Yearly Archives: 2013

Happy 100th Acadia

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 Today marks the 100th anivarsary of the Launching of the CSS Acadia. The Acadia is a  former hydrographic Canadian Survey ship of the Canadian Government, that is now part of the collection of the Maritime Museaum of the Atlantic.

Acadia served Canada for more than five decades from 1913–1969, charting the coastline of almost every part of Eastern Canada including pioneering surveys of Hudson Bay. She was also twice commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Acadia, during the 2 world wars.

Retaining her original engines, boilers and little-changed accommodations, she is one of the best preserved Edwardian ocean steamships in the world and a renowned example of Canada’s earliest scientific prowess in the fields of hydrography and oceanography.

The Second Crise Ship of the Season, Veendam

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Holand America Lines has doubled down on Halifax this year adding the Veendam to the existing weekly stop by the Maasdam. The Veendam looks scheduled to appear every 10 days or so, sailing a 14day round trip Quebec City to Boston, with the Maasdam every 5 sailing 14 day round trips out of Montreal and Boston. (Both are available as 7 day one way Cruises)

Atlantic Cartier fire

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Halifax regular Atlantic Cartier suffered a fire in her roro deck last night in Hamburg Germany. Reports are 80 cars were damaged. No word on damage to the ship, though its probably significant.

Acl is building replacements for these vessels, so if damage is significant, Atlantic Cartier may go straight to the scrapers.

Changes coming to naval flags

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May 2 at 7pm, the RCN will unveil significant changes to the flags flower by Canadian naval vessels.

Given this week commemorates the 70th anniversary of the battle of the Atlantic, and the RCN recently returned to the royal prefix, and officers epiletes got the executive curl back, the changes are likely a throwback to past Canadian naval history.

If I had to hazard a guess the RCN will be returning to a navy specific jack, without the forces emblem

HMCS Winipeg Damaged in Allision

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Yesterday the American Seafoods Company trawler “American Dynasty” leaving drydock with 2 tugs, Allided with HMCS Winipeg. It is unclear if American Dynastey was being towed, or was under her own power, as reports vary.

Winipeg was tied up at the a navy Jetty in Esquimalt, and was having work done as part of the completion of her FELEX upgrade. Damage is likely considerable, The American Dynasty has a large tringular shapped dent in her bow.

Not a collision? See This Article at gcaptain

Video of the collision was posted on MARPAC’s Facebook page. Warning, Contains Swearing.

 UPDATE: Photos of Damage released by Transportation Safty Board

 

Upgrades to two of Port of Halifax’s IT Systems.

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The Government of Canada has contributed funding towards the integrated port logistics system and the air gap system. The total cost of these two Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is estimated at $660,000, with the federal government contributing up to $330,000 under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. In addition, the Port of Halifax is providing $330,000 towards the completion of these projects.

With larger ships accessing the port, there is a need to continuously monitor vessel clearances under each of the harbour bridges. The upgrading and enhancing of the bridge air gap system will enable the port to identify exactly the ship clearance.

Port operators and shippers will have confidence in the ability of ships to transit beneath the bridge, preventing delays in accessing and leaving the port. These investments will ultimately help reduce levels of emissions and fuel usage and ensure the safety of the bridges and will also result in increased efficiency and safety for port users.

Currently The Largest Hapag Lloyd vessels have lowerable, or offset masts to constrain their Air drafts. Clearance can be as tight as 2 meters – about the height of an average door.