Author Archives: Peter Ziobrowski

The Grand Tour of the Tug Victorious and the Barge John J Carrick

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The Articulated Tug And Barge Victorious with John J Carrick have been frequent visitors to Halifax over the years. Typically they are delivering liquid Asphalt to the McAsphalt Dock in Eastern Passage. This year, they spent the winter in halifax, arriving on January 23rd. They served as a supply base for their sister company Stirling Fuels. Stirling Marine Fuels chartered the Algoma Dartmouth from Algoma, and is operating the Bunkering Service in Halifax, since imperial oil shut down the refinery, and announced they would no longer be importing Bunker C Fuel. The long term plans are unknown at this point, but the barge has enough oil left to fill Algoma Dartmouth one more time, and will then head back to the great lakes, presumably after the 31st when the seaway re-opens.

 I was able to get in touch with the Captain, and after clearing it with head office, I was able to Get a Tour. So thanks go to both.

Looking out across the Deck of the John J Carrick, Take a Moment to notice how clean it is. I spent 45 minutes aboard, and my hands end up dirtier after paying for gas.

Looking across the deck, the John J Carrack has 12 tanks, 6 port and 6 starboard. she is capable of carrying 11000 tons of product. compared to other tankers she is relatively simple as she is only equipped to handle one commodity at a time. The hatches protruding allow access to the tanks for cleaning, maintenance and sounding. At the stern of the barge, are 2 pump rooms, and an engine room that contains heaters to warm the product so it flows.

(Above) View forward from the bridge wing. (Below) the tug inserted in the notch from the barge

(below)The Bow of the tug from the bridge. the gang plank allows the crew to walk between the tug and barge.

(Below) Bolt down hatch removed opening to the Void space leading to the ballast tanks.

(Above and Bellow) the Bow thruster compartment in the bow of the barge 4 decks down. the thruster uses a Jet of water unlike other vessels with a sideways mounted propellor.

(Above) the pin in the notch on the outside. note the various levels based on the draft of the barge. (Below) the machinery that retracts the pin the pin is housed in the cylinder when retracted.

(Above) the bridge, note the ships wheel to the left, and the throttle controls to the right. Not shown are 2 radar displays on the far right, and the engine room displays on the far left.
A

(Above) Inside the engine room. note the Red MAK engine on the left (there is also one on the right)
(Below) Rudder compartment. note the linkage to the port rudder, there is another to starboard not shown.

The remainder of the tug Contains a Large galley and mess, as well as Sleeping Quarters for the crew.

Eastern Passage – Aquarious Leader at Autoport

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The NYK line PCTC Aquarious Leader tied up at Autoport. She is a regular caller to autoport, as part of NYK RORO’s USCX service. She was built in 2008 and can carry 5980 cars.

The observant of you may notice a more head on angle then normal. The Tug Victorious and barge John J. Carrick are docked at the McAsphalt Dock, just forward of Autoport. Stay tuned for a post on that.

Oceanex Ends Service to Corner Brook

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Oceanex vessels will no longer be sailing to Corner Brook NF. Cargo will be delivered to St. John’s and shipped over land. The company sighted dropping traffic levels and subsidized competition from Marine Atlantic as the cause.

Oceanex Runs 3 vessels, Connraiga and Oceanex Avalon sailing from Montreal, and Oceanex Sanderling from Halifax.

(Above) Oceanex Avalon departing St John’s (file photo)

Did the CCGS Louis St Laurent Spend its fuel budget already?

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After a previous post  mentioned concerns about icebreaking delays impacting shipping; and the fact that the Largest CCGS Ice breaker was tied up for the past month, A reader emailed me to say that As a result of heavier ice then in recent years, the Louis St. Laurent has already spent their fuel budget, and are waiting for the budget year to roll over March 31.

The Louis St. Laurent Burns fuel at a rate 80 cubic meters per day breaking ice. 80cu m is aprox 80000 liters /day.  Given that recent years have been light on ice, the budget was likely lower then what it should have been for a full ice year.  Being the largest and oldest ship in the fleet, high full consumption is not surprising.

UPDATE: I received 2 notes to say that its actually more likely to 80 cubic Meters and not 80 cubic feet. I corrected the post.

Ice Causing Delays.

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Ice has been a big issue this year, And Halifax based CCGS Craft have been working in Newfoundland and the Gulf of St Lawrence this winter.  Earl Grey responded to the grounding of John 1, and Edward Cornwallis and Sir William Alexander are also both working that area. Newfoundland sent CCGS Cape Roger to fill in here.

The one Oddity in all this Is the Louis St Laurent. The Largest icebreaker in the CCGS Fleet, she has been tied up at BIO since arriving on February 11th.  In January, She put in to port for a week for crew change, so she may be expected to sail in the coming days, but that still begs the question why the largest icebreaker in the fleet took a full rotation off.

The Canadian Ice Service, has stated that there is 10 per cent more ice this year compared to the 30-year average referring to both the amount and thickness of the ice.

CSA Release:

With the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway facing the thickest and broadest ice cover in years, the Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA) is extremely concerned that Canada’s ice-breakers will not be able to create and maintain the routes needed to move key cargo to Canadian and American industries.  The Canadian Coast Guard is doing its utmost to work with resources across a large geographical area subject to heavy ice, but this situation is rippling into Canada’s transportation and economic system.

Concerns over ice conditions and the ability of the Canadian Coast Guard to provide sufficient ice-breaking has delayed the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway past opening dates achieved in recent years. Despite Canadian government efforts to encourage the movement of Canadian grain, it will remain stored in ports such as Thunder Bay until ice breakers open ports and support ship movements. Not only are Canadian grain movements threatened by insufficient ice-breaking, so too are other industries with already low stocks of commodities such as iron ore, construction materials, salt and petroleum products which are moved by ships.
CSA and its members have advised the Canadian Coast Guard of the need to employ three ice-breakers to support the opening of the Great Lakes- Seaway system. Disappointingly, the Canadian Coast Guard’s effort to commit the necessary resources appears to be late as it manages challenging winter conditions in many regions.

The Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet of ice-breaking ships is aging and too few in numbers to support the economic and environmental benefits of short-sea-shipping in Canada. The CSA calls on the Canadian Coast Guard to fulfill its support to maritime commerce immediately by deploying three additional ice-breaking assets to support shipping throughout the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway system while also meeting obligations to support navigation in the St. Lawrence River and Maritimes. Furthermore, CSA encourages the Government of Canada to find a longer-term solution to augment assets.

what is ice like on the lakes, Check out this time lapse of the Laker Wilfred Sykes leaving winter layup.

Various Mechanical Issues.

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its been a bad week for Bulk Carries and Mechanical issues.

1. The John 1 Lost power and went aground off Rose Blanche Newfoundland.

2. The Rt Hon Paul E Martin Waited out weather in the outer Anchorage before proceeding  to Shelbourn Ship Repair with the tug Atlantic Fir with a drive issue.

3. The Bulker Pioneer arrived at National Gypsum, appeared to load cargo, and On Friday was cold moved to Pier 25, with her bow Heavily ballasted down. This morning she appears to have propeller  work going on.

 (Above) Work On Pioneers Propeller (Below) Pioneer Ballasted down forward.

4. the Bulker Persenk Arrived to repair Ice damage at Anchorage 7. Her propeller was bent causing a bad vibration. Divers removed pieces to re-balance it.

The Rt Hon Paul E Martin due at midnight

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The CSL bulker The Rt Hon Paul E Martin is due to arrive at anchor tonight at midnight. The tug Atlantic fir will be escorting her from port hawksbery to Shelburne ship repair for engin repairs. Atlantic Fir departed halifax a few days ago for this trip. They will be waiting out weather before proceeding.
 
The departure was covered by straight area shipping:

John 1 aground off Newfoundland

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The 600′ bulk carrier M/V John 1 went aground ~1.6KM from the community of Rose Blanche Newfoundland this afternoon just after 1330. 23 crew were evacuated by helicopter after issue ing a distress call.

One assumes they will attemp to tow the vessel off the rocks next high tide. The forcast looks stable though winds are expected to pick up Monday morning.
DFO reports the John 1 lost power on Friday and was drifting parallel to the coast. CCGS Earl Grey was dispatched and tug Ryan Leet was hired from mulgrave to assist and was due Saturday. Reports are that the crew stated there was water in the engine room, which could explain the power loss. 
Saturday morning wind changes put the ship in danger of running aground. Earl Grey was unable to establish a tow, and the ship grounded. A helicopter was dispatched from gander to pick up the crew. The CCGS Pierre Radison is also due on scene.

John 1 was built in 1991 and is registered in panama. She was due in Montreal having sailed from Las Palmas. The port of Montreal listed the grain elevator as her birth, so we can assume she was due to load grain for export, and is currently unloaded.
Photo top  by Mary Hardy via Facebook http://t.co/APtxPr5L5u  below JRCC via Twitter
Additional photos below by Rolland Kettle

UPDATE: 04/16 AIS indicates the Tug Ryan Leet arrived on scene around 1430 ADT. She sailed from Mulgrave just after 0700 saturday, and reportedly was slowed by ice. (Below File photo of Ryan Leet)

The transportation Safety Board also announced they are sending investigators to the scene of the grounding.

UPDATE 04/17: The owners have contracted Svitzer  to salvage the vessel. Svitzer has 3 tugs in Port Hawksbury (Point Chebucto, Svitzer Bedford and Point Valiant, all formerly based in Halifax) though they will likely retain the Ryan Leet as she is more powerful. The Coast Guard is amassing pollution control assets in Rose Blanche.

Photos below By Rolland Kettle:

UPDATE: Shifting winds Caused the John 1 to become free overnight Sunday and  she is now securely at anchor. Attempts to pull the John 1 from the shoal by the tug Ryan Leet were suspended Sunday due to deteriorating weather and sea conditions. The Slvage team will board the vessle to perform an assessment once conditions improve.

UPDATE 03/18:
Salvage crews arrived and boarded the John 1. She will be towed by Ryan Leet and Atlantic Fir to Argentia for further assessment. No pollution has been detected, though ccgs Earl Grey will follow along with pollution control gear.
(Below)Salvage crew boarding the MV John I. — Department of Fisheries and Oceans photo

UPDATE 03/19:

Preparations to tow are underway. A generator will be brought to the john 1 to power the anchor winches. Tow cables have already been connected. Once the tow commences the crew will follow aboard the earl grey.

UPDATE 03/20:
The following photo was provided to me. The tow is now underway.

 I have been informed that the tow is progressing nicely making 7 knots. Eta is 0800 Saturday 

UPDATE 03/21:

Overnight The tow  headed for shelter behind St. Pierre due to weather conditions. Weather permitting it should be heading back on course some time Friday.

The tow resumed just after noon with improved weather. Currently making 5 knots south of St Pierre
UPDATE 03/22:
Tow is now in the traffic lanes awaiting a pilot for Argentia.

Now handing off tow to Atlantic Fir and North Atlantic Osprey

Now getting lines on the dock

UPDATE 03/23;

The Ryan Leet ,Atlantic Fir and CCGS Earl Grey are tied up in Argentia. The John 1 is under going diver survey and assessment, the Ryan Leet and Atlantic Fir are standing by until Sivzters Salvage team makes a decision on where the John 1 is going and how it will get there.

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