Halifax today was visited by Dutch navy submarine HNLMS Bruinvis (S810). She Tied up at the the dockyard, just after 1pm. She is a diesel boat, as Nuclear subs tie up at Shearwater. The Last member of the Walrus Class, She is 222′ long, and was commissioned in July 1994
Photo above from @hillarywindsor via twitter.
Finance minister just announced that Waterfront Development has purchased the Dartmouth Coast Guard Base as the location for an Ocean Technology Hub.
Update: Here is the Press Release
The former Canadian Coast Guard land on the Dartmouth waterfront will be home to an ocean innovation center.
The Waterfront Development Corporation has received approval from the provincial government to purchase the land from the federal government.
The corporation will now work with the provincial government, industry and post-secondary schools to develop the center, where ocean technology research and private sector marine businesses can work together to drive more investment, commercialization, exports and growth.
The annual global market value for ocean-related goods and services is $3 trillion.
“Nova Scotia is home to some of the world’s best ocean technology companies,” said Jim Hanlon, CEO of the Institute for Ocean Research Enterprise. “Providing this new facility as a space for collaboration and waterfront testing will allow those companies to more effectively innovate and compete globally.
“Having this as shared space brings even more value to industry and to the students who will create the next generation of ocean industries.”
More than 200 companies make up Nova Scotia’s ocean science and technology sector. Activity includes science, fisheries, aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, shipbuilding and maritime security.
“The ocean is our competitive advantage,” said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Michel Samson. “Acquiring the land is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, preserving a key site that will create new markets and opportunities for people in Nova Scotia’s marine and ocean-related sectors.”
Located at 27 Parker St., the property includes buildings, waterfront and over 850 metres of wharf and two 100 metre piers.
The property is a 9.5-acre site plus water lot. The purchase price is $6.5 million.
“Waterfront property holds great strategic value for the province and our economy,” said Colin MacLean, president and CEO, Waterfront Development Corporation. “This purchase creates an exciting opportunity to cluster ocean technology companies with Nova Scotia’s world-class marine research programs, enabling direct ocean access to support their work.”
An ocean innovation action team is in place to guide the vision and strategic direction for the ocean innovation centre.
The centre supports OneNS goals linked to business startups, exports from growth-oriented companies, and research and development partnerships.
Nova Scotia is recognized internationally for ocean research done by Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Community College, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Royal Canadian Navy, and a growing sector of export oriented ocean technology companies.
The Canadian Coast Guard now operates from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.
With the recent stream of Newfoundland based coast guard vessels, its not a huge surprise that the CCGS Terry Fox put into port today just after 5:30. She was also here last march for bunkers and supplies, and will likely do the same before sailing back into the gulf for ice breaking Duties.
CCGS Cape Roger, an Offshore Patrol Boat based in Newfoundland also spent some time at BIO last week.
The tanker Sloman Hermes taking bunkers. She is Loaded, as she is quite low in the water. She Arrived on the 21st, and took bunkers today. Her final destination is Les Escoumins PQ. She arrived from Europe.
On today’s city council agenda is a request for approval for a low level flypast of HMCS Iroquois at her birth, as part of her paying off Ceremony.
The Ceremony is scheduled for 2 hours, starting at 1300 on May 1
Paying off a warship today is Synonymous with her decommissioning, however in the past, ships were commissioned for a voyage, and the crew hired piecemeal. On return to port, they were paid their wages for the trip, and thus the vessel was Paid Off.
Yesterday brought the arrival of the Herma P. Built in Ulsan, South Korea in 2006, she immediately was chartered as Maersk Dryden. The Charter ended in July 2014. She is owned by Stefan Patjens Reederei of Germany. Hapag-Llyod seems to be chartering these vessels, Sister Alise P was here in February 17 and March 10.
Hapag-llyod is also Selling off or scrapping its Kiel Class Vessels. Halifax Regulars, Paris Express, Kiel Express, have been sent for scrap, Atlanta Express built as Ludwigshafen Express and Hoechst Express have been sold to new owners. These vessels were built in the early 90’s, and have a capacity of about 4600TEU.
NS Gov Photo from March 23.
The Bulk Carrier United Breeze took to anchorage 1 for bunkers today. She is appears to have spent time waiting in the straight area so she is likely unloaded, but her final destination is not known.
After speeding a week in port, the Light Icebreaker Ann Harvey Sailed over the Noon Hour.
Based in St John’s, she has been working the Gulf region.
