the highlights. The Chilean sail training vessel ESMERELDA arrived from Quebec City and remained alongside most of the week. The cadets were kept busy with sailor work and were overside hull painting on Friday. The boat sailed on Saturday, and despite her lofty masts was not the tallest ship in port!

The oil rig Rowan Gortilla III in the background was certainly taller, but not nearly as graceful.

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