Harry DeWolf - float off

In a day long exercise that for the most part resembled watching paint dry, the future Harry DeWolf AOPS1 was floated free of the Boa Barge 37 and finally secured at pier 8 Halifax Shipyard.

It was a complex exercise, done with considerable precision and care and was apparently 100% successful. The operation began shortly after sunrise, when the harbour was socked in by fog. Tugs towed Boa Barge 37 from pier 6 Halifax Shipyard to an deep water anchorage in Bedford Basin off Rockingham.

Once it was safely anchored the slow process of ballasting began, and it was after noon before the barge's deck was fully submerged.

 For a time the stern of the barge was considerably lower in the water than the bow.

A flotilla of small craft including several from RMI Marine, and some other official looking vessels attended the operation.

The trim was eventually corrected with some impressive pumping.

When the second and this tug arrived, it was not clear if Spitfire III was putting on a water display or cooling off a small Coast Guard boat.

By late afternoon, the ship's hull achieved buoyancy - granted with a slight starboard list- and the second and third tugs arrived for the actual float off, and the cold move back to the shipyard began.

The ship was safely alongside pier 8 and the tugs stood down by 1830 hrs.

 

Harry DeWolf - rolled on

The first of the RCN's Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (aka AOPS 1) , is one step closer to launch this evening. Halifax Shipyard Hull #103 was rolled onto the launch barge Boa Barge 37 in a day long operation. With careful trim adjustments, the operation was conducted successfully and early this evening a crane was lifting off various pieces of equipment. The wheeled transporters, and some of the blue cradles were back on land. Vertical stability pads were being moved into place on each side of the ship to provide balance during tomorrow's float off.

Operations will start early in the morning when the barge is moved to Bedford Basin. Once there the lengthy process of submerging the barge and gradually floating the ship will begin. According to pilotage orders, the ship is expected to be afloat and ready to clear the barge by early afternoon. It will then be moved by tugs,  to pier 8 Halifax Shipyard. 

The name Harry DeWolf has been selected for the ship, but until it is actually handed over to the RCN, it remains under control of Irving Shipbuilding, and is without an official name. A naming ceremony is some time away, as handover to the RCN is not scheduled until next summer. (Just in time for some federal election publicity). Commissioning may be some time after that.

.

Harry DeWolf - we have lift off

The future HMCS Harry DeWolf - still known as AOPS1, was lifted off the ground today by multi-wheel transporters.

The blue cradles support the ship, but the red transporters carry the weight as the cradles are raised off the ground.

 
This is in preparation for tonight or tomorrow's move onto the barge Boa Barge 37. On Saturday morning the barge, with ship aboard, will be moved to Bedford Basin anchorage for the "launch" , or more properly "float off".

The ship will them be moved back to the shipyard for continued fitting out. With the hard stand area free, it is expected that AOPS 2 will very soon move out from the Assembly Hall.

.

Repeat Performances

Seeing the same ships several times poses challenges for original photos. The same ship in the same place over and over again begins to dull the senses. Fortunately today, although the ships were the familiar, there was something different.

When USS Arleigh Burke sailed this afternoon, the sun was on the Halifax side of the ship - unlike morning arrivals, which is the usual time to see warships.

 Name ship of its class, Arleigh Burke is proceeding cautiously as it leaves Halifax.

Also of course there is the desire to take the photo from forward, but a going away shot can provide some interest too. The ship arrived September 7 and was able to stay in port for a few days. Its May 10, 2017 visit was much briefer, arriving at 1000 hrs and sailing at 1600 hrs.

The autocarrier Elektra is such a regular caller, that I don't photograph it often.  Built in 1999 the ship is still in fine form despite its age. Classed as a Large Car and Truck Carrier (LCTC) it has a capacity of 7,194 cars. This is partly thanks to the 2005 lengthening that increased the ship's grt from 57,018 to 67,264.

Elektra moves from Autoport to pier 28 to off load some non-cars.

Original builder of the ship was Daewoo Heavy Industries, Okpo and the lengthening operation was carried out by Hyundai-Vinishin in Vietnam. A new section of nearly 30 meters was added, increasing the ship's capacity by 20%. It was the first of five Wallenius ships to get the upgrade.

The tanker Alpine Venture was here once before, and that was March 14, 2017, also from Antwerp.  Predictably it was built by Hyundai Mipo, Ulsan and is 29,130 grt, 46,046 dwt. On that last visit it had to move to Bedford Basin to wait out a storm. That is unlikely to happen this time.

When the ship was here last, most of the refinery was still intact, although de-commissioned. It is all gone now except for the tanks.

Another regular caller, usually seen approaching or sailing from Halterm is Bomar Rebecca. Plowing a regular furrow for Tropical Shipping, it calls every second Monday, regular as clockwork. Today however was different. It unloaded completely, then moved in ballast to pier 25-26.

It is unusual to see a container ship underway in ballast.

Because Hurricane Florence is expected to make shore in the Carolinas later this week, the ship is taking a trip off. It may also be an opportunity for some maintenance with the ship idled for a week. Its counterpart calling alternate weeks, Asian Sun is likely sitting this one out at the southern end of the route. It will not be calling next Monday, when Bomar Rebecca is scheduled to sail.

.

PAX and CANS

To use some waterfront jargon, the port was mostly pax (passengers) and cans (containers) this weekend. There was little other traffic to mention - no tankers, no bulkers, etc.,

On Saturday it was the always impressive Mein Schiff 6, the TUI Cruises ship, built in 2017 by Meyer Turku Shipyard. It made its first visit here September 2, 2017. The 98,811 grt ship has a capacity of 2,790 passengers, and appeared to be at capacity judging by the number of people on deck on departure.

  Mein Schiff 6 - decks crowded with passengers, sails Saturday evening.

On Sunday, the familiar Serenade of the Seas was joined by the Norwegian Dawn. The latter was re-directed here from its Boston / Bermuda trip by the developing Hurricane Florence. This may be the ship's first time here, since built in 2002 by Meyer Werft, Papenburg. The 92,250 grt ship can carry 2340 passengers.

Serenade of the Seas (left) at pier 22, stern to Norwegian Dream at pier 20 (right).


Even though the re-direction was a last moment one, some passengers opted to take a pass, but those that decided to stay were flocking ashore today in Halifax to buy sweaters. Granted it is cooler in Halifax than it would be in Bermuda, but the press made our climate as nothing short of polar.

The ship is infamous in  my mind for introducing "hull at" - that form of licensed graffiti that now defaces cruise ships throughout the word enough said.

Saturday's container arrival was the regular MOL Paradise for the EC5 service of THE Alliance. The 71,902 grt, 72,968 dwt ship has a capacity of 6350 TEU (including 500 reefers). After construction by Koyo Dockyard Co in Mihara, in 2005 it was briefly renamed APL Paradise from 2011 to 2012.

MOL Paridise threads its way through the Narrows - apparently effortlessly - despite the presence of pleasure craft.


Sunday's arrival was  Ikaria, now under anonymous Greek ownership, it is the former Long Beach Bridge of K-Line. Built in 2002 by Koyo Dockyard, Mihara, the 66,332 grt, 67,164 dwt ship has a capacity of 5576 TEU (including 440 reefers). It carried the name Ikaria briefly in 2010, and CCNI Antartico from 2010 to 2012.

 The tug Spitfire III heels as it assists the ship to make a course correction inbound.

Things were easier going as the ship transits the Narrows.

Onego Trader

Onego Trader sailed this afternoon after a lengthy stay in port. The ship arrived August 29 and tied up at pier 27. This is at least the fourth visit to Halifax for the ship siunce 2013, each time with a load Polish manufactured rails for CN. A multi-purpose ship of 6301 grt, 8930 dwt, it carries a pair of 40 tonne cranes, working a pair of box shaped holds of the open hatch configuration (the hold is the same size as the hatches).

Bodewes Volharding, Foxhol, Netherlands built the ship in 2001 as Dewi Laksmi. It was renamed Harns in 2008 and Onego Trader in 2010. Ownership and registry changed with the first name change, moving from Panama to Netherlands. Early in August of this year the ship was registered in Germany then immediately re-registered in Portuguese Madeira for new owners Hilda D Shipping.

.

Star Pride "inaugural call"

The cruise ship Star Pride made its inaugural call in Halifax today, but only under its current name. In fact it has been calling here for three decades.

When built by Schichau Seebeck, Bremerhaven in 1988 it was one of the classiest ships afloat. Named Seabourn Pride, its small size (only 212 passengers [new reduced to 208], 164 crew, 9975 grt) and clean yacht-like lines made a mark for Seabourn (managed by Cunard) wherever it went. It was one of the early ships to be named by a celebrity - in its case by Shirley Temple Black. 

The sleekly beautiful Seabourn Pride as built,

Its original appearance has unfortunately been marred over the years by several refits. The worst, in the early 2000s, installed individual windows and sliding doors on the upper deck cabins, which ruined the continuity of the clean blue window bands. The inevitable addition of giant Sat Domes can only be written off as a regrettable necessity.

The ship did not lose all its appeal with the addition of "Juliet balconies" and individual windows, but the blue bands lost their effect.

In 2014 when Seabourn sold the ship to Windstar Cruises, there have been further changes.

The complete elimination of the blue bands makes the ship look very chunky, even though the one blue stripe above main deck level remains. The ship continues to be well maintained and is showing few signs of age.

.