HMCS Windsor returned to halifax Harbour just past noon today. After Some addtional in water Quay side tests, she will proceed to conduct a series of sea trials. In the Top picture she has just been pulled off the Synchrolift. Bellow, the tugs are Positioning to move her along side the jetty.
The Marine Atlantic Ferry Highlanders arrived for its maintanace period this morning, Proceeding directly to the Nova Dock. Highlanders, and her Sister Blue Putties are named after Newfoundland regiments, and replaced Caribou and the Joseph and Clara Smallwood.
More (better) Pics at Shipfax
The Chronicle Herald is reporting that the navy will begin undocking HMCS Windsor from the synchrolift Wendsday morning at 6am. The Operation is expected to take about 6 hours to complete.
Photos to come tomorow morning.
Thursday brought the rollout of the Second Mid Shore Patrol Vessel, Corporal Kaeble VC. The First, Private Robertson VC, has been located outside the module shop for some time, as additional work is completed. She Has now been moved farther down the ways and tarpped to allow the next vessel to be painted.
There is no known date for the launch at the moment.
The Chronicle Herald is reporting that CBSA removed a stowaway from Atlantic Concert this Morning. This is The third time In recent memory stoways have been found on Atlantic Concert. Previous incidents on this vessel were reported in April 2009 and Febuary 2011 Photo Above from 0745 this morning.
Found this on Sea-Fever
The Following vessels are showing as confirmed at preceeding stops on the 2012 Tall Ships tour. As not all vessels make all the stops, it is likely that not all will visit Halifax.
Alliance
Lynx
Appledore V
Peacemaker
Bounty
Picton Castle
Pride of Baltimore II
Etoile
Roseway
La Belle Poule
Sir Martin II
Mystic Whaler
Unicorn
The Gazela
The Tree of Life
The Providence
Summerwind
Spirit of Massachusetts
UPDATE: The Following Tall Ships America Member Vessels are showing as appearing in Halifax.
UNICORN
SORCA
PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II
PICTON CASTLE
LYNX
EAGLE
BOUNTY
APPLEDORE IV
APPLEDORE V
Another first time caller (Kind of) to Halifax, Dallas Express arrived and tied up at Fairview Cove.
This Vessel is the former Antwerpen Express who was a regular in Halifax. She Emerged as Dallas Express early this year after emerging from Dry Dock in Hong Kong.
Best guess is that a new vessel will be named Antwerpen Express in the Near future.
The Protectur Class AOR’s were commisioned in 1970. Now over 40 years old, they are Long in need of replacement, and in 2006 the first RFP went out.
Act 1. “Aircraft Carriers”
Panned by the oposition and the media as Aircraft Carriers, the Joint support ship as originalay envisioned would serve not just the Replenishment Role, But would also feature a Hospital, Command and Control Capabilities, Helecopter Faclities, and a Landing Dock able to deploy vehicles.
Around the same time, the Dutch undertook a simalar program, and developed a simalar set of requirements. They Came up with the Karel Doorman class support ship. Canada Balked at the Cost, The Dutch Went ahead. The first Dutch vessel will be Delivered in 2014.
Act 2. “what do our friends use?”
With the JSS Now too expensive, The government went looking for Other options. They First found the Berlin Class, in use by the German Navy. They are mostly a traditional AOR, but have a hospital, can carry cargo, and have a flight deck. Option 2 was the Cantabria Class, in Use with the Spanish Navy. it is simalar in features to the Berlin Class, though slightly smaller. Negotiations to secure one of these designs for Canadian use failed, and with that, on to act 3.
Act 3. “Finally!?”
New Design Contracts were awarded to BMT Fleet Technology of Kanata, ON and TysenKrupp (TKMS). BMT will be designing a new vessel, which will likely be a a variation of their AEGIR-18 Design, while TKMS will offer a Modified version of the Berlin Class. The Winner of this Competition will be Built by the Vacouver shipyard under the National Ship Procurment Strategy.
The Bulker Anapa Anchored in Anchorage 1 Friday. The presence of a tug suggests she had to power down her engine. Vessels at anchor need to maintain a constant Anchor watch, and have power available in case the anchor begins to drag, or then need to move to avoid a collision.