IFR small craft

A large variety of small craft attended the International Fleet Review vessel HMCS St. John's with HM the Queen and the review party on board. Boats from the Navy and RCMP provided a variety of close in escort, patrol and security functions.

1. RCMP Prevel

2. Unnamed RCMP rigid hull inflatible.

3. Scary guys (RCMP we hope) in Zodiac.

4. RCMP Zodiac with a cab.

5. RCMP in another RHIB.

6. One of dozens of navy Zodiacs, as St.John's rounds George's Island.

IFR a done deal

The International Fleet Review came off without any serious hitches today. The only disappointment was the weather - bright hazy/humid air in Bedford Basin and heavy overcast and impending fog in the lower harbour made photography difficult. Hence the heavy edits on some of the following. Read down chronologically.

1. Ships dressed for review in Bedford Basin,USS Boone USS Robert D. Bradley, and CCGS Edward Cornwallis.

2. USS Gettysburg monopolizes the foreground. RFA Fort George to the left.

3. Brazil's Indepencia ready for the review, with Spessart and Fort Gerorge.

4. HMCS Charlottetown salutes HMCS St.John's with the review party on board.

5. In the lower harbour, USS Wasp is at anchor, while small craft begin to clear the area.

6. After taking the final salute from HMCS Athabaskan east of George's Island, St. John's swept around south of the island and lines up for docking at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. HMCS Goose Bay accompanies, with a number of small craft for close in escort [see subsequent posting.]

7. Her Majesty gives Shipfax a close look.

8. Prime Minister Harper deigns to wave at Shipfax, while her Majesty examines us more closely.

9. Tugs come alongside for berthing at the Martime Museum of the Atlantic. Once ashore Her Majesty unveiled a plaque on Sackville, designating the last corvette as Canada's Naval Memorial.

10. By evening the ships started to return to their berths as fog edged in. HMS Ark Royal remains at anchor, but moves further south in the harbour.

As yesterday - refer to the multitude of other sites and blogs for more (and better) photo coverage.

IFR lining up.

All day, naval vessels proceeded from their berths to assigned anchorages in Bedford Basin. Regrettably fog and rain or drizzle obscured the view to some extent. By early evening the following lineup was visible from the western shores of the Basin.

1. USS Robert G. Bradley looms behind the pilot boat APA No.1

2. USCG Escanaba blends with the background.

3. HMCS Charlottetown is dressed for the occasion.

4. HMCS Shawinigan and CCGS Edward Cornwallis rest at anchor while the tug Roseway moves a barge. HMS Sutherland fades into the far shoreline.

5. USS Gettysburg looks sleek in profile, while picket boats perform patrols.

6. HMCS Montreal hoists her laundry.

7. Brazilian Independencia comes to anchor while the pilot boat awaits.

For more photos of the IFR and participating ships, see:

Armchair captain at http://armchaircaptn.blogspot.com/

Sandy McClearn:
http://smcclearn.smugmug.com/Navy/Halifax-IFR/12685540_DrTdW#912591158_gTDR9

and Capt. Ken: http://www.shipspotting.com/search.php?action=showallbyuser&mid=7&uid=19975

Busiest Day in Halifax since....?

Fog and drizzle greeted us as we gazed out on the harbour this morning. Aegir is turning to back in to Pier 42, Halterm.

In addition to the usual busy Monday in the harbour, preparations for the International Fleet Review mean that this will be the busiest day in Halifax harbour in this century.

Normal traffic: container ships Italy Express, Aegir, Zim Pusan and Atlantic Compass will arrive this morning and most will sail later in the day or in the evening.

break bulk arrival: Onego Merchant

autocarrier: Elektra arriving at pier 27, moving to Autoport and sailing this evening.

Naval movements: 13 foreign naval vessels will be moving from various berths to anchorage in Bedford Basin between 0900 and 2000. Numerous Canadian warships will also be moving to the Basin, to join the four or five already there.

US nuclear submarine Virginia will be arriving at Shearwater.

This activity will keep tugs and pilots fully occupied and it would be a harbour watcher's field day if not for these added factors:

1. the weather

2. traffic on the land side will be chaotic due the arrival of HM the Queen.

International Fleet gathers

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Navies from several nations are gathering in Halifax for the International Fleet Review taking place next week. The Royal Navy and the US Navy are sending the largest contingents, but the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, France and Brazil will also be represented.

Ships are berthing in the Dockyard and at public and Port Corporation piers. Naval small craft are providing security patrols, boom maintenance and many other duties for the visit.

1. The Dutch Amsterdam is inbound for the Dockyard.

2. USS Bradley and USS Gettysburg are tied up at pier 20. Orange buoys mark an exclusion zone around the ships. USS Boone is inbound in the distance.

3. Yard craft 127 is used to deploy oil booms during fueling operations.

HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will review the fleet on June 29.

more information at: http://halifaxifr.ca/en/Home/tabid/61/Default.aspx

A Kamsarmax bulk carrier calls on Halifax

The bulker Iron Fuzeyya made a brief call for bunkers today. The Marshall Island flag vessel is owned by Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd, an AMEX/NASDAQ listed company that operates 48 ships and has five more on order. The company is based in Greece.

This type of bulk carrier is called a Kamsarmax, which is a Panamax vessel, but with extra length (229 meters), which is the largest vessel to be able to load bauxite in Port Kamsar, Equatorial Guinea. This gives the ship a deadweight tonnage of 82,209. She was built in Japan in 2006.

Iron Fuzeyya is on a long term charter to Bunge Corp, a grain company, but the ship may carry many different commodities depending on demand. Her itinerary suggests that she sailed as light ship from Rotterdam to Pointe Noire QC to load iron ore. She then sailed to Halifax for bunkers before setting out again for Rotterdam. Her agents were listed on the Port of Halifax website as Wabush Mines Vessel Agency.

For an especially good view of the ship at anchor in Halifax, go to Shipspotting.com and see Capt. Ken's photo:

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo-1134932-IRON+FUZEYYA

Carnival Glory sails

A regular visitor this cruise season will be Carnival Glory. Flying the Panamanian flag, and built in 2003 by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy, the 953 foot long ship will call every two weeks until October. Her first call was on June 17.

It is marginally bigger than fleet mate Carnival Triumph, which was a the regular Carnival ship for several years. Triumph was built in 1999, and is 893 feet long. It carries 2,758 passengers, versus Glory's 2,974. Carnival Triumph is now working in the Caribbean.

Carnival Glory features economical five night cruises out of New York, visiting Halifax, and or Saint John and New England ports.

Carnival Glory is a member of the Conquest class of five ships, whereas Carnival Triumph is a member of the two ship Triumph class.