Author Archives: Peter

About Peter

is a Blogger. Photographer. Longshoreman. IT Guy. also the brains behind HalifaxShippingNews.ca and BuiltHalifax.ca Personal site ziobrowski.net

Ngoni Gets Towed in.

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The British sailing yacht Ngoni was towed in by Captain Jim last night, and tied up at Purdy’s Wharf.From AIS Tracks, she was left Rhode Island, and apparently had an issue of Liscomb NS. She made her way to Halifax, and was towed into the harbour.

the name is from a lute like string instrument originating in West Africa

When I went by her today, someone was working on the radar.

Success in the future at Fundy Force?

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With the recent news of Cape Sharp Tidal’s troubles, it was interesting to see a report out of UK’s independent – about success in Scotland’s Tidal energy test site off Orkney.  Orkney features a 4-5m tidal range, which equates to 12-15 feet, or around 1/3 of the Fundy Force test Sites Tidal Range.

The Scotrenewables Tidal Power SR2000 turbine, produced 3GWh in its first full year in operation, including over the winter. the turbine is designed to float on the surface, and moored in place, with an inverted windmill like structure to generate power.

to my eye – this looks like a relatively simple system to deploy and maintain. also Good news for Fundy Force – DP Energy Canada plans to test one of these devices here in the future, and may prove to be the Redeemer of tidal energy in Nova Scotia after the failure of OpenHydro, and the Cape Sharp Tidal Partnership.

The Cape Sharp turbine, currently installed in the Bay of Fundy by the troubled Open Hydro is a large Doughnut shaped structure, with blades on the inside is designed to sit anchored to the ocean floor.

this appears to be a much more complex system, as the required sub sea infrastructure is significant, and all construction and maintenance activities require specialized barges, powerful tugs and divers.

3 other Projects are also in the works.

DP Canada also plans to test a Anchored Monopole turbine – think of it as a wind turbine, but mounted on the sea floor. this option will likely run into the problems of the Open Hydro turbine, but the advantage to mounted turbines on the sea floor is that they are invisible on the surface, and potentially less problematic for surface traffic.

Minas Tidal is looking to deploy Tocardo generators on a semi-submersable frame, moored to the seafloor. (above) This project is very similar to what was done in Scotland – the turbine is in commercial use already, Each unit is rated at 250MW – the trick for them will be to find a configuration and logistical solution that works.  the example above, deployment is accomplished by floating the entire assembly horizontally, then submerging it into the proper orientation.

Sustainable Marine Energy or SME, is preparing a test turbine for installation in DIgby Neck.  they also had a turbine installed at the Scottish test site. Black Rock Tidal is owned by the turbine maker, and is looking to commercialize this technology in Canada.  SME’s project will deploy a PLAT-I tidal energy platform hosting four SCHOTTEL HYDRO SIT 250 turbines. this turbine is a moored floating structure, with the turbines placed in the water below.

the ultimate installation is project to look like the image below. Of note, the Plat-I test platform arrived on the Atlantic Sky, on July 4.

 

The Floggings will Continue until they are Historically Accurate – the News #15

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if you like HalifaxShippingNews.ca, consider becoming a member. 2$ a month really helps cover costs, and in return you get the site Ad Free.  For latest port conditions, Including Weather,Wind, Tides, Arrivals and Departures be sure to visit the Port Report (Members get the information in realtime, not every 2 hours)

News

1. The Floggings will Continue..
the National Post reports on the case of 2 rival Pirate troupes who have a disagreement over the carriage of floggers.

2. Frigate Upgrades
Janes is reporting that DND is buying an additional decoy launcher for the stern of the the Halifax Class Frigates. the ships are already equipped with 2, one on each bridge wing.

3.Dead Tree.
I had an article in yesterdays Chronicle Herald. You can find it Online .  Continued updates on the grounding will be posted at https://halifaxshippingnews.ca/2018/08/akademik-ioffe-runs-aground.html

Movements

Bluenose is in Boston. HMCS Kingston returned from OP Nanook in the North. Cruise Ship Anthem of the Seas turned around off Herring Cove last week while outbound to drop off a sick passenger.

Interesting

MOB Drill

History

Sept 2, 1998 –  Swiss Air Flight 111 crashed near Peggy’s Cove, NS. All 229 aboard were killed.
Sept 1, 1985 – An expedition led by Dr Robert Ballard located the wreckage of TITANIC
Aug 30 1943 – HMCS Haida is Commissioned. She is now a Museum operated by Parks Canada in Hamilton.
Aug 29, 1942 – 1st course of 67 probationary ‘Wrens” for the newly created Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service begins at Kingsmill House, in Ottawa.
Aug 27, 1960 – Replica of HMS Bounty launched at Lunenburg. She was built  for the MGM movie staring Marlon Brando. She Sank in a hurricane in 2012.

Labour Day Weekend Traffic

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With Monday being Labour Day, the port is basically closed. the Cruise Ship Veendam is the only scheduled caller today.  Several vessels were able to work on Saturday and Sunday

CMA CGM Loire, and Arica made stops at Halterm on Saturday. Loire operates on CMA-CGM’s Columbus Loop Service. Arica, also a CMA-CGM vessel is running on the Maersk SL1 service.

Sunday saw MOL Paramount, YM Express and Breivik Bridge Call at Fairview Cove.

(Above) COSCO shipping bulk carrier Tao Hua Hai took bunkers at anchorage 1, then sailed for Corpus Christi Texas with a load of Iron Ore from Sept-IIes Quebec.

(below) Atlantic Huron finishes loading at National Gypsum, before sailing for Bayside NB. on Sunday the Harmen Oldendorff loaded, and sailed for Baltimore. 

 

First AOPS to be Delivered in October?!

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Post media is reporting that the Federal Government is expecting the first AOPS to be delivered the First week of October. this is a feat, as its only expected to be launched in September.

Curiously, Last week the Halifax Examiner quoted Sean Lewis, Communications director for Irving Shipbuilding

We are on schedule to launch the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, late September 2018.  Harbour acceptance tests and trials have started and will continue, along with further outfitting, over the next several months. The first AOPS is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy in summer 2019.

As of yesterday, the Hull was still tarped off for final painting

Akademik Ioffe Runs Aground in the Arctic.

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The Russian icebreaker Akademik Ioffe, operated for One Ocean Expeditions, ran aground in the Arctic on August 24. the ship left Kugaaruk, Nunavut, on Thursday the 23rd, before grounding in the Gulf of Boothia in the early afternoon Friday.

AIS tracks show the path of the Ship

JRCC dispatched Aircraft from Trenton and Winnipeg, but they arrived on scene 7 hours later. Coast Guard Icebreakers Amundsen and Pierre Raddison also responded, however the closest vessel was the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, also operating for One Ocean Expeditions. Passengers were evacuated by the The Passengers were taken back to Kugaaruk, then flown to Edmonton. Arriving on the 27th.

the Akademik Ioffe was refloated the day after she ran aground. Catherine Lawton, One Ocean Expeditions’s general manager told that CBC that “The hull damage was limited and contained to closed, empty tanks, which are secure from the rest of the ship,” Lawton said. “Those are actively being managed.”  Being managed is a subtle way of saying they are pumping water, meaning the hull is breached. 6 days after the grounding, the ship remains anchored away from the grounding site. The ships owners – the Russian Academy of Science, have yet to file a salvage plan, causing the Coast Guard and Transport Canada to take control of the ship August 28th in order to complete all required inspections and develop a plan to get the ship to its next destination safely

One Ocean has canceled the next 2 tours for the ship, and now that the passengers have returned home, refered all enquireies to the ships owners.

Among the people on board the ship when it grounded was researcher Dr. Donglai Gong who tweeted photos about the experience

Yale also produced this Article about the Experience. In 2010, the Clipper Adventurer also ran aground on a Discovered, but uncharted shoal. the TSB released a report into that incident.

Updates to this story will be posted Here

UPDATE 08/31:

Still no news. and inquiry to the Coast guard referred me to Transport Canada – who have not yet responded. A source told me he heard the vessel was surveyed yesterday by divers.

the ice situation looks interesting.

Note the Location of Nanisivik , in the top left corner of the Ice Chart below. Nanisivik is the site of the slowly under development permanent Arctic naval Base – and a perfect location to base an arctic response capability.

for the ship to leave the area, she will likely have to pass through the Fury and Hecla Straight, which is fully iced over. Additionally, the Louis St. Laurent, is headed to Bellot Straight to free the Claude Desgagnes

Update Sept 4
CBC Interviewed Ed Struzik – at 8 minutes its a good listen.

I also Have this Piece in the Chronicle Herald about the grounding and its response.

Update Sept 5

The TSB tweeted this photo (above), which seems to show the ship floating at anchor at close to a regular waterline. I hear the damage is relatively minor – there are  no big holes.

Update Sept 6

It looks like the Pierre Radisson was re-assigned. Her last position was in the Lancaster sound earlier today. There is now no government presence on site, unless TC has someone Aboard the ship.

Update Sept 7
CBC is reporting that the RCAF response cost $513,000

UPDATE Sept 12.

It looks like the Ioffe has sailed, and appears to be Unaccompanied. AIS Data is showing that she has moved from her anchored position earlier today.

Update Sept 13:
Word is repairs are complete. she sailed for Kugaaruk, where she will meet an inspector – Presumably TC is Flying someone in. Once Cleared, she will head to Montreal.

Update Sept 17:
TC has cleared the Ioffe to sail, and she will be escorted through the Ice by CCGS Henry Larsen, bound for Les Mechins PQ, where Verreault Navigation has a large dry dock.