Yearly Archives: 2013

HMCS Athabaskan Off Glace Bay

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Thanks to Gus for pointing me to ThreemilesFinal.com (A great Site if you like Aircrft BTW) which has this shot takken off Table Head near the Marconi Heritage Site.

Quote “It was there that I saw the tow line go slack and watch the Tugs jockey it into a stable position. The icy winds kept the Destroyer bobbing around nicely in the seas due to it being much lighter without its armament and electronics suite onboard. It must have been quite the chore for the Tugs to keep her steady.”

Thanks to Erik Fullerton of Three Miles Final Photography for the use of the images.

HMCS Toronto to Deploy to Arabian Sea

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Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto will deploy early this year until the fall of 2013 with a crew rotation during the deployment contributing to the multinational coalition fleet conducting maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea region. HMCS Toronto has been undergoing extensive training in preparation for this deployment as part of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) and will replace HMCS Regina which has been in the region since August. HMCS Regina deployed to the Arabian Sea region with CTF- 150 in order to conduct maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and in the Indian Ocean.

“These deployments continue our strong tradition of making meaningful contributions to international security, and maintain our long-standing relationship of cooperation and interoperability with our allies,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “I thank the captain and the crew of HMCS Regina for their service, as well as their families, who endured their absence over the holidays.”

Canada’s contribution to CTF-150 is known as Operation Artemis. During this deployment, HMCS Toronto’s task will be to detect, deter and protect against terrorist activity by patrolling and conducting maritime security operations in her area of responsibility. Her presence in the Arabian Sea also gives Canada the flexibility and capability to respond quickly to emerging crises in the region.

“HMCS Toronto will carry-on the excellent work that has already been done by the Canadian Armed Forces’ during earlier contributions to CTF 150’s maritime security mission in South West Asia. The deployment of HMCS Toronto will allow us to continue working alongside our allies and partners to help contribute to international security in the region,” said General Tom Lawson, the Chief of the Defence Staff. “I am extremely proud of the professionalism and dedication shown by all of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen who have served on our various missions in the region over the last decade.”

Canada is one of 26 nations that contribute naval assets to CTF-150 as part of international efforts to ensure security in the maritime environment of the Middle East.

“The deployment of HMCS Toronto demonstrates the Canadian Armed Forces’ capability to support our allies and gives Canada an opportunity to operate within a responsive international force,” said Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command. “This deployment also allows us to execute any number of missions across a broad spectrum of operations, including humanitarian assistance, counter-terrorism, regional military engagement, regional capacity building and international diplomacy.”

HMCS Toronto is a Halifax-based Canadian patrol frigate with a crew of approximately 225 personnel, and includes a CH-124 Sea King helicopter air detachment, as well as a shipboard unmanned aerial vehicle detachment. The frigate is commanded by Commander David Patchell.

Bluenose to be Hauled out Again

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After being launched this past September with much fan fare, I learned this past weekend that the bluenose will need to be hauled out of the water again before she can go anywhere.

If you look closely at this shot from the Lauching, you will notice the rudder is missing. I was told the entire stering gear is left to be installed. Looking at the picture, it also appears as though the propeller shafts have also not been installed.

Despite the outward apperances, it looks as though there is still much work to do, even before trials can commence. Given this, Why didn’t the province wait untill spring to launch her, when there would have been time to announce a date, and generate intrest, and allow time for people to make travel arangements.

Athabaskan Update ready to resume Tow

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Photo. Don Merritt used with Permision

 The Calgary Herald is reporting:

 Temporary repairs have been made to the damaged hull of a navy warship in the hopes of resuming its trip to Halifax in the coming days, the military said Monday. Lt.-Cmdr. Bruno Tremblay, a spokesman for the navy in Halifax, said an engineering team completed minor, temporary repairs on the 40-year-old vessel Saturday to ensure its hull is watertight.

 “I am confident that the ship can safely return here to her home port in Halifax,” Tremblay said. “As planned, the tow will likely occur this week.” Tremblay said a plan is now being finalized with a different towing company, Irving-owned Atlantic Towing Ltd., to return HMCS Athabaskan to Halifax for further assessment. He said the navy hopes the towing process, which could take several days, will begin this week if the weather co-operates.

Update: Don Merritt Photos of the Patch Job:

Affinity for Marine Atlantic Ferries

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I have noticed a strong intrest in Marine Atlantic’s ferries past and present, amoung a wide swath of the population – not just shipping fenatics. Certainly any post I make is always highly read. It seems that they are an important part of the culture in Atlantic Canada, and not just Newfoundland – who has an obvious dependance on them..

Do people care as much about the NFL Caribou/Wood Island ferry? Do people miss the ferries, and perfer them over the bridge as seems to be the case with the love for Caribou and the Joseph and Clara Smallwood visa vie Highlanders and Blue Putties?

View all of our Marine Atlantic Posts and General Ferry Posts
There is also a Facebook discussion group about Marine Atlantic @ http://www.facebook.com/groups/205732132788620/

Loading Patron

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The Following Photos were sent to me by Anthony, Who works as a longshoreman. Patron will be loaded with 5800 Tonnes of 3 grades of grain.

(Above)Looking along the Side
(Bellow) Looking into the Hold. Note the Man Standing down there.

(below) Starting to load.

(below) 1500 tons in

Curious choice of file photo

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The Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1310126–canadian-naval-destroyer-damaged-under-tow-near-nova-scotia)!ran an article on the Athabaskan tow incident and illustrated it with an interesting photo. The photo in question shows Athabaskan along side a merchant ship. The merchant ship appears to be GTS Katie, and he photo is from the conclusion of operation Megaphone

From Wikipedia:
At the conclusion of Operation Kinetic, the Canadian contribution to a NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo and Macedonia, the Department of National Defence contracted SDV Logistics Canada Ltd to transport military assets, including 580 vehicles, 390 sea containers of equipment and three Canadian soldiers who were escorting the cargo.

SDV Logistics subcontracted Andromeda Navigation Co. of Montreal, which chartered a St Vincent-flagged ship, GTS Katie (owned by Annapolis, Maryland-based Third Ocean Marine Navigation Company), to move the cargo.

During the voyage, a dispute between the various contracting parties arose over payments due, and Third Ocean claimed that $288,000 remained outstanding from Andromeda. As a result of the dispute, Third Ocean ordered the Russian captain of the Katie, Vitaly Khlebnikov, not to enter Canadian waters.

Negotiations continued between the Canadian government and the shippers, however an ultimatum was given and the three contractors failed to reach an agreement by a certain deadline, according to Art Eggleton, then the Minister of National Defence.A diplomatic note was sent to the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, where the ship was registered, who authorized Canadians to board the vessel.

On 30 July, the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan received orders to close with the Katie about 225 kilometres off Newfoundland, in international waters, and maintain visual contact with her. The following day, the frigate HMCS Montreal joined Athabaskan. At 1:45 pm on 3 August, fourteen sailors boarded Katie in a helicopter-borne assault from a Sea King, led by Captain Drew Robertson, during which the crew of the Katie offered no resistance.Captain Khlebnikov would later complain the boarding of the ship was “dangerous” and described the boarding as an “attack”, although Captain Robertson had observed that the Katie began erratic, evasive maneuvering after being warned of the imminent boarding.

Hero Class #4 – CCGS Constable Carrière rolled out

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The 4th Hero Class Mid Shore Patrol Vessel, CCGS Constable Carrière  (Above) was rolled out today at halifax ship yards. To date 2 have been completed and turned over to the coast guard, and CCGS Corporal Teather C.V is nearing completion at pier 9 (Below).

 J. L. François Carrière was an officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who drowned on duty. It was while he was working as a scuba diver, subjecting a suspected drug-smuggling vessel, the Donia Portland, to an underwater inspection, that Carrière died. The Donia Portland was a large freighter, and Carrière was one of a team of five inspecting the vessel. He reported problems with his breathing apparatus, although his gauge showed he still had air in his tanks. Another diver who went to assist him, lost contact with him due to murky water.

The Canadian Connection to the Kulluk

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The Americans are curently dealing with their own Towing Incident. Shell Oils drill rig is aground on  Kodiak Island Alaska, while being towed to Seatle. The tug lost power, and the tow line was severed in high winds and seas (Sound Familier?) See GCaptain for more

The drilling rig KULLUK was built in 1983 by the Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Company Ltd in Tamano, Japan.  KULLUK, whose name means “Thunder” in the Inuvialuit language, was first operated by Gulf Canada Resources, Inc. in the Canadian arctic. Kulluk could drill safely in first-year ice up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) thick. Dome eventually acquired the vessel, which then passed progressively through acquisitions to Amoco and then BP. BP intended to sell this tool for scrap around 2000. Royal Dutch Shell subsequently purchased the vessel.

She was supported by several specially built off shore support vessels with ice class hulls. Though relatively early designs, many are still in service around the world. Arctic Kalvik was sold to the Murmansk Shipping Co. in 2003 and became Vladimir Ignatyuk (Above). She is the sister ship to CCGS Terry Fox, Which operated as Terry Fox for Beaudrill.

 There was a third vessel, the ex Canmar Kigoriak. Built in 1979, For Dome Petroleum, who were also interested in the Beaufort Sea. She is very similar to Terry Fox and Vladimir Ignatyuk, but was built first, and has an additional level below her bridge.  Canmar Kigoriak now operates as just Kigoriak for Russian owners.
 
Other Vessels used in  Arctic Oil exploration are still in service today. Canmar Supplier II is now Atlantic Towings Atlantic Tern (below).  Canmar Supplier IV now works for Northern Transportation as the Jim Kilabuk

You can read about the Kulluk in Canadian service here 

UPDATE: Edited April 27/2015 to Correct facts. the Kulluk was scraped in China following the Incident above.

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