Category Archives: news

Weekly News Bits

The 92nd Aniversary of the Halifax Explosion.
The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture announced Friday that all photographs, films and archival records on the 1917 disaster have been re-digitized for their website http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/explosion/default.asp

News coverage of commemorations:
Survivors, residents mark anniversary of Halifax Explosion

Ottawa issues tender call for soil cleanup on McNabs
The soil remediation project was prompted by an old oil pipeline exposed when hurricane Juan tore through. The 240-metre pipeline has been oozing bunker C oil since the storm hit metro. The pipeline was part of a navy fuelling depot that supplied vessels and forts in use on the island during the Second World War

Port of Halifax signs MOU with Vietnamese port The MOU recognizes that the Port of Haiphong is a gateway or “border port” for trade between Northern Vietnam and South East Asia, and the Port of Halifax is a gateway port for Canada and North America

Weekly News Bits


CN Rail Strike News
Its now over, however Halifax was affected.

Canadian Ports Weathering CN Strike
Strike Hits Halifax Railcar Supply – Ship schedules not disrupted, but train delays hamper some port operations
Strike Delaying Trains at Halifax – daily train service was delayed by 16 hours on Nov. 29, the second day of the strike. In turn, that delayed some shipments until the evening of Nov. 30

Tracking boosts port business Software keeps containers from dwelling around. (and you can look them up online Here )

Weekly News Bits

Move over, Thomas: Theodore the tugboat makes stop in Ports.“Theodore Too” made a quick stop in the Port City on Thursday while on its way to Boston for a goodwill tour that seeks to thank Bostonians for their help in providing relief during a maritime disaster that leveled Halifax in 1917.

Coast Guard drops search for missing Halifax sailorHubert Marcoux, 67, had hit high seas, strong winds on the way to Bermuda earlier this month and failed to arrive as planned a week ago

Halifax Shipyard lands refit of HMCS IroquoisHMCS Iroquois will arrive at the yard Dec. 15 for a major refit. The vessel will be in the yard until late 2010.

In September, Halifax Shipyard was awarded a contract to build nine midshore patrol boats for the Canadian Coast Guard. The first vessel will be delivered in 2011 and the rest of the boats will be in service in 2013. Earlier this year, the yard landed a $60-million contract to build an offshore supply vessel for EnCana Corp.’s Deep Panuke natural gas project. Construction of the vessel will employ up to 200 people. And in 2008, the shipyard landed a $549-million contract to extend the life of seven of the navy’s Halifax-class frigates. That program is underway and will last until 2017.

Weekly News Bits

Prof challenges senator’s port remarks
en. Stephen Greene’s recent suggestion to move container facilities from the Port of Halifax to the Strait of Canso may have been provocative, but a Saint Mary’s University professor says there may be inaccuracies in the senator’s statements

CCGS Hudson Circumnavigated the North and South America 40 years ago.
Covered Previously (Hail, hail to the good ship Hudson
) and A voyage of real discovery

Aecon Fabco gets council OK for ship dismantlingTown council voted 4-1 to approve a bylaw amendment that would allow Aecon Fabco to dismantle the Canadian Navy destroyers HMCS Gatineau and the HMCS Terra Nova at the local shipyard


we also have the report of the TSB into the Capsizing Fireboat 08-448B Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia 17 September 2008

Sold for Scrap


The Chronicle Herald reported today that

A DARTMOUTH company has won a contract worth more than $4 million to remove, dismantle and dispose of two mothballed warships tied up in Halifax Harbour.

Aecon Fabco won the tender to dispose of the former HMCS Terra Nova and HMCS Gatineau with the lowest bid

The company plans to tow them to its Pictou shipyard for dismantling.The ships should be towed out of Halifax by December, said Lianne LeBel, a Defence Department spokeswoman.

Weekly News Bits

News Bits – Now Weekly!

Captain’s log, star date 1791 – Vintage views of Canada for sale
the logs of Capt. William Hope will come to auction and offer Canadian museums and collectors a chance to capture some rare, vintage views of this country.

CN official denies putting Halifax behind B.C. port in priority
The Port of Halifax is not taking a back seat to Prince Rupert, B.C., in terms of commitment from CN, a senior railway official said Tuesday

Full scale marine security and safety exercise planned for Halifax harbour
A full-scale regional marine safety and security exercise is planned for Halifax harbour on Wednesday