Was Busy in the Basin this evening with the inbounds arriving prior to the outbounds heading out.
Anchored AFL New England (Center), Outbound Atlantic Companion, Inbound Itally Express (right)
OOCL Shanghai, Currently at anchor in the outer anchorage, is due tomorrow for Fairview. She is a new vessel server the the OOCL/Hapag-llyod Pacific East Coast Express service. Other recent additions were covered in a December Post.
Probably the most exciting news is that Halifax Express will Call in Halifax for the first time, March 19. I believe this will be a newly chartered vessel as i can find no record of her currently.
With Atlantic Compass entering the Narrows outbound, OOCL Antwerp and Oakland Express Had to wait in the inner harbour for her to pass. Large vessels are restricted one direction at a time due to the Narrow passage to avoid collisions. (This rule came into effect as a result of the 1916 Halifax Explosion)
AFL New England and Sichem Beijing Both arrived and went directly to anchor.
Presumably the winds were too high to Tie up.
OOCL Hong Kong, being considerably larger was able to tie up Without Issue.
SE Potentia Finishing unload wind turbine parts.
Gulf Spray removing garbage from the Cruise ships.
London Express Departing. in a fairly rare occurrence, OOCL New York Anchored in the basin this morning until she could clear the pier.
Tanker Afrodite at anchor – she is scheduled to move to IOL Later this afternoon.
Russian Research vessel AKADEMIK IOFFE at pier 27.
OOCL Hong Kong Spent an hour in the inner harbour yesterday afternoon, presumably due to an issue with bridge clearances. OOCL Vessels usually pass with 2-3m (6-9′) of clearance, so a particularly high tide could delay passage. Checking the Tide Tables for yesterday, the Tide was ebbing (declining), and an hour delay would only be about 20cm. (8″).
Ships are often held if there is a potential Jumper on the bridge. This also would result in traffic Being stopped.
The Fog has lifted, and the Sun is out, allowing me to capture London Express Tying up in front of Thailand Express this morning. Hapag-Lloyd and OOCL run a shared Service, Hence the OOCL Vessels With Hapag-Lloyd “Express” names.
Canada Express heading to Fairview Cove.
Transiting the Narrows.
The bulker Alice Oldendorf, Waits at anchorage 7 for the Outbound OOCL Hong Kong to clear the narrows. Large ships must take turns traversing the Narrows, to prevent collisions. Ships are required to contact Vessel traffic Services as they Cross the ferry track and Bedford Instute of Oceanography. VTS functions like air traffic control for ships in the harbour.
