George's Island 2010

The Halifax newspaper announced today that George's Island will be open to the public starting in March 2010. This is great news for ship watchers (and others too I am sure.)

A mentioned below, I visited the island on June 14 and was impressed by the views.

The incongruous sight of period customed people with modern office buildings in the background was priceless.

Much work is needed to make George's ready for visitors, including a water line to run from the mainland, a sewage system, a dock and safety measures to prevent falls.

George's Island is also famous for having more snakes per square foot than anywhere in Nova Scotia. This may or may not raise the island's appeal for visitors, but the snakes are garter snakes and are considered harmless.

Melfi Lines update

Melfi Lines originally announced that they would be canceling calls in Halifax in favour of Montreal. The June 15 visit was to be the last for Melfi.

However, something changed. It now seems that Melfi will only load export cargo in Halifax and will unload import cargo in Montreal. The import cargo is from Spain, and Melfi obviously feels that it can deliver faster and closer to market if it lands that cargo in Montreal.

Export cargo is mostly for Cuba, which is generally not time sensitive, and so it can be shipped from Halifax. As you can see the cargo consists of containers and vehicles - some European and some Canadian - all bound for Cuba.

Yesterday's departure of MELFI IBERIA therefore does not represent the end of the line in Halifax as orginally reported. [see May 24 below]

Update: Initial reports turned out to be correct - Melfi is no longer seen inHalifax, and all ships have been sailing from the St.Lawrence River. Stay tuned for winter!

They're back

The herring seiners arrived back in port this morning and unloaded at pier 23 and maybe pier 9 too. These three vessels from Comeau's Seafoods in Yarmouth, LADY JANICE II, LADY MELISSA and LADY NOREEN, tied up together at Bishop's Landing, providing some interesting viewing for passengers from CARNIVAL TRIUMPH.

Other seiners were forced to tie up at pier 9 because most of the lower waterfront was given over to tour boats catering to the cruise ship passengers. HALIGONIAN III, SUMMER BAY, PEGGYS COVE EXPRESS and SILVA, in addition to BLUENOSE II, were boarding passengers at the Tall Ships Quay area.

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.