George's Island

A rare opportunity today to see Halifax from a different angle. George's Island, in the middle of the harbour, was open to the public. The ferry WOODSIDE I transported passengers from the ferry terminal to the north end of the island., where a temporary wharf had been built from scows by Dominion Diving. There were views of the city and the shipping moving too and fro.

Interpreters in period costume led tours throught he moats, batteries and magazines, and we were free to wander some of the battlements to see the place for ourselves.

I will be posting photos all this week.

OLIVER JACOB

The crude oil tanker OLIVER JACOB, registered in Hamburg, called briefly this afternoon to load lube oil in barrels. Dominion Diving's tug ROSEWAY brought the barrels out to the ship on a small scow, and the ship's stores crane lifted the material on board.

The ship is sailing to West Africa in ballast.

Evening

Chance to take a dusk photo of the CCGS LOUIS S. ST-LAURENT in the Novadock and CHERRY in the Scotiadock II at Halifax Shipyard. The Angus L. Macdonald bridge is in the far background, and the tanker BRITISH COURTESY barely visible behind CHERRY.

Nice evening

It was a nice night for a stroll along the waterfront and a chance to see the nine herring seiners tied up for the weekend at the Tall Ships Quay. They are likely to sail early tomorrow afternoon.

New Arrival Bedford Basin

The Polish owned , Maltese registered ZERAN arrived at anchor in Bedford Basin this afternoon. The Roll-On Roll-Off cargo ship had been idle in Montreal since March 3 waiting for cargo. There is a rumour that she may load a shipment of military vehicles, that will arrive in Halifax by rail.

Pea Soup, Halifax style

Halifax is luxuriating in traditional pea soup fog today. Visibility at 8 am is nil. Thanks to AIS (see Armchair Captain for a real time AIS display) I know that ESSEN EXPRESS is docking at Fairvew Cove with the assistance of SVITZER BEDFORD. OCEANEX SANDERLING tied up at Autoport with ATLANTIC SPRUCE assisting. The tug then returned the pilot to the tug dock in Hailfax.
None of this could be seen with the naked eye - although there were some ships' fog horns to be hear.
Fog is a reality- enjoy it while you can!
As far as I can tell there are about half a dozen or more herring seiners tied up at the Tall Ships Quay at the foot of Moris Street. They left port yesterday but returned in the late afternoon. The visibility and weather conditions on the fishing grounds may have been a factor.

Today in port

Today's lineup:
Cruise ship MAASDAM in port for the day .
RICKMERS HAMBURG pier 30, arrived at midnight and will sail, tentatively, at 1300.
FEDERAL MAAS is at pier 27 unloading steel tire cores for Michelin.
ALGOSCOTIA arriving, ALGOCANADA sailing from Imperial Oil.
Tug OCEAN FOXTROT at pier 9.
Herring seiners arriving and unloading at pier 9 and pier 23 this morning, and sailing this afternoon - probably laying over at the Tall Ships quay for the morning.
DUTCH RUNNER arriving at pier 36. (St-Pierre et Miquelon service)
Yachts:
SWEET SARAH at Bishop's Landing and PARADIGM at Queen's Wharf. DESTINATION FOX HARB'R TOO arriving at lunch time.
Habour activivity: workboats from Dominion Diving: HALMAR, DOMINION PURSUIT and ROSEWAY, with scows, setting up for a weekend event on George's Island.
In drydock: CCGS LOUIS S ST-LAURENT, CHERRY

Due in the next few days, Polish owned, Maltese registerd ZERDAN, a RoRo ship which has been lying idle in Montreal for several months.