Busy day

It was a much busier day in Halifax today, with all tugs working early in the morning to dock the autocarrier MAERSK WAVE and the containerships ZIM MEDITERRANEAN, REYKJAFOSS, STADT BERLIN and STUTTGART EXPRESS.

At noon time they were back at it with OOCL SAN FRANCISCO and STADT BERLIN asrriving amd REYKJAFOSS leaving.

It will be a repeat in reverse at 4pm as they all begin to leave!

The herring seiners are back in, but without any catch to show for their last few days.

And a treat for all is the return of BLUENOSE II for harbour tours. Due to re-construction at the Maritime Museum dock she has shifted to Bishop's Landing.

Early this afternoon the old reefer ship CHERRY (see previous posting) moved fom the Scotiadock II floating drydock to pier 26-27 as a "dead ship" with SVITZER BEDFORD and POINT CHEBUCTO providing the power. You will note in the photo that she has no anchors! These were presumably removed when she was towed from Bayside. Her anchor chains were used as a towing bridle and the anchors were likely stowed on deck.

Today in the Harbour

A quiet day today.
The US tug barge combination SEA RAVEN + ATC23 sailed early this morning and ALGOSCOTIA took her place at Imperial Oil.
Several herring seiners arrived this morning.
The Polish owned, Maltese flagged ZERAN is moving to pier 33 this morning to load military cargo for exercises in the Gulf of Maine.
Naval vessel activity is fairly high. CORNER BROOK, among others, sailed yesterday.
Pile driving has resumed at the foot of Salter Street. The barge BEAVER KAY will be driving the last of the piles for the new wharf. She was moved into position yesterday by the tug MISTER JOE.
Atlantic Towing is down to two tugs in Halifax since the weekend. The LNG terminal tugs SPITFIRE III and ATLANTIC BEAR have left port, presumably to join sister tug ATLANTIC BEAVER in Saint John.
The cruise/ sea school vessel EXPLORER spent the night in port and will be sailing this afternoon.

View From Georges

A superb view of incoming ships can be had from the seaward (south) end of George's Island, above the battlements. Here we have OOCL CALIFORNIA arriving June 14 with the tug ATLANTIC SPRUCE coming alongside. ATLANTIC OAK is tucked under the stern in the escort position. The tour boat HALIGONIAN III is following along.

From George's Island

The supply boat OCEAN FOXTROT is shown leaving Halifax Sunday afternoon. She is shown passing west of George's Island, and photographed from George's Island, a unique angle for me!

OCEAN FOXTROT is fitted with cable laying and splicing apparatus, which will be used on the Deep Panuke project off Sable Island.

In the middleground of the photo is the "Seawall" piers 20 to 22, with one of the port's cruise ship gangways, with its awning and blue tarped railing. The gangway is on wheels to move with the tide and is adjusted to suit the particular ship.

In the background the grain elevator dominates the skyline.

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.