Hot on the heels of sister ship CSL Metis first visit to Halifax for a load at national Gypsum, CSL Americas Bulker  CSL Acadian arrived last week for some repair work. Like the Metis, She was built as an oil tanker in 1981, and when purchased by CSL, the tanker portion was removed, and a new build bulk carrier forebody installed.

She moved to Anchor this morning. It is believed this is CSL Acadian’s first visit to Halifax.

UPDATE: Apparently she was to have her prop removed and repaired, however the work crew was unable to remove it. She Sailed on the 23rd, but is due to return where another crew will attempt it.

Yesterday evening brought a first appearance (At least in my 5 years of records) to CSL Metis. As part of CSL’s international fleet, she is part of the pool that regularly servers national gypsum  including Pioneer and Atlantic Superior.

CSL Metis was built in 1981 as an oil tanker, and had a new forebody was installed in 2007 to make her into her current geared self unloading panamax bulker form.

Scheduled to sail at noon – Photo to Follow.

Atlantic Superior left Pier 26 this morning where she spent the winter, and headed for National Gypsum in the Basin.  As vessel who sails the ocean, but also spends a great deal of time in the great lakes, Superior ties up for 4 months when the St Lawrence Seaway is Icebound Inland of Montreal. The 4 month closue allows ships to undergo a period of maintinace, without affecting schedules.

The Seaway is set to open march 22. Atlantic Superior is bound for Montreal, ETA 0600 on the 22nd.

UPDATE 03/19: She sailed today National Gypsum for Montreal. (Photo Above)

Since the St Lawrence Seaway, inland of Montreal shuts down due to ice, between the end of December and March, much of the great lakes fleet ties up for 4 months. Because of the 4 month stoppage, most major maintenance is deferred to this period of winter down time.

Atlantic Superior tied up at Pier 25/26 at the end of December. It now looks like work has started, including maitenance on the self unloading boom, which is being wrapped in Scaffolding.

The Maltease Flagged bulker Carol Arrived this morning and anchored in the basin. She passed the outbound Atlantic Huron after exiting the narrows on the basin side.(Below) Carol was most recently in Sorel PQ. She is owned and Manged by NYK Bulkship Atlantic.

Compared to Atlantic Huron, Carol lacks any handling gear, and is therefore required to make use of dockside equipment.

Atlantic Huron, after unloading at Pier 25, moved to load at National Gypsum. She departed this morning.

Atlantic Huron unloading at the Grain elevator. She is sized to be the maximum size allowable by the St. Laurence seaway locks – there is not much room, as witnessed by the scrapes on her sides.

The Self Discharging Bulk Carrier Pioneer arrided this afternoon for  National gypsum. She was built in 1981 as Canadian Pioneer, and was renamed in 1988. She is operated as part of the Canada Steam Ship Lines International (CSLI ) fleet.

Atlantic Superior moving dead ship with tugs from Pier 9 to Pier 25. She needed to move to make room for the BBC Plata. Dead ship refers to the fact that the ship is not powered, and appears to be running a generator aft of the bridge. She recently came out of dry dock at Halifax Shipyards.

Update: she left pier 25 on her own power the next day.