Yesterday marked the 50 year anniversary of the launching of the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth II. Her final voyage and stop in Halifax Happened in the fall of 2008.
The last notes say that the ship is laid up in Port Rashid, with her lifeboats and davits removed. Managed by V ships, she has a captain and small crew.
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The laden bulk carrier KSL Seville arrived last night from Sept-Iles Quebec. She has not taken bunkers, and has no posted departure time, so the reason for her stop in Halifax is unknown.
Loaded with iron ore, she entered port with 2 tugs due to her deep draft.
Sorry for the crummy photo – its from an iPhone.
Natural Resources has a site that explores some of the features of Halifax Harbour. One of those features is the wreck of the Ferry Governor Cornwallis.
The ferry was built by Dartmouth shipbuilder Hugh D. Weagle for $93,551 and opened to the public December 6, 1942. It was the first Diesel Powered ferry used in Halifax Harbour. The ships log book showed many mechanical problems, and on December 22, 1944 a fire was discovered in the ceiling of the engine room. passengers were let off in Dartmouth, and the ferry was towed and beached on Georges island to Burn. She sunk, and slid into deep water. It was concluded that the fire was caused by poor installation of the heating furnace’s smoke pipe.
You can clearly see the wreck off the south west corner of Georges Island. NRCan Also offers the Side Scan image below.
On June 29, 2016 the Tour boat Summer Bay had a very near miss with the Grandeur of the Seas. From the TSB Report
the master of the Summer Bay altered course to 071° and crossed the bulbous bow of the Grandeur of the Seas at a distance of about 25 m. The fog signal from the Grandeur of the Seas was heard on the Summer Bay about 10 seconds prior to the course alteration. The Grandeur of the Seas bridge team was unaware that the Summer Bay was crossing their bow until the pilot saw the Summer Bay‘s mast as it appeared from underneath the bow on the starboard side, after it had already crossed.
the weather at the time was foggy, and the Summer Bay altered course, from the pre-arranged passing plan while in the Grandeur of the Seas radar blind spot.
the report indicates that the master of the Summer bay was new to Murphys, and had limited experience operating vessels in Halifax Harbour and in low visibility. Murphy’s also lacked procedures for operations in low visibility.
Murphy’s the Cable Wharf has made the following changes to its tour vessels:
Given the recent issue with the Harbour Queen, one should question if these changes were enough.
The full report can be read at http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2016/m16a0141/m16a0141.asp
Trident is reporting that the Queenston Class Support ships will now be the Protecteur Class, and will now be named Protecteur and Preserver. The previous Conservative government named the to be built support ships in October 2013 as HMCS Queenston and HMCS Chateauguay .
The recently scrapped supply ships HMCS Protecteur and Preserver were the original Protecteur Class, and the new class will continue the legacy of the Old ships. Given these vessels were in service in 2013, the names were unavailable for re-use.
These Vessels are scheduled to be built by Seaspan in Vancouver.
CFAV Quest will be towed to Sydney NS on Wednesday Sept 13th for her date with the breakers. Built by Burrard Dry Dock Co in North Vancouver, she entered service in 1969 as one to the navys research vessels.
HMCS St Johns sailed for the Caribbean last night. While the Canadian government has yet to receive a request for hurricane disaster assistance, the ship was sent south prepared to respond to an emergency. they will be training, until a request for assistance comes in.
Given 3 active hurricanes, and a forecast for Irma to pass right up the center of Florida as a class 4 storm, She will likely be put to work.
On a related note, the Port Report, found at http://halifaxshippingnews.ca/portreport.php will now include the hurricane map above During Hurricane Season.
Davie Shipyard announced today they would be opening a Halifax Office for Federal Fleet Services in the Fall as part of Project Resolve – the Interm Supply ship they are building and leasing to the Navy. Federal fleet Services is the Subsidiary who holds the contract with the feds for the ship.
The Interm ship is a converted Container vessel, that was purchased and refit at Davies Yard. The Ship was re-floated for the first time in the Dry Dock Earlier this week. Also contained in the announcement, is confirmation that the ship will be stationed in Halifax.
The Ship is meant to fill the gap between the retirement of HMCS Preserver, and the Construction of the new Berlin Class Ships. Given the Cost of relatively new, Panamax container-ships – conversions like the Asterix make alot of Sense.
Below is a Before Picture of the vessel. Above photo from Davie, via twitter.
Probably not, but a yacht that was tied to them is currently tied up on the south side of Purdys Wharf.
In 2016 rumours were swirling that the Yacht Jamaica Bay was in Ireland chartered by the famous musical couple. That was never confirmed, though they are in known to have spent time a yacht Gattica Star. That vessel is owned by a Nigerian Oil Tycoon, who is currently reported to be hiding out on the boat.
