Svitzer Bedford Fire

The Halifax based tug Svitzer Bedford was abandoned on fire off Quebec City on Wednesday October 28 at about 10 am local time. The tug had sailed from Quebec City for Becancour, towing the barge Transport 1 when the fire broke out. The master decided to abandon ship when the engine room fire could not be brought under control and requested that the Coast Guard vessel Cap Tourmente take the crew off.

The tug has been away from Halifax for several months towing supply barges from Quebec to Hudson's Bay. It was pressed into service when the tug Point Halifax was damaged in ice.

The tugs are owned and operated by Svitzer Canada Limited of Halifax (formerly Eastern Canada Towing Ltd)

Update 1: The fire was brought under control quickly by the Quebec Fire Department and was confined to the engine room. There was a lot of smoke, and the exent of damage is still to be determined.

Awaiting updates.

Oldie from the shoebox... Federal Pioneer

If you've seen Piet Sinke's newsletter he often concludes with an "oldie from the shoebox." Firmly believing that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I will do the same from time to time. I have posted lots of old stuff on Shipspotting, but the photos I will post here will not be the standard ship portraits.

I took this October 15, 1969 from Barrington Street, looking down into the Graving Dock at Halifax Shipyard. It shows FEDERAL PIONEER (ex Brazilian Prince -58, Outremont Park -56) 7158/44 United Shipbuilding, Montreal.

She spent her last years lying in Halifax until needed for northern supply work in the summers.

In 1970 she was sold for scrap to China. She sailed there on her own via Honolulu (December 19, 1970) and arrived in Hsinkiang January 21, 1971 where she was broken up.

The photo also shows a swanky looking vehicle pulled up at the front gate - perhaps a Jaguar.

Cruise countdown

The cruise season is winding down, and Crown Princess sailed this afternoon after her fifth visit to Halifax this year.

Only two ships to follow - Queen Mary 2 on November 2 and Crystal Symphony on November 5.

That's Pearl Mist in the background - still undergoing corrective surgery at the Woodside dock of Halifax Shipyard/ Irving Shipbulding.

A painted ship upon a painted ship upon a painted sea...

Perhaps a little poetic liberty here, but it was a beautifully calm afternoon on Tuesday, October 27 when the lift boat Seajacks Kraken (painted red), on the deck of Swan (painted orange) sailed for European waters.

Deutschland

It was a wild night and morning in Halifax with gales, lashing rain and high seas. Tugs were scurrying to re-anchor Swan and its deck load, which had started to wander. Both cruise ships required tugs today, Deutschland which arrived early, and Crystal Symphony which delayed arrival until 9 am. But it was all over by noon and a beautiful day broke out.

Deutschland sailed in near perfect conditions.

Lorelay in for repairs

The pipelaying vessel Lorelay arrived in Halifax Saturday October 23 for repairs. Bad weather on Friday October 16 forced the ship to abandon pipleay operations when she could not maintain position. There was some damage to the ship as a result, and she first went to Sheet Harbour. She has now moved to Halifax for completion of repairs.

She is accompanied by the support vessels Manta III and Calamity Jane.

By 3 pm the Swan's hull deck was just clearing the water. A large bracket on the ship's deck is securing the stern of Seajacks Kraken.