The Offshore vessel Virginia Ann made a brief stop in Halifax, on its way south from Newfoundland. The ship is outfitted for ROV operations.
it is scheduled to sail later today.
Virginia Ann to pier 9
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Category Archives: offshore
Polar Circle – long term guest in the Basin.
Polar circle is an Ice breaking tug. the ship was previously under contract to a Russian Oil and Gas Company, but with sanctions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the owners cancelled the charter.
The Polar Circle was built in 2006, and is registered in Cyprus.
The ship sailed through the Panama Canal, and was last in New York, sailing for Halifax September 21 to Halifax. Given the ship has no work, they took a leisurely sail, arriving Oct 7th. After spending a day alongside, the tug move to anchor in the basin, where it is presumably looking for employment.
IT Infinity – New for IT Telecom
IT Telecom looks to have acquired another Offshore vessel for conversion to do cable work. The IT Infinity was previously Standard Princess, and worked out of Aberdeen Scotland. At the end of may, the ship sailed for Cape Canaveral in Florida, departing for Halifax on the 13th.
the ship was built by Vard in 2008. The large crane looks to be a recent addition, as pictures on MarineTraffic.com don’t show the crane while in Scotland.
Shelburne Ship Repair Sold
Shelburne Ship repair has been sold by Irving Shipbuilding to Mersey Seafoods. Since 2014, Shelburne Ship repair has been the center of commercial ship repair work for Irving, with none happening in Halifax. Halifax shipyard has been focused on Building the AOPS, and frigate maintenance work.
All 67 employees at the yard will be retained by Mersey Seafoods. Shelburne Ship repair underwent significant upgrades in 2011, including a new marine railway. The total bill for the upgrades was 16milliion dollars. Shelburne Ship Repair can work on vessels up to 229 metres long, and the marine railway is capable of lifting two vessels weighing up to 4,200 tonnes each.
Since the Upgrade, the yard has conducted work on dozens of vessels including the refit on the CCGS Kolpit Hopson 1752, which was brought to Dartmouth for completion, Presumably to allow the sale to close with no work left in the yard.
Mersey Seafoods operates a number of Fishing Vessels, and is based in Liverpool Nova Scotia. Their trawler Mersey Phoenix is currently undergoing a work period in Spain.
The sale could signal that Irving is looking to focus solely on Government work under the NSPS, or they could be looking to do more repair work in Halifax. Halifax Shipyard is set to conduct its first commercial ship repair work in a number of years.
The yard is scheduled to conduct maintenance and Inspections on four Atlantic Towing platform supply vessels supporting the Hibernia and Hebron projects off Newfoundland. The Atlantic Shrike, Atlantic Griffon, Atlantic Heron, and Paul A Sacuta were constructed in 2016 and entered service in 2017. The 4 ships are built to Daemen’s PSV 5000 Design, and are virtually identical, though the Paul A Sacuta features an 100ton capacity offshore crane.
The coasting trade application indicates that each ship will be lifted out of the water for 7 days, and the 4 ships will be done sequentially, between February 15th at the earliest and concluding by May 31. The ships are due for their 5 year class surveys.
Enna with Cable Gear
The General Cargo Ship Enna arrived a few weeks ago and rafted up alongside Siem Dorado at pier 9. Enna was carrying a load of cable handling equipment which will be installed on board the Siem Dorado.
Siem Hanne Sold.
Siem Hanne has been sold. The ship is now PSV Hakan, flagged in Panama, and is Istanbul as her destination.
There was some thought that the ship would go back to Siem, Secunda’s parent company with no further work in the Nova Scotia Offshore, but it looks as though it has been outright sold.
The ship had been laid up at COVE with fleetmate Siem Commander. Siem Commander did manage to find some towing work, but has otherwise been laid up at COVE.
Singelgracht Towed in.
Singelgracht was towed into port this Evening by Siem Commander, and tied up at Pier 9. Siem Commander sailed early this morning to rendezvous with the ship which was sailing from Zeebruges, Belgium for Philadelphia. It looks to have gotten into trouble off the Nova Scotia Coast.
Siem Commander had be laid up at COVE. You can see the tow line tailing behind in the photo Below.
UPDATE: Singelgracht at Pier 9 earlier today (jan 24th). There was no activity noted around the ship.
Venture Sea Sold
The Venture Sea, one of Secunda’s offshore vessels has been sold. the ships Canadian registry closed Dec 22, and it is now named Jarvis, and Registered in Vanuatu. The New owner is Virgo Ships limited, and it is Managed by Hermes Maritime services, both are Indian firms. Venture Sea was built in 1998 by Halter marine.
Jarvis is due back in Halifax Jan 8th after spending November and December at Shelburne Ship repair. This would suggest that the ship will be put to work, and not beached for recycling. Jarvis will fuel at the irving dock, and move to Pier 27 later in the day.
Venture Sea was on contract with Exxon Mobile to work the Sable offshore project. That development ceased production and the wells capped in 2019, putting the ship out of work. Outside offshore work, in 2014 the Venture Sea towed the disabled Australian Spirit into Halifax for repairs. This past September, Venture Sea completed an emergency tow in the Davis Straight. after delivering the disabled Bulk carrier to Nuuk Greenland, Venture Sea headed for Shelburne Ship repair.
Previous Secunda Vessels Pankue Sea (Now Kydy Sea) and Ryan Leat are now working in the Caribbean. Burin Sea and Trinity sea were recycled in turkey in January 2020.
UPDATE Jan 18: Jarvis is now reporting Gibraltar as her destination, with an eta of the 31st. She may be bound for Turkish or Indian beaches after all.
2020 in Review
Well the year is over. Here is look back at the shipping news. As for what the Coming year brings, wait for this week’s herald column.
Previous Years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
2020 began well enough with a Tour of the RRS james Cook which happened to have the world famous Boaty Mcboatface on board.
Cruise/Pandemic
The Pandemic first got mentioned in February, where its impacts were beginning to be felt in Asia. the PCTC Carrier SIEM Cicero was held outside the port after a case was detected on board. The years Cruise schedule was announced, that same month, but then delayed less then 4 weeks later, before ultimately being cancelled. Several Seafarers were then stranded aboard ships.
One Oceans Cruise ship the RCGS Resolute was finally released from arrest in Argentina, and on the way north sunk a Venezuelan warship. One Ocean itself went through a restructuring, and plans to offer cruises in 2021.
Incidents
The Report was released into the fire on board the Yantain Express. the ship had a work period after the fire, and still calls on Halifax. SeaDoo incident led to serious injuries. The inshore rescue boat made a tow. YM Mandate sailed from Halifax, and arrived in New Jersey with a Hull Crack. A Scalop Dragger sunk in the Bay of Fundy.
Container Shipping
PSA Halifax took delivery of its new Crane, and removed the last of the Panamax Cranes. The expansion of pier 42 was completed, and the walkway re-opened. The Port Authority previewed the proposed new Truck access at Fairview cove.
The Largest container ship record fell twice in 2020, beginning in March with the Call of the CMA-CGM T. Jefferson. Halifax became the Holder of the Canadian Record in September, with the Call of the CMA-CGM Brazil. The first ONE vessel painted in the lines Magenta branding called in April.
Rail blockages by Indigenous protests caused problems for the port. So did Excess traffic caused by a longshoreman strike in Montreal. MSC Diverted ships, but added Halifax to its regular schedule. Containers began to dwell, due to rail delays cased by a shortage of cars, causing excess empty containers were stacked all around port property. The Strike also led to Hapag Lloyd diverted some traffic to Halifax.
New Vessels
The first vessels built as part of the federal governments NSPS arrived in Halifax. The offshore fisheries science vessel, built by Vancouvers SeaSpan, CCGS Jacques Cartier arrived in Halifax for the first time. Final sea trials for the Harry Dewolf, were completed, with the ship being handed over to the Navy in July. The CCGS Molly Kool, stopped into Halifax in May, the first Interim medium icebreaker conversion by Davie. The CCGS Jean Goodwill also arrived, and will be homeported in Halifax.
International Telecom added the IT Integrity to its fleet, converting an offshore supply vessel which arrived in May. Dominion Diving acquired 2 new work boats from Damen, Dominion Rumbler and Dominion Enforcer. Halifax fire ordered a Fireboat from Hike Metal Products, with construction now underway.
Offshore
The Arrival of the Bigroll Beaufort marked a shift in the Offshore industry, arriving with components for 2 wind turbines. the Installation vessel Vole au Vent completed the installation of two offshore wind turbines. The Fall Pipe vessel Adhemar De Saint-Venant also took part in the project.
The Crane Ship Thailf arrived off Halifax to remove the Sable Offshore topsides. The pieces were then loaded onto barges, and towed to the UK for Recycling. The Noble Regina Allen finished sealing the Deep Panuke projects wells, and was moded to her next job by the heavy lift vessel GPO Amythist. the Deep Panuke platform was brought into Halifax, before eventually being towed to sheet harbour, to be recycled. All this activity meant lots of work for supply vessels, which spent most of the year operating from pier 9. Scandi Neptune removed well heads.
Navy
HMCS Moncton got a dazzle paint job for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. Fredericton’s Cyclone crashed in the Med. Killing all 6 on board. the EX HMCS Cormorant was removed from Bridgewater, for recycling in Sheet Harbour. The DRDC Barge returned to the Bedford basin off the China Town.
The US Navy lost the Amphibious Assault Ship USS Bonhomme Richard after a fire during a work period.
there was one Visiting vessel in 2020 – the USCGC Tahoma, which took part in a Joint exercise.
Other Notable.
Theodore Too was listed for sale, Develop Nova Scotia removed the ECtug Wharves, and Georges Island opened to the public finally.
We mapped shipping traffic again making the nicest images yet, and made it available as a poster.
Deep Panuke Platform Aground
I have been told that the Deep Panuke platform, Bound for sheet harbour to be recycled on board the Boa Barge 34, have hit bottom outside sheet harbour.
Marine traffic shows a number of tugs working in the area. The chart shows several shallower areas, that could cause problems for the tow. Weather shows a Gale warning, with 3-4m seas forecast tomorrow, with winds of 40knots.
More to Follow.
UPDATE: Atlantic Hemlock looks to have sailed to Assist.
UPDATE Dec 15 1000: it looks like the platform was unstuck on this mornings high tide, and is now moving into Sheet harbour.
UPDATE Dec 16: There was speculation that the platform may have hit bottom again, however Deep Panuke is now against the dock in Sheet harbour. tugs Atlantic Larch, Atlantic Elm, Atlantic Hemlock and Point Chubucto were involved in the move. A crew member on board the Larch reported via Facebook post, that there was no bottom contact today, but the entry into the Harbour required waiting on a couple tide changes.
