In the painting D-Day (CWM 10558) the atmosphere is almost festive as landing craft of the 262nd Canadian Flotilla bring infantry into Bernières-sur-Mer. The Artist, Tom Wood, Served with the Navy, and was present for the landings.
Today the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) officially designated the Halifax Shipyard’s Graving Dock as a National Historic Civil Engineering Site. Now owned by Irving Shipbuilding, the large dry dock was constructed in the 1880s for shipbuilding and repairs. It has functioned during two World Wars and is still serving the industry today. According to the CSCE’s Program of Designation, the 173-metre-long and 24-metre-wide graving dock is a remarkable engineering accomplishment: at 125 years old it is still performing, essentially according to its original design. At the time of its construction, it was the largest dry dock on the Eastern Seaboard and could handle the world’s largest vessels.
The Graving Dock remains a critical part of Irving Shipbuilding’s operation to this day. Currently in dock is HMCS St. John’s, one of the Canadian Navy’s Halifax-Class frigates. Originally Irving-built at Saint John Shipbuilding, seven of these ships are now in the midst of a refit program. It can take anywhere from 12 – 18 months to complete each ship. The program began in 2011 and will continue into 2017.
It is fitting that the Graving Dock has been recognized for its significance from a historical civil engineering stand-point. It has survived the Halifax Explosion, several World Wars, and the inevitable advancement of the industry from wooden to steel ships as well as the exponential growth in vessel size and weight. It helped repair several thousand ships during World War II and now is the repair site for our Navy’s current combatant fleet, in the very shipyard that will construct the Navy’s new combatant fleet beginning in 2015.
The Ocean terminals At pier 20 are also Registered as a National Historic Civil Engineering Site
HMCS Charlottetown is being handed back to the navy today, having completed the shipyard portion of her Felix refit. HMCS St Johns should take her place at the Machine Shop Wharf shortly.
Today brought the arrival of Quadriga to Fairview Cove. Built in 2008, she carries 3400TEU which is considerably smaller then the vessels they normally run. The recent changes may just be due to periodic maintenance, or Hapag is shuffling vessels due to new 14000TEU new-builds coming on line, and additional capacity to Halifax via the G6 Alliance.
UPDATE:Normally a post doesn’t illicit urgent calls from the National Post. This one did, however, and so I went to talk to the Owners.
Schwalbe set sail from the Bahamas 32 days ago,with a plan to head to Bermuda, then great circle route to the UK. On the Way she encountered 60knot winds and high waves, and was blown 1600 nautical miles off course. She put into Halifax on Sunday. while underway the Container ship APL Tourmaline manged to transfer fuel and supplies via a 200′ line, and notify Canadian Authorities of the Schwalbe’s destination and eta. Another Vessel also was able to render assistance.
Still Noticeably shaken as he spoke to me, Charlie credits the boat with his survival at sea. Their ordeal cost them several pieces of rigging, including the Topmast which is snapped off. The plan is to sail Thursday for Lunenburg, where they will affect repairs, which they expect will take the remainder of the season.
Googleing told me the Following: Schwalbe was built in Germany in 1927, 2.25” Oak planks on Oak frames, its 57ft on the water line and about 80ft long Overall. She was once Used for fishing, and was cut in half and and an extra 4m added. as late as 2008 she was schooner riged, however the after mast was removed. I also found the video Below of her.
This morning brought the arrival of the Bahri Jazan, another first visit for the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia Newbuild. Unlike all the previous newbuilds for Bahri, Jazan does not share the name of a predecessor who stopped in Halifax.
The Tug Spanish Mist is currently nestled up at pier 24. She arrived Saturday from a work period in Methegan.
The tug formerly worked for Fundy Gypsum, and was used to assist ships tieing up at their Hantsport. Dock. When that operation shut down in 2011, the tug was sold.
She is now owned by I.M Tug of Quebec, and is Registered in Halifax. She was Built in 1981 by ASTILLEROS ARDEAG S.A of Bilbao Spain.
