Singelgracht was towed into port this Evening by Siem Commander, and tied up at Pier 9. Siem Commander sailed early this morning to rendezvous with the ship which was sailing from Zeebruges, Belgium for Philadelphia. It looks to have gotten into trouble off the Nova Scotia Coast.
Siem Commander had be laid up at COVE. You can see the tow line tailing behind in the photo Below.
UPDATE: Singelgracht at Pier 9 earlier today (jan 24th). There was no activity noted around the ship.
The Venture Sea, one of Secunda’s offshore vessels has been sold. the ships Canadian registry closed Dec 22, and it is now named Jarvis, and Registered in Vanuatu. The New owner is Virgo Ships limited, and it is Managed by Hermes Maritime services, both are Indian firms. Venture Sea was built in 1998 by Halter marine.
Jarvis is due back in Halifax Jan 8th after spending November and December at Shelburne Ship repair. This would suggest that the ship will be put to work, and not beached for recycling. Jarvis will fuel at the irving dock, and move to Pier 27 later in the day.
Venture Sea was on contract with Exxon Mobile to work the Sable offshore project. That development ceased production and the wells capped in 2019, putting the ship out of work. Outside offshore work, in 2014 the Venture Sea towed the disabled Australian Spirit into Halifax for repairs. This past September, Venture Sea completed an emergency tow in the Davis Straight. after delivering the disabled Bulk carrier to Nuuk Greenland, Venture Sea headed for Shelburne Ship repair.
Previous Secunda Vessels Pankue Sea (Now Kydy Sea) and Ryan Leat are now working in the Caribbean. Burin Sea and Trinity sea were recycled in turkey in January 2020.
UPDATE Jan 18: Jarvis is now reporting Gibraltar as her destination, with an eta of the 31st. She may be bound for Turkish or Indian beaches after all.
Well the year is over. Here is look back at the shipping news. As for what the Coming year brings, wait for this week’s herald column.
Previous Years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
2020 began well enough with a Tour of the RRS james Cook which happened to have the world famous Boaty Mcboatface on board.
The Pandemic first got mentioned in February, where its impacts were beginning to be felt in Asia. the PCTC Carrier SIEM Cicero was held outside the port after a case was detected on board. The years Cruise schedule was announced, that same month, but then delayed less then 4 weeks later, before ultimately being cancelled. Several Seafarers were then stranded aboard ships.
One Oceans Cruise ship the RCGS Resolute was finally released from arrest in Argentina, and on the way north sunk a Venezuelan warship. One Ocean itself went through a restructuring, and plans to offer cruises in 2021.
The Report was released into the fire on board the Yantain Express. the ship had a work period after the fire, and still calls on Halifax. SeaDoo incident led to serious injuries. The inshore rescue boat made a tow. YM Mandate sailed from Halifax, and arrived in New Jersey with a Hull Crack. A Scalop Dragger sunk in the Bay of Fundy.
PSA Halifax took delivery of its new Crane, and removed the last of the Panamax Cranes. The expansion of pier 42 was completed, and the walkway re-opened. The Port Authority previewed the proposed new Truck access at Fairview cove.
The Largest container ship record fell twice in 2020, beginning in March with the Call of the CMA-CGM T. Jefferson. Halifax became the Holder of the Canadian Record in September, with the Call of the CMA-CGM Brazil. The first ONE vessel painted in the lines Magenta branding called in April.
Rail blockages by Indigenous protests caused problems for the port. So did Excess traffic caused by a longshoreman strike in Montreal. MSC Diverted ships, but added Halifax to its regular schedule. Containers began to dwell, due to rail delays cased by a shortage of cars, causing excess empty containers were stacked all around port property. The Strike also led to Hapag Lloyd diverted some traffic to Halifax.
The first vessels built as part of the federal governments NSPS arrived in Halifax. The offshore fisheries science vessel, built by Vancouvers SeaSpan, CCGS Jacques Cartier arrived in Halifax for the first time. Final sea trials for the Harry Dewolf, were completed, with the ship being handed over to the Navy in July. The CCGS Molly Kool, stopped into Halifax in May, the first Interim medium icebreaker conversion by Davie. The CCGS Jean Goodwill also arrived, and will be homeported in Halifax.
International Telecom added the IT Integrity to its fleet, converting an offshore supply vessel which arrived in May. Dominion Diving acquired 2 new work boats from Damen, Dominion Rumbler and Dominion Enforcer. Halifax fire ordered a Fireboat from Hike Metal Products, with construction now underway.
The Arrival of the Bigroll Beaufort marked a shift in the Offshore industry, arriving with components for 2 wind turbines. the Installation vessel Vole au Vent completed the installation of two offshore wind turbines. The Fall Pipe vessel Adhemar De Saint-Venant also took part in the project.
The Crane Ship Thailf arrived off Halifax to remove the Sable Offshore topsides. The pieces were then loaded onto barges, and towed to the UK for Recycling. The Noble Regina Allen finished sealing the Deep Panuke projects wells, and was moded to her next job by the heavy lift vessel GPO Amythist. the Deep Panuke platform was brought into Halifax, before eventually being towed to sheet harbour, to be recycled. All this activity meant lots of work for supply vessels, which spent most of the year operating from pier 9. Scandi Neptune removed well heads.
HMCS Moncton got a dazzle paint job for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. Fredericton’s Cyclone crashed in the Med. Killing all 6 on board. the EX HMCS Cormorant was removed from Bridgewater, for recycling in Sheet Harbour. The DRDC Barge returned to the Bedford basin off the China Town.
The US Navy lost the Amphibious Assault Ship USS Bonhomme Richard after a fire during a work period.
there was one Visiting vessel in 2020 – the USCGC Tahoma, which took part in a Joint exercise.
Theodore Too was listed for sale, Develop Nova Scotia removed the ECtug Wharves, and Georges Island opened to the public finally.
We mapped shipping traffic again making the nicest images yet, and made it available as a poster.
I have been told that the Deep Panuke platform, Bound for sheet harbour to be recycled on board the Boa Barge 34, have hit bottom outside sheet harbour.
Marine traffic shows a number of tugs working in the area. The chart shows several shallower areas, that could cause problems for the tow. Weather shows a Gale warning, with 3-4m seas forecast tomorrow, with winds of 40knots.
More to Follow.
UPDATE: Atlantic Hemlock looks to have sailed to Assist.
UPDATE Dec 15 1000: it looks like the platform was unstuck on this mornings high tide, and is now moving into Sheet harbour.
UPDATE Dec 16: There was speculation that the platform may have hit bottom again, however Deep Panuke is now against the dock in Sheet harbour. tugs Atlantic Larch, Atlantic Elm, Atlantic Hemlock and Point Chubucto were involved in the move. A crew member on board the Larch reported via Facebook post, that there was no bottom contact today, but the entry into the Harbour required waiting on a couple tide changes.
This morning the Deep Panuke Platform was towed from Halifax to sheet harbour, where it will be recycled. The platforms recycling marks the end of the offshore in Nova Scotia, with recent exploration bids coming up dry, and the Sable Gas field now dis-assembled and sent for recycling in the UK.
Nova Scotia has tremendous capability to do work offshore. A transition to offshore wind development would be a good play. many ofthe same skill sets need for offshore O&G work translate well to other projects.
O&G is gone and done. Its not coming back, and the time to move on is now, while we still have the Skills and expertise locally.
The Pure Car Truck Carrier Horizon Highway was towed into Halifax this morning by Siem Commander. The Horizon Highway tied up at Pier 9 with tug assistance.
The Horizon Highway Sailed from Southampton on the 9th, and looks to have lost power on the 15th, and drifted before regaining power, or being taken under town by another vessel on the 16th. It was suggested that the main engine was vapor locked.
the Siem Commander sailed from Halifax the morning of the 19th.
This is yet another case of Laid up Secunda vessels providing emergency assistance. Venture Sea was recently dispatched to tow the Golden Opal, a bulk carrier that became disabled in the Davis Straight after departing the Baffinland mine in Mile inlet bound for Immingham, England. Both those ships are now in Nuuk Greenland.
The offshore construction vessel Scandi Neptune is currently tied up alongside at Pier 9. The ship was contracted to remove well heads, at either the Sable or Deep Panuke projects.
the ship is Currently mobilizing for the work, having arrived from St. John’s NF.
The Noble Regina Allen was loaded aboard the GPO Amethyst Monday morning, and is in the process of being secured for transport.
go get a good look, this will likely be the last oil platform to come into or out of Halifax for a while.
UPDATE: the Ship is set to depart at 8PM tonight.
The GPO Amythest arrived yesterday and took to the anchorage 1 area. the ship will be transporting the Noble Regina Allen drill rig to her next job off West Africa.
Wilson Monsoon arrived Sunday night from Scotland, to collect the unused anchor gear that was to be used to anchor the Deep Panuke field production platform in Mulgrave. Since they are no longer needed, they are presumably going back to Scotland.
Sister ship Wilson Mistral delivered the anchors in July.
