Big White Ship

It's unusual to see a crude oil tanker painted white. HELLESPONT TRINITY, with its white hull and blue diagonal stripes presented a refreshing change to the usual business-like tanker colours.

Her owners, Hellespont Shipping are an intrigiung company, with an interesting Canadian connection.

Their web site - one of the best shipping company web sites around, is well worth a visit. Look under the "Our History" label to see more at:

http://www.hellespont.com/

The ship was in Halifax on Trinity Sunday, but left after dark, so did not cooperate with the camera for an "underway" photo.

Blue Ice Anyone?

Distilled exclusively from Idaho Russet potatoes. Certified kosher and USDA Organic. America's only vodka. Produced by Distilled Resources Inc of Rigby, Idaho. The favourite of rappers, gangstas, and obviously millions of others. Blue Ice vodka.

Can there be any doubt that its profits have finded this over the top mega-yacht? A 45m Palmer Johnson, fresh from the shipyard, and bound for a summer of charter work in the Med, with a rate starting from 175,000 euros per week.

No ordinary vodka, no ordinary yacht.

She is tied up at the Queen's wharf, just north of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

MARIA DESGAGNES

The tanker MARIA DESGAGNES got underway this afternoon for Come-by-Chance, Newfoundland, after a lengthy layup in Halifax. The ship arrived in March and spent some time in drydock, but has been idle ever since.

Her owners, Transport Desgagnes of Quebec (and their tanker subsidiary PetroNav), have had several of their tankers laid up during this time.

There is some speculation that MARIA DESGAGNES will be working overseas and flying a flag of convenience. Several other Desgagnes ships do this seasonally, and return to Canadian flag for summer work in the arctic, then head overseas again for the rest of the year. Their tanker fleet however have always remained Canadian flagged year round.

A drop in demand for Canadian flag tankers, an increase in the number of Canadian tankers available (Algoma bought two tankers this year alone, and Desgagnes bought one) and Ultramar's use of a tug and barge on the St.Lawrence River, all lead to this situation.

Fleet mates VEGA DESGAGNES and PETROLIA DESGAGNES remain laid up in Montreal and Quebec City respectively. THALASSA DESGAGNES was laid up until May 31 but has resumed service for a trip to the US with asphalt. SARAH DESGAGNES is trading in the Caribbean.

The three Rigel tankers, formerly chartered by Desgagnes, but purchased outright early this year, DIAMOND STAR, EMERALD STAR and JADE STAR are all still operating for Ultramar.

SHEILA ANN arrives

The self-unloading bulk carrier SHEILA ANN arrived for bunkers at noon time. The ship was built in 1999 at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China for the CSL Group. It can carry 70,000 tonnes of cargo and can unload at a rate of up to 5,000 tones per hour depending on the type of cargo. It usually carries coal to Point Tupper or Sydney and stone from Cape Porcupine to the US. It can also carry gypsum, phosphate rock and similar bulk cargoes.

The ship was named for the Sheila Ann Martin, whose husband was, for a time, Prime Minister of Canada, and was the owner of the CSL (Canada Steamship Lines) group of companies. Her sons now own CSL.

The pilot boat APA No.1 is shown in the mid-ground, with some of the herring seiner fleet in the foreground.

HMCS Halifax

The Canadian patrol frigate HMC HALIFAX is exercising in and out of Halifax harbour. She is shown here taking a turn around George's Island and heading outbound again.

In the foreground is the new waterfront wharf at the foot of Salter Street. Construction should be complete in time for the visit of the Tall Ships in July.

Herring Seiners

After unloading their catch Monday, the herring seiners remained in port over night, tied up in the area of the Tall Ships Quay, at the foot of Morris Street. LEROY AND BARRY NO.II (2)is typical of the medium sized steel seiners.

The fleet consists of SILVER HARVESTER I, TASHA MARIE, LADY MELISSA, MORNING STAR, SEALIFE II and ISLAND PRIDE.

It's a Ford?

The yacht UNITY at Queen's Wharf. Its owner is reported to be Elena Ford, the great great grandaughter of Henry Ford.