Monthly Archives: February 2013

Navy spy released from navy

Upon the recommendation of General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, has approved the release of Jeffery Paul Delisle from the Canadian Armed Forces and has revoked his commission.

“The unauthorized disclosure of national and allied intelligence is both unconscionable and intolerable. Mr. Delisle’s actions were clearly not consistent with the high degree of integrity and loyalty to Canada that we, as Canadians, expect from our sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “Following the sentencing on Friday, the Canadian Armed Forces immediately undertook the required and appropriate action to review his file and ensure that all appropriate administrative measures are taken.”

“Mr. Delisle’s actions were neither excusable nor defensible. He broke the law, violated our core values of integrity and honour, and his actions were reprehensible,” said General Lawson. “He has demonstrated that he is neither worthy of the trust and confidence of the Crown, nor of his country. As a result of his misconduct Mr. Delisle has been released from the Canadian Armed Forces and his commission has been revoked.”

Mr. Delisle’s release for reasons of “service misconduct” will result in the following additional consequences:

— Mr. Delisle forfeits his Canadian Forces Decoration (a medal);

— Mr. Delisle forfeits his entitlement to severance pay; and

— Action will be taken to recover his pay from the date of his being
arrested and taken into custody.

On behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, the Governor General grants commissions to all officers of the Canadian Armed Forces. These commissions are held at the pleasure of and can be revoked by the Crown.

Fusion

Fusion runs a regular service from Halifax to the French islands of St Peirre and Miquelon. She Previously traded on the route under the name Fort Ross, And was renamed when she was replaced by Dutch Runner, a nearly identical vessel with different owners when the contract changed hands. She returned to service when the contract came back. The Nills B also filled in when Fusion was undergoing maintinance.

The Vessel is Very flexable, Having holds,Cranes, Container Mounts, and a ramp allowing RORO cargos.

Captain James Cook

Captain James Cook, was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the Royal Navy. He was Killed by Natives on the island of Kona Hawaii, 234 years ago today. Why do we care about James Cook? He was responsible for the earliest charts of much of the east coast of Canada including Halifax – His chart of which is below.
 

From Wikipedia:

During the Seven Years’ War, he served in North America as master of Pembroke. In 1758, he took part in the major amphibious assault that captured the Fortress of Louisbourg from the French, after which he participated in the siege of Quebec City and then the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. He showed a talent for surveying and cartography, and was responsible for mapping much of the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River during the siege, thus allowing General Wolfe to make his famous stealth attack on the Plains of Abraham.

Cook’s aptitude for surveying was put to good use mapping the jagged coast of Newfoundland in the 1760s, aboard HMS Grenville. He surveyed the northwest stretch in 1763 and 1764, the south coast between the Burin Peninsula and Cape Ray in 1765 and 1766, and the west coast in 1767. At this time Cook employed local pilots to point out the “rocks and hidden dangers” along the south and west coasts. During the 1765 season, four pilots were engaged at 4 shillings a day each: John Beck for the coast west of “Great St. Lawrence”, Morgan Snook for Fortune Bay, John Dawson for Connaigre and Hermitage Bay, and John Peck for the “Bay of Despair.”

His five seasons in Newfoundland produced the first large-scale and accurate maps of the island’s coasts and were the first scientific, large scale, hydrographic surveys to use precise triangulation to establish land outlines. They also gave Cook his mastery of practical surveying, achieved under often adverse conditions, and brought him to the attention of the Admiralty and Royal Society at a crucial moment both in his career and in the direction of British overseas discovery. Cook’s map would be used into the 20th century—copies of it being referenced by those sailing Newfoundland’s waters for 200 years.

Bounty Hearings

THE USCG is holding hearings today into the sinking of the Bounty. Our coverage of the Bounty Sinking can be found in our first post and Second Post.

The Chronical Hearld has the following stories:
Horrific last moments for Bounty victims
Christian family seeks truth

And will be Live Blogging via  Bounty captain’s competency at issue in Coast Guard hearing
Updates Below are based on that live blogging, and may be incomplete. G-Captain has a reporter at the hearings, and I will provide links to thier summary as well.

 UpdatesTestimony Day 1:
Chief Mate Testimony indicates that the Ships Stability Letter was not Followed/Accurate,and that bilges required regular pumping- once or twice every 4 hours. Modifications were made to the ship moving fuel tanks, and structure Aft during September/October refit, as well as replacing some above waterline planks. She also carried addtional lead balast aft.

On the 28th, making 10 knots, twice normal speed. sail damaged by wind, and is fureled. around 4pm, port fuel tank glass breaks, spilling fuel, port engine and generator go down. pumps running continuously, dirt and dust is accumulating in filters. Lack or port generator lead t ofuel starvation of starboard engine.

water was coming in between planks above waterline port side by main and mizzen masts, above engine and tank rooms. Imersion suits were put on when water was between decks. The ship rolled, and most were thrown off. Seas were 28feet, wind 40knots at time of capsizing.

G-Captain has a good summary of the days testimony.

Day 2
Today will feature a woman from the bounty office, as well as a representive of the shipyard who did work on the bounty before she sailed.

The bounties director of shoreside operations basically testified that. The ship was not a passenger vessel and only crew sailed aboard her. Bounty was surveyed in 2012 for the insurance company. The bounty had o written procedures, and most details of the ships operation were left up to the captain.

After a cg inspector who inspected the tank work testified. He declined to perform a full hull inspection as one was not required until 2015.

Next up was the director of Tallships America. He testified that walridge was competent, but he would not have sailed in those conditions.

Finallay a project manager from boothbay harbour shipyard testified. He stated and provided photos showing significant deterioration of hull frames and wet rotten and mouldy wood. O repairs were made and additional work would be done the next year. He advised walbridge not to sail in heavy weather. The bad areas were only 6 years old indicating a poorly executed repair at the booth bay yard.

Day 2 coverage via gCaptain

Day 3
The first witness of the day was an expert in measuring ships. he covered the issue of the Vessels tonnage certificate. Basically the rules for measuring the volume within the ship. with the staircase removed, the ship was over 300tons, and would require a load line certificate, which would require her to undergo a more stringant examination, and require all defcencies to be repaired. with the stair in place, the bounty was 266tons, and was clear.

 Day 3 also brought the testimony of the former Bothbay shipyard manager. He testified that there was damage, however he had seen much worse, and felt the repairs were sufficient. Having worked with woodenships fro the previous 40 years, he had been involved with the 2001 reft where thebellow waterline planking was replaced with oak, and the 2007 refit, where the above waterline planking was replaced with fir.

The Last witness of the Day was the bountys marine surveyor, and Naval architect. he testified that he designed the pump system, and survyed it, he was also friends with captain wallbridge, and they spoke frequently. He felt he was not in a conflict of interest. He was requested to perform a survey for the insurance company. He spent a day onboard, and did a cursory inspection, and testified he would need to do more, but it is unclear if he ever communicated this with anyone.

Day 3 Coverage at gCaptain

Ships Passing.. Due to storm delays

 (Top) Canada Express (Middle) Heads outbound from Fairview Cove. San Francisco Express (Bottom) backs in after waitting at anchor in the basin. Both Ships were delayed over the weekend by weather. Maersk Patras Tied up at Pier 42 this morning. She normally calls on Saturdays.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...