Zim London - new to us

An empty container ship arrived at Halterm today. Zim London has apparently been shifted from one route to another, starting in Halifax, and so arrived with no containers on board. Its name does not appear on any Zim schedules, so it may be and addition or a substitution.
It has recently been operating between the Mediterranean and western Europe.

Zim London at pier 42 Halterm with empty decks.

Rainy weather greeted the ship, hence the lousy photo, but it does show the deck frames all empty.
Zim London was built as APL London by Koyo Dockyard Co in Mihara, Japan in 2008 for a Zodiac Maritime subsidiary, and placed on a five year charter to APL. On completion of that stint in 2013, it became Zim London. The ship flies the British flag, and measures 71,786 grt, 72,982 dwt, with a container capacity of 6350 TEU, including 500 reefers.

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Herrin'-Ho

The Leroy and Barry II returned to port this morning with a load of herring, and judging by the number of trucks lined up at pier 24, more boats are due.

The chute has positioned over the hatch on the tank truck.

The herring are caught at night and rushed to port where they are pumped ashore for processing in southwest Nova Scotia. To maximize sea time for the boats, the catch is unloaded at the nearest port, and that happens to be Halifax right now. As the herring move farther north that will change.

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Atlantic Project II

Atlantic RoRo Carriers (ARRC) http://www.arrcm.com/ make occasional calls in Halifax, on their operation between St.Petersburg, Russia to Baltimore, New Orleans and Tampa. Long time users of Astrakhan-class ships, ARRC are now adding newer vessels. I featured the Astrakhans back in January: http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2015/01/astrakhan-loros.html
The newer ships do not have the the RoRo capability, but still have extensive Lift On -Lift Off  equipment.

Today's arrival was Atlantic Project II, built in 2002 by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co, measuring 23,132 grt, 30,586 dwt, with a capacity of 1861 TEU (including 150 reefers). Its most impressive characteristic is its cranes. Two are rated at 50 tonnes and two at 100 tonnes. They are able to work in tandem for 200 tonne lifts.
Prior to being acquired by Baltic Mercur JSC of St.Petersburg in 2014, the ship carried the names Antonio-14, Hyundai Jumbo-11, CCNI Antartico-07, CCNI Magallenes-07, Cape Dyer-03. A sister ship Baltic Mercur II also sails for Atlantic RoRo Carriers, reviving the name of a n Astrakhan previously in the fleet.

Atlantic Project II was only docked at Halterm for a few hours this morning and sailed at noon time.

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Busy, but foggy and drizzly

A oslty drizzly day cleared off somewhat giving a chance to see most of the departures.

A new to Halifax autocarrier Paganino got a bit ahead of me departing Autoport. Built in 2009 as CSAV Rio Tata, it was renamed last year when it was acquired by the legendary Laiesz Reederei of Rostock.

Paganino - not under sail, passes a boat that is.

A product of the Yangfan Group in Zhoushan the 47,020 grt, 11,4373 dwt ship now carries a name beginning with the letter "P" as have all the Laiesz ships, going back to the age of sail when the Flying P Line was world famous for its Cape Horners. While this ship perhaps does not have the elegance of one of those mighty square riggers, it does carry their colour scheme of white boot top, black hull and white "upper works".

A return visit from the impressive Disney Magic allowed for a comparison with its appearance before it was "reeimagineered" in 2013 by the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. A 20 foot long "ducktail" to improve stability seems to be the only noticeable exterior sign of that work. The 1998 built ship's tonnage increased from 83,338 to 83,969 . The ship was built by Fincantieri's Breda yard in Marghera, with forepart built by the Ancona yard.Here are some befores and some afters.

2012 appearance (above) and 2015 (below).

 The attractive stern before (above) has been altered radically (below) by additional of the Donald Ducktail.

CCGC Sambro seen pacing Disney Magic outbound, had responded to a pleasure craft in trouble in the harbour, and was returning to base in Sambro. While crossing the Magic's wake, it met up with a few good breaking waves.

An impressive ship in it own way, APL Scotland sailed a few minutes earlier. It came from the Samsung yard in Koje and measures 65,792 grt, 68,018 dwt, with a capacity of 5762 TEU (including 656 reefers).

Meanwhile we did get a return visit from the herring fleet.

 It was a highly nostalgic scene at pier 24 when Margaret Elizabeth No.1's crew set about mending their seine net. Usually the net is stowed on deck, and it is difficult to imagine its size. Some hint of that, and how the net is hauled using power blocks and its boom, can be imagined. The stainless steel chute for pumping the fish is mounted just abaft the bridge.

Meanwhile Leroy and Barry II was taking fuel at the Tall Ship Quay while Lady Melissa idled at Bishop's Landing.

Fishing Boats, Now and Then - UPDATED

Once upon a time Halifax was a major fishing port, but nowadays, things are different. We usually see the herring seining fleet once or twice a year for a week or so at a time as they chase the migrating herring, otherwise it is only the odd boat in for repairs, now and then.

This week we have had visits form both. As previously reported the herring seiners are in and out, including Morning Star one of the newer boats, even though it was built in 1991 by Caraquet Marine Ltd in New Brunswick.

In for repairs was the Setting Sea II, not a herring seiner, but a scalloper, set up for stern dragging.
It was built in 1978 by Georgetown Shipyard Inc in Prince Edward Island. It tied up at the Svitzer Canada dock and sailed this evening to return to fishing on St-Pierre Bank.

 Back in February the boat was also in Halifax. The bow is decorated with a large scallop.

This photo added 2015-02-22

 
Scallops are bottom dwelling shellfish, and they are caught by dragging a rake and chain bag along the seabottom. The scallops are shucked immediately and the shells are thrown back to restore the seabed. 

Both boats are short and wide and use outriggers with paravanes to maintain stability at sea.

There are still may smaller fishing boats around the entrances to Halifax harbour.

Eastern Passage is picturesque, even in March when it is iced in.

Sambro is home to several larger boats, one of which is Ivy Rose. It was built in 1999 by A.F.Thériault & Son Ltd in Meteghan River, NS.

It is seen here returning from the fishing grounds.

Many smaller boats are also based in Sambro, both lobster boats and longliners.

The deceptively placid waters of Sambro Creek (the incoming tide was running at a fair clip when I took this in April) has several wharves. Alongside on e of them is the remarkable Oran II, built in 1957 by John McLean + Sons Ltd in Mahone Bay. It has been fishing out of Sambro ever since I can remember. Though often rebuilt and re-rigged here is what it looked like in

1980:

 and 1970:

Alongside the schooner hulled Adventure, also built in 1957, but in Shelburne, NS.

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Helene J, Voyage 001

Melfi Lines was represented this morning by the container ship Helen J, flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. The German owned ship has changed names eleven times  since it was built in 1997 by MTW, Wismar. This is its first trip for Melfi, and its first call in Halifax.

With tugs made fast, the ship begins to turn, and makes the first of several very black clouds of smoke.

Helen J nears pier 42, Halterm.

Measuring 18,233 grt, 26,375 dwt it has a capacity of 1900 TEU (including 310 reefers) and carries three 45 tonne cranes.

Veendam returns

After cutting short its 2014 fall cruise season Veendam arrived this morning, apparently restored to good order.

With a recorded wind speed of 3 knots, Veendam arrived in ideal conditions, its bulbous bow sliding just below the surface.

 
Last September the ship was working on one prop only*  and used tugs to berth in Halifax September 22 and Quebec City September 27. The ship then cancelled its September 28 cruise from Quebec to go to drydock in Philadelphia for repairs. Those repairs took three weeks (cancelling three cruises) and put it beyond the end of the 2014 season for Halifax.
The ship resumed regular service with an October 18 departure from Boston for San Diego.

The ship passed east of George's Island inbound and picked up the morning sun on its port side as it swung around for Pier 22.

Veendam, was built in 1996 by Fincantieri's Venice yard as a sister to Maasdam. In 2009 it had a major refit in Freeport, Bahamas,  that added two decks aft and projecting galleries, and a "duck tail" stern sponson.  Its passenger capacity post-refit is 1295, with 528 crew. The new grt is 57,092, up from 55,451 as built.

*the ship's propulsion system is diesel electric, with two diesel engines and three generators, driving two props. Holland America did not reveal the exact nature of the problem, but it had to be more than a bent prop blade, since that could have been repaired quickly.

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