CCGS Alfred Needler (above) and IT Intrepid (below) both took to pier 9 for the holidays.
The Alferd Needler was required to take to pier 9 due to the piers being full at bio, with Hudson alongside undergoing work, and the Arrival of the Jean Goodwill.
JRCC has confirmed that the fishing vessel CHIEF WILLIAM SAULIS owned by YARMOUTH SEA PRODUCTS LIMITED. is the missing vessel. it’s a 2004 built 50′ fiberglass boat. There were 6 persons on board. The boat fishes scallops.
An Epirb was detected this morning at 0551 AST. RCAF C-130 and CH149 Cormerant were dispatched from Greenwood, as well as CCGS Courtney Bay & CCGS M. Perley tasked to search. Debris was spotted at 0822AST, including two liferafts on the beach. both were empty. GSAR and RCAF crews are continuing to search.
Weather observed at the West Bay of Fundy ODAS Buoy at the time of the EPIRB activation shows 1.7m waves, with winds from the North West 26knots (50km/h), gusting to 33knots.
The Fishing Vessel Guess 2 also ended up on the beach at the Yarmouth Bar. the crew escaped unharmed.
UPDATE: Sir William Alexander has been tasked to the Search. hearing second hand reports that witnesses may have seen an explosion.
UPDATE: a CP140 Aurora has joined the search earlier this evening.
UPDATE:23:00 JRCC is reporting that 1 body has been recovered, and next of kin notified.
I got an inside look at dominion diving new works boats today. They are much larger up close then they appear, and still have that new tug smell (which is like new car smell, but saltier.) The bridge is open and clean, with excellent visibility all around. Thanks to the enormous windows.
Under the Bridge is a small accommodation space, which features a head with shower, 2 bunks, and a small galley. The Engine room is also accessible from the accommodation space, and is quite comfortable to access despite the low headroom. (the boats are powered by twin Volvo Engines)
The 2 new boats are waiting on final approval from Transport Canada inspectors, and a once over from the Volvo Technican before going into service.
Besides showing me the new boats, I had a peak inside the warehouse. Above is President and ROV Superintendent Matt Lohnes (and my tour guide) standing in front of the largest ROV in Canada.
Dominion Diving was featured in the series Lords of the Ocean, which aired this past fall on History. Episodes Deal with events that took place in the past year, Including Reef Ball installation, Expansion of Pier 42, The visit of HMS Queen Elizabeth, The Noble Regina Allen work period, and the offshore wind farm installation off Virginia, along with a bunch of more mundane jobs.
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.
This week in the Herald I wrote about Dominion Diving – The Dartmouth based Marine services company that is looking to the future, with some recent strategic vessel purchases.
Stay tuned this week for a blog post featuring a tour of their facility and a closer look at the new boats.
longtime caller ZIM Qingdao arrived yesterday morning and was worked at pier 42. She then moved to the basin last evening around 7pm and spent overnight at anchor before moving to pier 36 at noon today. The ship is reported to have engine troubles.
This morning the Deep Panuke Platform was towed from Halifax to sheet harbour, where it will be recycled. The platforms recycling marks the end of the offshore in Nova Scotia, with recent exploration bids coming up dry, and the Sable Gas field now dis-assembled and sent for recycling in the UK.
Nova Scotia has tremendous capability to do work offshore. A transition to offshore wind development would be a good play. many ofthe same skill sets need for offshore O&G work translate well to other projects.
O&G is gone and done. Its not coming back, and the time to move on is now, while we still have the Skills and expertise locally.
When it was built in 2005, Hapag-Lloyds Colombo Express was the largest containership in the world. That record is now held by the 24,346TEU MSC Irina (2023). Until 2015, the Port of Halifax featured a regular slate of Panamax and Post Panamax ships in the 5-6000teu range.
Below is the list of Record Holders, sorted by teu.
CMA-CGM Marco Polo
16,022teu
May 17 2021
(Canadian Record)
CMA-CGM Brazil
15,072teu
Sept 10 2020
(Canadian Record)
MSC Auriga
15,000teu
Sept 21,2021
(Prince Rupert BC Record) did not call in Halifax
COSCO Himalayas
14,500teu
Nov 14,2017
(Prince Rupert BC – Canadian Record) did not call in Halifax
CMA-CGM T. Jefferson
14,414teu
March 21, 2020
Antwerpen Express
13,200teu
May 8, 2017
(Deltaport BC – Canadian record) Stands as Delta port record. Ship did not call in Halifax
CMA-CGM Libre
11,365teu
Jan 12, 2019
APL Salalah
10,960teu
March 17, 2018
ZIM Antwerp
10,064teu
June 29, 2017
CMA-CGM Tage
9365teu
May 28, 2016
USAC ZAMZAM
9036teu
Oct 19, 2015
Budapest Express
8749teu
Aug 8 2015
CMA-CGM Vivaldi
8478teu
Aug 3, 2015
MSC Melissa
6730teu
July 22, 2021
Montreal – Port record holder. This ship has called in Halifax.