German Naval Supply Ship FGS Bonn Arrived this morning for a port visit. She spent the past few days circling outside the harbour. Bonn is of the base design for the new JSS to be built under the NSPS.
German Naval Supply Ship FGS Bonn is currently approaching the Pilot stationExpect her in town in about 45min.
The German Replenishment ship FGS Bonn is currently outside the Harbour, and is likely here for a visit. Bonn is one of 3 Berlin Class AOR’s (Sister Frankfurt Am Main Has been to Halifax twice before) and the Model for Canada’s New Joint Support Ships.
UPDATE – She Appears to be circling and their is no Pilot Order. HMCS Ville De Quebec and Athabaskan are due to be exercising this week, and HMCS Summerside sailed this morning, so this may all be related.
UPDATE: A reader from Portuguese Cove emailed to say that this afternoon FGS Bonn
“sends a small RIB to meet with our Atlantic Willow Tug just off off Portuguese Cove today. The RIB then ,this afternoon, motors back out to the Bonn which then headed out to Sea. it is again seen on the AIS site circling about 30 nm South of Halifax before resuming a southerly course.
AIS shows it’s last port as Reykjavik and shows no destination.”
He also Provided the Photo Above. Given the previous destination, its possible Bonn embarked an Ice Pilot for the trip to Halifax.
USCGC Eagle, The US Coast Guards Tall ship is Here for a Visit. She will Tie up at the Cable wharf, And will be open for tours.
USS Nicholas (FFG-47)Put in to port today and headed right for the Oil dock at Imperial Oil for bunkers. this will be a short trip, she is shcheduled to depart later this afternoon.
USS Nicholas is a Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate, and was commisioned in 1983, and is named for Major Samuel Nicholas, the first commanding officer of the United States Marines. She is returning home from a deployment in the Medeterainian.
Halifax Airport tweeted that a Russian Tupolev154 will be landing around 4 pm at Halifax Stanfield Airport. This Flight was previously Announced by a DND Press release, though its landing here was not mentioned.
If you happen to be by the Airport, I’d love to See photos. (Above photo from Trentonian.ca)
The Release:
A Russian Federation aircraft will conduct aerial observation flights over Canada under the Treaty on Open Skies during the period July 17 to 19, 2013.
The unarmed Tupolev TU-154M aircraft, which arrived at 8 Wing Trenton today, will be accorded Russia’s legal right of unimpeded observation overflight of Canadian territory, in fulfillment of Canada’s obligations as a State Party to the Treaty on Open Skies. Using an array of onboard sensors, the aircraft can observe and verify objects of interest or concern, such as military sites, industrial centres, communications facilities and transportation hubs.
The Treaty on Open Skies, which entered into force on January 1, 2002, is a legally-binding accord that promotes increased confidence and transparency amongst its 34 States Parties. As Treaty co-depository with Hungary, Canada has exercised its Treaty rights by conducting observation flights over the Russian Federation, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This marks the ninth time a foreign State Party will have conducted an observation flight mission in Canada, the first having taken place in September 2004. Canadian military escorts and technical specialists will be aboard the Russian aircraft throughout the mission to ensure safety, security and compliance by monitoring imaging systems and strict adherence to the agreed observation flight route and profile.
Canada is a signatory to several security treaties, including those dedicated to the elimination, reduction or control of weapons of mass destruction, conventional armaments and equipment, and associated military forces. The Treaty on Open Skies is one example of how Canada exercises its commitment to reducing the threat of armed conflict by increasing trust and confidence though greater openness and transparency amongst states.
todays arrival of HMS Scott leads off a Busy week of Warship visits to Halifax.
Frigate USS Nicholas is an Oliver Hazzard Perry Class vessel, and was recently deployed in the medeteraininan. She is shceduled to tie up directly at IOL, and depart after fueling.
USCGC Eagle, The US Coast Guards tall ship is due on the 19th.
HMS Scott is a Survey vessel of the Royal Navy. Her task is to survey offshore for chart production. SHe has also been involved with the Royal Navys Antarctic Survey.
She was last here in April 2012
(above) JS Kashima Departs first, (below) JS Isoyuki and JS Shirayuki Follow.
The Third JMSDF vessel JS Isoyuki arrived just before 10 this morning. She headed straight to the dockyard, and Tied up next to JS Shirayuki.
(Above) Kashima, Shirayuki tied up along side prior to the arrival of Isoyuki
For the second time in recent memory, the JMSDF is on a world training tour, and making a stop in Halifax. The JMSDF undertakes to tours to give crews extended sea time. The three vessels arrived yesterday, and moved to the dockyard this morning. The ships Kashima, Shirayuki and Isoyuki will be in Halifax until Thursday, July 11.
(Above) JS SHIRAYUKI in the Anchorage this morning prior to moving to the dockyard. JS KASHIMA had already moved, but was here on the last trip August 2011.
The three-day port visit from the force’s Training Squadron is part of a five-month, 18-country tour fostering intercontinental goodwill.
As a part of the visit, local residents and media are invited to experience Japanese culture through world-class performances by the Squadron’s drum band at Grand Parade Square at 4 p.m. on July 9. Ship tours will be available to the public from 1:30-3:30 p.m. July 8-9 at Her Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard Halifax.
