The Tug ALP Sweeper arrived in Halifax March 26th to await the Tow of MSC Sao Paulo V. The MSC Sao Paulo V suffered an engine room fire off Quebec, while outbound from the port of Montreal.
The Fire was extinguished, and the ship is now under tow to Halifax by the tugs Océan Taïga with Océan Raynald T on the stern. they are set to arrive at the pilot station Tuesday morning at 0800 for pier 42.
I understand the plan to be for the ship to Discharge all containers, at which point ALP Sweeper will tow MSC Sao Paulo V to her fate, which is likely, given her age, to be recycled.
I have often said it was a matter of time before draft restrictions would eat into container volumes bound for Montreal, and it looks like that may have begun.
This Past weekend saw the first call of MSC Elma to PSA Halifax’s Atlantic Hub,on a new Service from MSC.
MSC has replaced its Boston Express Service with a New service, adding stops, and lengthening the route, while dropping Montreal. The new Ecuador – NWC (for North West Continent) Service consists of an eight week rotation from Antwerp with calls in Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Halifax, Boston, Freeport, Rodman (Balboa), Guayaquil, Puerto Bolivar, Guayaquil, Paita, Cristobal, Moin (Costa Rica) and back to Antwerp. Ships currently assigned to the service are all in the 8800+teu range. This past weekends caller, MSC Elma, features 1700 reefer plugs, which will be well used transporting South American fruits and Agricultural products.
The Boston Express Service used 4 ships, and sailed from Antwerp, calling on Bremerhaven, Boston, Montreal and back to Antwerp. These ships were in the 2500teu range.
The current size record for the Port of Montreal is the MSC Melissa, at 6730teu, which is 9300teu smaller then then the current Canadian record holder, CMA CGM Marco Polo.
(Above) the Tanker Acadian at Anchor in the Inner harbour. (below) MSC Shay in Anchorage 1 for Asian Gypsy Moth Inspection. the ship moved to pier 41 when MSC Japan Sailed.
While MSC Shay was at Anchor, the PCTC Bess departed from autoport (Above)Offering a nice size comparison of the two ships as they passed.(Below)
The Atlantic Elm was also tied up at COVE along side the Barge Atlantic Marlin
MSC Rossella took to anchor in the basin this morning. The ship arrived from Montreal on the 10th and tied up at Pier 42. It is now scheduled to sail to barcelona, Giving an et of March 22, though it currently doesnt have a scheduled departure.
Built in 1993, the MSC Rossella is 30 years old, and carries 3398TEU
(Above) MSC Pratti at Pier 42. The ship has called in Halifax before as ZIM Pusan. Pier 41 was just vacated by the outbound CMA-CGM J. Adams, to be replaced with the Inbound Navarino (Below)
Fairview Cove saw Humen Bridge move from the pier to anchor in the basin and MSC Alyssa move from the anchorage in the basin to the Pier. Humen Bridge is due to sail overnight.
Due tomorrow are Vistula Maersk, currently waiting in the outer anchorage for Pier 42, and NYK Deneb Bound for Fairview Cove.
MSC’s second caller at Fairview cove, MSC Maria arrived from Italy, and spent Saturday alongside before sailing for Montreal.
MSC Angela also put into port, but stopped at the Atlantic Hub. MSC Angela sailed direct from Europe to Montreal, and is now on her trip back across the Atlantic.
MSC Sao Paulo took the western channel on arrival giving the waterfront a close view. The ship was calling on Fairview Cove, a first for MSC vessels which normally call at PSA Halifax’s Atlantic Hub in the south end. This may signal the start of ships calls being split between the terminals to balance load. MSC ships that call on halifax are typically under 4000TEU to make it through the river to Montreal, and are guaranteed to fit under the bridges with out difficulty.
The Atlantic Hub saw MSC Shanghai, which moved to pier 42 this evening after undergoing CFIA Moth inspection. MSC Shangai Called on Halifax up until last year as ZIM Shanghai. the ZIM Hull markings were still visible – the covering paint haven worn away. I missed getting a photo of her today, But her she is calling for ZIM in 2016
The Coast Guard is reporting that the container ship MSC Kim is adrift off Newfoundland, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The Ship was bound for Montreal, and sailed from Halifax the night of the 5th.
Last reported position of MSC Kim via MarineTraffic.com
According to Marinetraffic, the ship was making 20kn and then dropped to 1.5kn around 21:50utc on the 6th. The position again updated briefly on the 8th, with the reported speed less then 1kn. Its last reported position almost 48 hours ago was 48°25’24.7″N, 061°48’55.1″W, and the ship was reporting a navigation status of Not Under Command.
The CCGS Terry Fox is breaking ice in Stevenville NL, where the Atlantic Kingfisher is tied up, and will be responding to take the vessel in tow. MSC Kim was built in 2008, and is rated for 4254teu
UPDATES to Follow.
Update 02/09 22:34 with a more recent position. MSC Kim is drifting eastward towards Newfoundland in the wind. It is still 30nm West South West from the closest shore at Cape Saint George NL.
Atlantic Kingfisher is currently taking fuel from CCGS Terry Fox and is expected to Depart at 2300nl. Towing should begin in the morning. CCGS Jean Goodwill will also be responding.
UPDATE 02/09 2342: Atlantic Kingfisher is off the dock, and proceeding to MSC Kim with CCGS Terry Fox. MSC Kim is drifting east at 1.2kn
UPDATE 02/10 0700: Looks like Atlantic kingfisher has arrived at the MSC Kim. Overnight the MSC Kim drifted another 8nm east.
UPDATE 0809: now under tow. heading south.
UPDATE 1101: tow currently off Cape Anguille, NL and is bound for Sydney NS. Currently making 9kn, with CCGS Terry Fox following.
Position at 8:44pm Atlantic time
UPDATE 22:19: the tow is progressing towards Sydney, with an ETA of 1am.
Its also a good time to better understand the response. Its not known at this time when the MSC Kim called for assistance, but it certainly should have reported to MCTS that it was not under command. the CCGS Terry Fox was on icebreaking duty in the Straights of Belle Isle, specifically on the the Saint-Barb to Blanc Sablon Ferry route. On the 5th, terry fox departed for Corner Brook,and spent most of the 6th breaking ice in Corner Brook, before returning to the ferry run on the 7th. Terry Fox then Sailed for Stephenville the Evening of the 8th, arriving the afternoon of the 9th, which is where we picked up the story.
Jean Goodwill, Sailed from Sydney on the 4th to break ice in Charlottetown. The ship then returned to Sydney on the 6th, rounding the Tip of Cape Breton island 30 minutes after the ship appears to have lost propulsion. The ship returned to Sydney, and looks to have spent a portion of the day breaking ice in the approaches to Sydney.
Why does this time line matter – in 2014, the John 1 went aground after refusing a tow from the Coast Guard before the situation got worse. A last minute tow attempt by the Earl Grey failed, and the ship went aground. it was subsequently declared a constructive total loss and recycled.
The MSC Kim lost power in open water, and calm conditions. That doesn’t make the situation an emergency, however the potential for the situation to go bad exists. Even if a commercial tow is desired, there is no reason not to have a Coast Guard ship capable of taking a tow on scene in case situation changes, or conditions get worse. If you have time, you have options.
When a fire alarm is triggered, the fire department begins moving sufficient resources to deal with a fire closer to the site of the alarm in case they are needed. In many cases they get returned on route. but every now and then they are needed, and the improved proximity helps quickly bring the situation under control.
For all the talk of world class response, and the oceans protection plan, once again we have a case where the Coast Guard has failed to take positive control of a situation, to ensure it doesn’t go bad. Once again, we got lucky that a suitable commercial towing vessel was in a convenient place to respond, and the weather held. But if the Coast Guard wants to convince Canadians they have control, they need to step in and be in a position to respond.
UPDATE 02/11 0748: the tow is outside Sydney now. it looks like they might have chosen a path to avoid some ice, and probably were waiting for daylight to enter the Harbour.
UPDATE 02/19: MSC Kim sailed from Sydney this morning, bound for Montreal.
MSC Jersey tied up at Pier 9. The container ship arrived from La Havre France on Monday. The Ship is likely at pier 9 for bunkers or a work period. The ship is operating on the Montreal Express service, and is due in Montreal on the 19th.
Last week another MSC Vessel anchored in the Basin after working cargo at PSA Halifax, before moving to Fairview cove to take on bunkers.
(Above)MSC Sandra at pier 42 (Below) ZIM Vancouver at pier 41. Both ships are being worked by a single crane unit
Atlantic Sky is in the outer anchorage, and will be bound for Fairview Cove Monday Morning. Fairview Cove was occupied Sunday by Humen Bridge, still in its K-Line Livery but sailing for ONE as part of the Alliance.
