Category Archives: bulker

Bulkers in the Basin

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This morning brought the arrival of 2 bulk caries to the Basin. First up is the fully loaded bulk carrier Hanjin Buchanan. The Panamanian flagged ship is carrying a cargo of iron ore from Port Carter, PQ. She is likely stopping off to be inspected for Ice Damage. She anchored in the Basin.

Also tying up a National Gypsum is CSL’s Bulk Carrier Salarium. This vessel is on long term charter hauling salt out of the Magdeline Islands, however Ice has probably led her to find other work for a few trips. (File photo above from her last refit and paint job in halifax.)
UPDATE 03/31:
Tug Atlantic Oak spent the day with the Hanjin Buchanen, suggesting that her issues require a loss of power to resolve.

Salarum Sailed at 1800

John 1 Ridding out the Storm in Argentia

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The John 1 is still tied up in Argentia while crews asses damage and decide what to do. The earl grey has departed Argentia and returning back to ice patrol 


The Ryan Leet and Atlantic Fir are still on stand by due to the storm system. The Atlantic Fir was asked to push the John 1 against the dock to relive the mooring lines. (Photo top)

CSL Tacoma Anchored in the Basin

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CSL America’s New Geared Bulk Carrier CSL Tacoma arrived this morning and anchored in the basin. Built in 2013, she is one of CSL’s New Trillium Class. CSL Tacoma is the last of the order, and departed Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China on October 12 en route to Port McNeill, British Columbia. as a Panamax Vessel, she would have come through the Panama Canal.

CSL Americas Operates 6 Trillium Class Pananmax Geared Bulkers. Canada Steamship Lines operates  4 trillium class Great Lakes Geared bulk carriers. CSL Claims these are the cheapest and cleanest to operate bulk vessels in existence.
I Attempted a photo, but was obscured by snow.

Orient Dispatch for CFIA inspection

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Spring is here, with the first CFIA Gypsy Moth Inspection. Vessels entering Canadian waters for areas where gypsy moths exist are required to provide documentation that the ship is Moth Free. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency then inspects ships to ensure compliance. The moths build nests in Nooks on vessels and on containers, and can then spread into local areas. The moths exist in Canada, however they are restricted to certain regions. (Nova Scotia is one, Parts of Ontario..)

The handysize Bulker Orient Dispatch arrived at anchor last night, and will sail late this morning. Built by Hyundai Mippo, in Ulsan, South Korea, she is new, having been built in 2013. She is owned and operated by InterOrient of Cyprus.

Handysize refers to vessels under 50000dwt, as their smaller size allows them to enter most ports, and they are typically also geared. Orient Dispatch comes in at 36000dwt.

First Visit for Fednav Newbuild NUNAVIK

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The newbuild bulk carrier Nunavik arrived this morning at pier 27. This was her first stop in Canada.
She was announced at the same time as Oceanex announced the construction of the Connaigra.

 The MV Nunavik. Built at JMU’s Tsu Shipyard in Japan, the ship will be used to export the concentrates produced at the Canadian Royalties owned Nunavik Nickel mine at Deception Bay in northern Quebec. The vessel will also supply the mine with equipment and fuel, year round.

Rated Polar Class 4, the Nunavik is the most powerful bulk-carrying icebreaker in the world. It is similar in design to the Umiak I, the Fednav ship servicing Vale’s Voisey’s Bay operation in Northern Labrador. The Nunavik will sail unescorted in Arctic regions and will operate in the extreme winter conditions of the Canadian Arctic. It is capable of maintaining continuous progress of 3 knots in 1.5 m of ice.
The vessel was designed by Fednav and JMU, and will sail between Deception Bay and Northern Europe on a year-round basis. The engine produces 29,600 hp, three times the power of a conventional bulk carrier of the same size. The Nunavik will be supported by Enfotec Technical Services, a Fednav subsidiary to provide up to date information on ice conditions as well as technical support to the inhouse IceNav navigation system. 
The Nunavik is equipped with the latest environmental technologies, such as a Tier II engine that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 20%, and the first ballast treatment system installed on a Canadian-owned vessel.

In naming this new ship Nunavik, Fednav wanted to recognize the inhabitants and the region in which it will operate as well as its project partner, Nunavik Nickel

She arrived earlier then scheduled, so was already tieing up when I arrived.

UPDATE 03/21:
She sailed yesterday just after 16:00, the weather was quite rough.

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.

Irma loading Wood Pelets

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The Bulk carrier Irma arrived this morning for a load of grain. This year was apparently a good year for grain, and ice was causing problems on the seaway before it closed for the winter, potentially requiring changes to shipping arrangements. Draft restrictions usually cause larger bulkers to top up in Halifax, However given how high Irma is out of the water, she is empty.

Update: I received an Email from the the Port Authority. Irma is being loaded with wood pellets, not grain. I was also informed that this is the first shipment of wood pellets in a number of years.


Grain Pellets were flowing from one of the spouts when I was by this morning.  For a View of the process, this post shows the loading of Patron last year.

Addtional Update: The wood pelets in question are from the Scotia Atlantic Biomass Company, which was formed when Viridis Energy acquired a pellet plant that was dormant in 2012. It was renamed Scotia Atlantic Biomass Company Limited and refurbished before opening in September of 2013. The plant is based in Middle Musquoboit, Nova Scotia with storage and port loading facilities in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In 2013 Viridis signed a contract with Ekman & Co., based in Sweden to distribute our pellets throughout Europe for power generation, district to heating and residential heating. Halifax is just over 3,000 km to Rotterdam, the hub import for Europe. The tremendous location enables the company to take advantage of the rapidly growing demand for pellets in Europe.

Irma is currently loading 25,000 tonnes of wood pellets that are bound for Ghent, Belgium. The value of the shipment is 3-4 million dollars. She is due to Sail on the 5th. (Below our some loading shots, Courtesy of a friendly Longshoreman (thanks!))