Frisium takes more poles to Droghada

The low air draft cargo ship Frisium, registered in Sneek, Netherlands sailed this evening after loading a cargo of wooden utility poles for Drogheda, Ireland. That city is located upstream on the River Boyne, and the ship's low air draft may be a factor in its ability to navigate the river.

Google Earth's satellite photo of Drogheda shows the Steamship Quay immediately upstream of a bridge, with a very similar ship to Frisium alongside.

This not the ship's first visit to Halifax, She took a similar load on February 22.

The top photo shows the mate walking aft with a crewman (in orange) still stowing lines on the forepeak.

The bottom photo shows the actual loading process for the 80 foot long poles, using Logistec's large Liebherr crane at pier 30.

Nona Bulker in for bunkers

The bulk carrier Nona Bulker is shown arriving last evening. The ship is owned in Singapore by the Danish Lauritzen group, and was built in 2009. She took bunkers and sailed this morning.

Lauritzen were the pioneers of winter navigation on the St.Lawrence in the 1960s and were regular callers in Halifax for many years, when they operated general cargo ships.

For the last number of years they have concentrated on reefers and bulkers.

Lauritzen's Helga Dan won three gold headed canes from the Port of Montreal for first arrivals: Mar 12, 1962, January 4, 1964 and January 1, 1965. Their Thora Dan arrived February 28, 1963. They were the first ships ever to arrive in Montreal in February and January. Ever since then, the Port of Montreal has been considered a year round port, with every first arrival of the year registered on January 1.

Helga Dan is shown here arriving at pier 9 on October 2, 1969 with cargo for the Volvo assembly plant. She was built in 1957 and was broken up in 1982.

Sackville move

Canada's naval war memorial, the corvette Sackville, moved back to its summer quarters this morning, with tug assistance.

Update: Sackville turned in the stream and returned to HMC Dockyard. The move was part of a ceremony off the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

Oakglen becomes Canadian

Although Oakglen was officially registered in Canada on April 7, it wasn't until this evening that the port of Montreal began to appear on her stern.

This photo, taken through a forest of other shipyard activity, shows the painter just starting to work on the "L".

My rather breathless announcement that it wouldn't be long now on April 2, was anticipating just a bit! Normally drydockings take a month, so I will remain patient until the ship emerges.

It appears that repainting the superstructure will be left to the crew when the ship returns to service.

Virgo Leader sails

Virgo Leader sailed into a little rain shower on her way out this afternoon. Classed as a PTC (pure truck and car carrier) the ship has a capacity of 6400 standard automobiles. Built in 2004, she is one of over one hundred car carriers in the NYK fleet, which claims to be the world's largest.

Viola M. Davidson

The research vessel Viola M. Davidson was registered in Ottawa on April 6. The 59 gross ton aluminum hulled vessel was built by Abco Industries Ltd in Lunenburg, and is seen here fitting out at their dock on March 6.

Abco (formerly known as Atlantic Bridge Co) has built several small aluminum craft for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans recently, but this appears to be the most sophisticated.

The vessel's namesake, from what I can determine, is or was a scientist of some note.

Update: An article in the Halifax Sunday Herald April 18 tells more about the construction and operation of this vessel. It will operate out of St. Andrews, NB, where Ms. Davidson was one of the first female marine scientists. As with all CCG DFO vessels it will be multi-tasked to Search & Rescue if needed, but its primary role is research. As such it can be fitted with several types of fishing gear and other scientific apparatus.

Can't be long now.

Oakglen looks to be just about ready to leave the drydock,. Her new paint is progressing well. Unlike fleet mates Atlantic Huron and Birchglen, she is getting anti-fouling paint on her lower hull, which appears to be just slightly duller than her new CSL red.