NYK Romulus

West coast North America port congestion has disrupted many shipping line schedules, including THE Alliance's AL5 service from North Europe via Halifax. Today's arrival NYK Romulus is east bound having skipped some calls in an effort to keep the ship, and its cargo, moving.

The ship was here last, westbound, May 29 and after calls in the Caribbean proceeded through the Panama Canal, missed its scheduled calls in Los Angeles and Oakland in early June, but was able to dock in Los Angeles June 19. After calling in Vancouver June 22 it called in Seattle June 28, and Oakland July 15, and skipped Los Angeles again.

After sailing from Halifax it will cross the Atlantic but will skip its Rotterdam call and is scheduled to go direct to Southampton. It is due back in Halifax on its next voyage  August 31.

The ship was built in 2009 by Hyundai, Samho. Measuring 55,487 gt, 65,883 dwt it has a capacity of 4922 TEU including 330 reefers. [All tonnage numbers have changed since the ship was delivered. Gross tonnage is a calculation - not a measurement - so when deadweight tonnage is adjusted, based on actual measurement, gross changes too.]

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Fog in the Approaches

 The phrase "fog in the approaches" (to Halifax harbour) was once a common one when marine weather reports were broadcast on public radio. The phrase was particularly appropriate today. Fog lingered offshore and crept in and out with the tide, while the main harbour remained sunny and clear.

There were wisps of fog as MSC Angela got underway from PSA Halifax, bound for Montreal. The very high humidity meant that water vapour from the exhaust gas scrubber did not evaporate immediately and gave a "steamship-like" look.

Within a few ships' lengths, the ship was swallowed up by the fog. MSC Angela had reduced its deckload to four tiers of containers.

The departure of CMA CGM J. Adams a few hours later was largely invisible.

Once the arriving Atlantic Sun got well into the harbour, it was clear sailing through the Narrows.

Atlantic Fir was providing braking and steering assist from astern.

At the north end of the harbour and into Bedfrod Basin it was clear as a bell for another 100,000 tonner, as Conti Annapurna sailed from Cerescorp, Fairview Cove.

 

Built by Hyundai, Ulsan in 2004 as Pacific Link the 90,745 gt, 101,976 dwt ship has a capacity of 8738 TEU including 700 reefers. Renamed by NSB Niederelbe in 2016, the ship is a fairly recent addition to THE Alliance's EC5 service, which is introducing larger and larger ships. Soon to be classed (by me) as "Narrowsmax".

Also sailing from the Narrows in clear conditions was the "visiting" CCGS George R. Pearkes as it got underway from the Bedford Institute.

 

Normally based in Newfoundland, the Martha L. Black class light icebreaker and buoy tenders is covering for Halifax based ships in refit. Built by Versatile Pacific at the Burrard Drydock in North Vancouver, the ship was commissioned in 1986. It served in the Pacific region, then Quebec until assigned to St.John's in 2004.  It appeared to have an automated weather buoy on deck.

The only other activity that I was able to observe in the harbour today (unaffected by fog) was the continued off loading of rails at Pier 27 from Onego Maas.

The ship arrived in Halifax August 10 from Swinoujscie , Poland with the latest cargo for CN. The ship dates from 2011 when it was built by Damen, Yiching. It is a 8058 gt, 10,872 dwt ship with a pair of 80 tonne capacity cranes. It was launched as Wenningstedt but delivered as Thorco Copenhagen and subsequently renamed 2016: BBC Brasil, 2018: DC Brasil, 2019: BBC Brasil, and took its present name as recently as July 1, 2021. As with many general cargo ships it is a multi-purpose singledeck with portable tween decks and ventilated, box shaped holds. Its cranes can be operated in combo for a 150 tonne lift. It is also ice class  Swedish/Finnish 1A.

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MSC Angela returns

 One of MSC's St.Lawrence service regulars, MSC Angela arrived again today to "decant" some cargo.

The ship is noted for its exceptionally high superstructure, which allows for a high deckload. On arrival from Sines, Portugal today, the deck was stacked to a maximum of five containers. When it was here in March I noted that the deckload was reduced to four high before it sailed for Montreal.

The ship was built by Zhejiang Yang Fan Shipbuilding Co Ltd as 41,225 gt, 50,628 dwt vessel of 4254 TEU including 550 reefers. When built it was considered to be a Panamax ship, but is now an "old" Panamax size.

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HMCS Shawinigan

 The RCN Kingston class coastal defence vessel HMCS Shawinigan returned to Halifax today, August 9 after  working with US and Dutch authorities in Operation Caribe.

Over a 10 day period in mid-July Shawinigan participated in four small vessel interdictions in the Caribbean which resulted the seizure of 2800 kg of cocaine valued at $30 million. The drugs were landed and displayed to the public at Port Everglades, FL. Total haul for Operation Caribe was put at $1.6 billion.

There was no fanfare on the waterfront as Shawinigan returned home, with most bystanders unaware of the RCN's important role in policing the Caribbean.  I trust that there was an appropriate reception at HMC Dockyard.

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Siem Super-Eco

A Siem Auto Carriers "Super-Eco" ship arrived today at Autoport. The dual fuel Pure Car and Truck Carrier was built in 2020 by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co and uses LNG to supplement standard marine diesel oil.

With a massive gross of 72,900 tons and a capacity of 7500 RT43 car equivalent units, the Siem Aristotle has a very light 19,090 deadweight tonnes. 

The ship also has a 200 tonne capacity stern ramp and 20 tonne capacity side ramp, so it presumably can also carry RoRo cargo other than cars. Like sister ship Siem Confucius it is dedicated to Volkswagen service. It made its maiden voyage in Janauary of this year. 

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CMA CGM Thalassa

 It was a return appearance today for one of CMA CGM's "ultras". One of the nineteen ships in the Columbus JAX rotation it was once in the cohort of largest ships to call in Halifax. That was as recently as 2019 when cracking the 10,000 TEU mark was the record to strive for. Now the 17,000 TEU mark is the number to beat.

Built in 2008 by Daewoo Shipbuilding + Marine Engineering in Okpo, it is one of five ships of the Daewoo 11000 class. At 128,600 gt, 131,938 dwt it has a capacity 10,980 TEU including 700 reefers. A slightly larger fleet mate CMA CGM Libra preceded the ship in Halifax in January 2019 and its capacity of 11,388 TEU held the record for largest ship for a short time. However numbers can be complicated as my Shipfax post of  February 7, 2019 explained.

In comparing photos from 2019 with today's arrival, the ship appears to have loaded one more (an eighth) tier of boxes, compared to the seven tiers in 2019. Business is certainly booming as are charter rates for ships. Ships of this size are routinely being chartered for well in excess of $100,000 per day as compared to the $47,200 quoted in the 2019 post.

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IT Integrity - trouble in BC

 The cable ship IT Integrity is reported tied up in Port Alberni, BC after its main engine was disabled due to "fuel issues". The Halifax registered ship, owned by interests connected to IT International Telecom Canada Inc.

Acquired last year, the former offshore supplier and ROV supporter Highland Fortress was built in 2001 by Soviknes Verft AS in Norway. It was refitted for cable work at Pier 9A in Halifax. It first arrived in Halifax May 28, 2020 and was registered September 21, 2020.

It sailed from Halifax May 15, 2021 and transited the Panama Canal Jun 8-9. It appears to have been working off California at least until July before moving on to British Columbia waters.

As part of the Halifax refit a large A-Frame assembly was installed aft, presumably for ROV work.

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