Monthly Archives: March 2014

Whats in the Bag

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A recent trend has been Whats in the Bag Posts, Where Various bloggers post what they carry in their Laptop Bags. Since I occasionally like to pull back the covers and reveal the inner workings of Halifax Shipping News, I Thought it was time for a “Whats in the Bag Post”

The Bag itself is a Lowepro LP36416 Event Messenger 250. This bag is awesome. its not particularly large or cumbersome, but it holds everything I need it too, and it has a laptop slot. Like all Lowpro Products, it has excellent build quality. I have had this one for over a year, and it still looks new after daily use.

Items In the Bag:
Standard Horizon HX851 – VHF Radio. Allows me to keep tabs on marine traffic. via Halifax Traffic ch 12,14, 16.

Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2MP Digital SLR Camera  – My Primary Camera, This one is a beast, and the  body is very worn. I Have long since retired the Kit 18-55 lens that came with it. I also added the Vertical grip.

Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Lens  – the Sigma 18-200 is a great range for shipspotting, as you can accommodate vessels far away and upclose. I used to carry the kit 18-55 lens and a 55-200 lens, but this one covers the full range, so iI dont need to worry about switching glass.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens – this prime lens mostly gets used in low light situations. For fast glass, its very afforadable, and Canon Fans Love it. The shot below was taken with this lens

The Small Bag Holds Cactus Wireless flash triggers, Assorted cables and Chargers and CF Card reader. Since I Carry this Bag on A Daily Basis, Some items are not directly related to the blog. The Laptop of Choice is either a Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-Inch Laptop (Personal) or a Toshiba Portege Z930 (Work)

I also carry a SOG EOD Powerlock Multi tool, MAGLITE AA Mini Flashlight ,and Spyderco Rescue 79mm Knife

Not Pictured are the iPad, and iPhone, which are my primary tweeting platforms.

APL Belgium, Parked Backwards

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APL Beligum spent the day at Fairview Cove, port side to the Pier.. Ships Tend to prefer to back into the births, as they can steam straight out. When She Departed, just after 1600, the tugs backed her out into the basin, and she then proceeded forward through the narrows, in a move similar to one you would make backing out your driveway.

Ships at piers 41/42 at Halterm will also turn on arrival, So the Bow Faces in the outbound direction.
In this case they probably wanted to touch up some paint, or do some other work on that side of the vessel.

Hero #7 CCGS A. LeBlanc. accepted by Government

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Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea announces the acceptance of the seventh of the Canadian Coast Guard’s new Hero Class vessels, the CCGS A. LeBlanc.

The CCGS A. LeBlanc was named after fisheries officer Agapit LeBlanc, of Bouctouche,
New Brunswick, who joined the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Service in 1920. He was killed on October 20, 1926 while investigating illegal fishing vessels.

This Mid-Shore Patrol Vessel will be based in the Central and Arctic Region and was constructed in Halifax, Nova Scotia by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. A formal naming and dedication ceremony will follow when the vessel arrives in its home region.

Oddly, I Don’t have a picture of her in the water..  

Expanded Life Extension Program for CP-140 Aurora Aircraft.

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Canada is expanding its fleet of upgraded Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft. Through an existing modernization and life-extension program, four
additional Aurora aircraft will gain new and enhanced capabilities and
extended service lives. This will expand Canada’s current upgraded fleet
to a total of 14 Auroras.

Defence Minister Rob Nicholson, accompanied by the Regional Minister
for Nova Scotia and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada,
Peter MacKay, made the announcement at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia,yesterday .14 Wing and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, are the home bases for Canada’s Aurora fleet.

The Aurora program is a Canadian innovation success story, with
Canadian industry delivering a world class capability. With new wings
and tail, the Auroras will be restored to a “like new” configuration in
terms of the critical structural components, extending the structural
life to 2030. At that time, Canada will be better placed to buy its next
Canadian multi-mission aircraft.

The addition of four more updated Aurora aircraft is Canada’s best
means of ensuring effective piloted airborne intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities into the future, and the best use
of taxpayer dollars.

The four additional aircraft will be modernized and life-extended
under the existing competitively-awarded industry contracts. These
enhancements and modifications are expected to be completed by 2021, and
extend the operational effectiveness of the 14 modernized Aurora
aircraft from 2020 to 2030

The CP-140 is the CAF’s primary piloted Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance (ISR) plane, ensuring the military’s ability to
detect threats to Canadian security as early as possible.  The Aurora
fleet contributes directly to all three Canada First Defence
Strategy roles – domestic, continental and international. The Auroras
conduct ISR in both the maritime and overland roles.  In the maritime
role, the CP-140 contributes to sovereignty, fisheries enforcement,
smuggling and pollution patrols, counter-narcotics missions, and
maritime counter-terrorism operations. It also fulfills an important
anti-submarine role, as the only CAF aircraft able to react and quickly
respond from long-range in the event of unauthorized presence of
submarines in Canada’s coastal approaches. The Aurora can fly
approximately 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) without refuelling and so
gives the Government of Canada a means to deter and control illegal or
hostile activity anywhere in Canada’s maritime approaches from the
Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.

The Aurora fleet is also playing an increasingly important role as an
overland ISR platform, both domestically for surveillance of our Arctic
territory and other security operations, and in support of missions
abroad. For example, Aurora aircraft was used during the CAF’s
contribution to security efforts for the Vancouver Olympics and the 2010
G8 and G20 Summits; and the two Auroras deployed on Operation MOBILE
were critical to the success of our mission in Libya, where they
identified targets for allies and Canadian CF-18s.

Ocean Emerald for Melfi Lines

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The Parade of vessels for Melfi continues, with the Ocean Emerald arriving yesterday. As of this morning, Cargo operations appear to have ended, so she is likely waiting out weather.

Melfi seems to run a parade of vessels, some vessels being stable on rotation, and others switching out every trip. Ships Jan S and Fritz Reuter seem to be the most stable, with the other 2 vessels floating.

DRDC Barge Moved Last Night

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Those of you who commute the Bedford highway may have noticed the DRDC barge was missing. She was towed last night back to the naval dockyard, as she is due for her 5 year maintenance period.

When the work period is over, she should be returned though I have heard rumors budget cuts may discontinue her service.

First Visit for Fednav Newbuild NUNAVIK

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The newbuild bulk carrier Nunavik arrived this morning at pier 27. This was her first stop in Canada.
She was announced at the same time as Oceanex announced the construction of the Connaigra.

 The MV Nunavik. Built at JMU’s Tsu Shipyard in Japan, the ship will be used to export the concentrates produced at the Canadian Royalties owned Nunavik Nickel mine at Deception Bay in northern Quebec. The vessel will also supply the mine with equipment and fuel, year round.

Rated Polar Class 4, the Nunavik is the most powerful bulk-carrying icebreaker in the world. It is similar in design to the Umiak I, the Fednav ship servicing Vale’s Voisey’s Bay operation in Northern Labrador. The Nunavik will sail unescorted in Arctic regions and will operate in the extreme winter conditions of the Canadian Arctic. It is capable of maintaining continuous progress of 3 knots in 1.5 m of ice.
The vessel was designed by Fednav and JMU, and will sail between Deception Bay and Northern Europe on a year-round basis. The engine produces 29,600 hp, three times the power of a conventional bulk carrier of the same size. The Nunavik will be supported by Enfotec Technical Services, a Fednav subsidiary to provide up to date information on ice conditions as well as technical support to the inhouse IceNav navigation system. 
The Nunavik is equipped with the latest environmental technologies, such as a Tier II engine that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 20%, and the first ballast treatment system installed on a Canadian-owned vessel.

In naming this new ship Nunavik, Fednav wanted to recognize the inhabitants and the region in which it will operate as well as its project partner, Nunavik Nickel

She arrived earlier then scheduled, so was already tieing up when I arrived.

UPDATE 03/21:
She sailed yesterday just after 16:00, the weather was quite rough.

The Grand Tour of the Tug Victorious and the Barge John J Carrick

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The Articulated Tug And Barge Victorious with John J Carrick have been frequent visitors to Halifax over the years. Typically they are delivering liquid Asphalt to the McAsphalt Dock in Eastern Passage. This year, they spent the winter in halifax, arriving on January 23rd. They served as a supply base for their sister company Stirling Fuels. Stirling Marine Fuels chartered the Algoma Dartmouth from Algoma, and is operating the Bunkering Service in Halifax, since imperial oil shut down the refinery, and announced they would no longer be importing Bunker C Fuel. The long term plans are unknown at this point, but the barge has enough oil left to fill Algoma Dartmouth one more time, and will then head back to the great lakes, presumably after the 31st when the seaway re-opens.

 I was able to get in touch with the Captain, and after clearing it with head office, I was able to Get a Tour. So thanks go to both.

Looking out across the Deck of the John J Carrick, Take a Moment to notice how clean it is. I spent 45 minutes aboard, and my hands end up dirtier after paying for gas.

Looking across the deck, the John J Carrack has 12 tanks, 6 port and 6 starboard. she is capable of carrying 11000 tons of product. compared to other tankers she is relatively simple as she is only equipped to handle one commodity at a time. The hatches protruding allow access to the tanks for cleaning, maintenance and sounding. At the stern of the barge, are 2 pump rooms, and an engine room that contains heaters to warm the product so it flows.

(Above) View forward from the bridge wing. (Below) the tug inserted in the notch from the barge

(below)The Bow of the tug from the bridge. the gang plank allows the crew to walk between the tug and barge.

(Below) Bolt down hatch removed opening to the Void space leading to the ballast tanks.

(Above and Bellow) the Bow thruster compartment in the bow of the barge 4 decks down. the thruster uses a Jet of water unlike other vessels with a sideways mounted propellor.

(Above) the pin in the notch on the outside. note the various levels based on the draft of the barge. (Below) the machinery that retracts the pin the pin is housed in the cylinder when retracted.

(Above) the bridge, note the ships wheel to the left, and the throttle controls to the right. Not shown are 2 radar displays on the far right, and the engine room displays on the far left.
A

(Above) Inside the engine room. note the Red MAK engine on the left (there is also one on the right)
(Below) Rudder compartment. note the linkage to the port rudder, there is another to starboard not shown.

The remainder of the tug Contains a Large galley and mess, as well as Sleeping Quarters for the crew.

Eastern Passage – Aquarious Leader at Autoport

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The NYK line PCTC Aquarious Leader tied up at Autoport. She is a regular caller to autoport, as part of NYK RORO’s USCX service. She was built in 2008 and can carry 5980 cars.

The observant of you may notice a more head on angle then normal. The Tug Victorious and barge John J. Carrick are docked at the McAsphalt Dock, just forward of Autoport. Stay tuned for a post on that.

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