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Atlantic Hawk - to the rescue

January 31, 2013, 12:00 pm
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1. Atlantic Hawk as built.

Reports have reached me that the anchor handling tug/supplier Atlantic Hawk has taken the drifting Lyubov Orlova in tow. The tug secured the wayward ex cruise ship last night (January 30).
Destination for the tow has not yet been made known to me, although I suspect it will be St. John's. I doubt that there will be much of a welcome mat extended there, since the ship languished in that port for two years after being abandoned by its owners. The resident rodent population may be happy to have its hotel back, although I am told it was fumigated at some point before sailing on its ill-fated tow behind Charlene Hunt.
There is some question now if the Charlene Hunt was bareboat chartered to Lyuobov Orlova's owners or actually purchased by them.The US Coast Guard's web site still shows that tug owned by Hunt Marine I LLC of Narragansett, RI..
Atlantic Hawk was built by Halifax Shipyards in 2000, and was the second of a pair of UT 722 AHTSs constructed for Atlantic Towing Ltd. It is powered by a pair of monster V-12 Ulstein Bergen engines developing a total of 14,400 bhp, driving CPPs in nozzles for a Bollard Pull rating of 157 tonnes. It is also bristling with thrusters.
Since the photo above it has added a 20 tonne Iron Fist crane and FiFi II fire fighting gear.
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New for McKeil

January 31, 2013, 5:42 pm
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Rumours are circulating that McKeil has acquired two tugs from Swire Pacific Offshore. Built in 1994 for Hong Kong Salvage & Towage Co Ltd, the former Mai Po and Shek O are 4,000 bhp stern drive anchor handling/supply tugs of 54.5 tonnes bollard pull.Currently named Pacific Tempest and Pacific Typhon respectively they are registered in Barbados, but operated through Swire's Singapore offices.
Built by Imamura Zosen in Kure, Japan, they are powered with Niigata main engines and Rexpeller stern drives. They also have bow and stern thrusters. These drive combinations are common in Asia, but virtually unheard of in Canada.
For spec sheets see: http://www.swire.com.sg/vessel_detail.aspx?code=TEP&status=0&class=14

For general arrangement:
While no doubt they are handy tugs, they will require considerable Canadianization I expect.
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Maersk Challenger - gets the hot potato

February 1, 2013, 5:24 pm
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The Lyubov Orlova tow off Newfoundland is like a hot potato game now, as the Port of St. John's in company with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has refused entry to the ship should it reach the coast.
According to press reports it is the Minister of Transport that is paying tugs to tow the ship around endlessly on the North Atlantic until they can determine what to do with it.
1. Maersk Challenger in Halifax in 2004.

At some point this evening the AHTS Atlantic Hawk is going to pass the tow over to another AHTS, the Maersk Challenger. Operated by The Maersk Company of Canada Ltd, it was built in 1986 at Orskov shipyard in Frederikshavn, Denmark, as Challenger III, becoming OIL Challenger in 1986, until acquired and re-named by Maersk in 1991. It came under Canadian flag in 2002, and has worked out of Halifax and St.John's.It is also a well equipped anchor handling/supply tug of 14,348 bhp. It is powered by four V-12 MAN engines through twin controllable pitch screws.
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Lyubov Orlova - one way to solve a problem

February 3, 2013, 3:42 pm
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It appears from press and private reports that Maersk Challenger was hired to tow the derelict and drifting Lyubov Orlova out beyond the 200 mile limit and let it go.
The last report I had about mid-day today was that the ship was 90 km outside the zone, 460km SE of St.John's.
It gives the term "deportation" a new meaning!
No port in Atlantic Canada wanted to be saddled with this ship, and the government didn't want to deal with it, since no compensation was likely forthcoming from its owners, and so decided to remove it from Canada.
I would certainly question the acceptability of shoving something unwanted out into international waters, where it either becomes nobody's problem or every body's problem. Canada can no longer claim that it takes the high road on environmental or other issues when it continues to take actions such as this. A few years back a ship was ordered out of Halifax when its cargo was found to be contaminated. It went out to sea, dumped the cargo overside, and returned to Halifax few days later - problem solved! 
Then there is the hazard to navigation issue. A derelict ship, will show up as  a radar target, but it would be just as effective as an iceberg if someone collided with it. What if the ship becomes partially submerged? Lets hope that mariners remain alert and vigilant enough to avoid it.
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Mega and Motti - en route

February 17, 2013, 5:55 am
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Groupe Océan's recently acquired articulated tug / barge combination Mega and Motti have reached Bermuda. They are hop-skipping across the Atlantic with stops so far in La Coruna, Spain and the Azores.
[reference Tugfax - December 17, 2012: http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2012/12/ocean-makes-move-into-atbs.html]
The pair were registered in Canada in December, but were soon chartered out under the flag of St.Vincent and the Grenadines for delivery by the Dutch company Redwise. Noted for making extreme delivery trips, Redwise seems to find no obstacles too severe for their experienced crews.
For more on Redwise, including their current deliveries see: http://www.redwise.nl/homepage.html
If you can read Dutch the Captain's progress reports probably make interesting reading:
http://www.redwise.com/page/mega-motti-weblog.html
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Beverly M 1 - new McKeil name

February 21, 2013, 4:22 pm
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McKeil Work Boats of Hamilton, ON has registered the first of its two newly acquired tugs in St. John's, NL. Beverly M 1  was registered February 20, and given official number 837218.
As usual documentation is incomplete, so we do not know which of the two recently purchased tugs this is, either the former Pacific Tempest or Pacific Typhoon.
Seehttp://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2013/01/new-for-mckeil.html for the original posting.
Stay tuned.
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Sandra Mary and pair of veteran scows

February 24, 2013, 1:31 pm
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Sandra Mary put in to Halifax today en route to a dredging job in southwest Nova Scotia., towing a pair of veteran mud scows.  Due to restrictions against double tows in Halifax harbour, Dominion Diving's tug Roseway went out and took over the tow of one of the scows.
All four vessels are veterans in fact. Sandra Mary was built by Russel Hipwell in Owen Sound in 1962 as Flo Cooper, a name she carried until 2000, through a variety of owners, starting with C.A.Pitts Construction, She is rated at 1360bhp on a single screw.
Roseway is a twin screw tug of 300 bhp, built originally for the Department of Public Works, but has been running for Dominion Diving since 1989.

Roseway took control of scow S.12, built in 1962 by Ocean Steel and Construction in Saint John, NB. as DPW No. 152. It measures 214.47 gross tons. It was renamed "s" for "scow" in 1995 when DPW disposed of its dredging fleet.

Sandra Mary kept towing S.11, which was built in 1977 by McNamara Corp in Whitby, ON as DPW No.77 - a name she still carries on her flanks thanks to welded letters. It was acquired by Beaver Marine, which was later taken over by McNally Construction.
Both scows are bottom dumping type (as opposed to the more modern split hopper type).
Sister tug to Sandra Mary, is Mister Joe which is being rebuilt over the winter in Belleville, ON.
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Craig Trans - writ has appeared

March 1, 2013, 4:59 pm
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In the last very few days what appears to be a Sheriff's arrest order has been posted in the wheelhouse window of Craig Trans. In the old days he would nail it to the mast, but that is no longer practical. However what it signifies is that a process of arrest and forced sale is underway.
It is not a quick process however, so it may be some time before an actual sale takes, place. In the meantime the ship is attached to shore power to keep it from freezing up.
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New tugs, new names

March 2, 2013, 4:16 pm
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Newly launched for Superport Marine of Port Hawksbury is the tug/workboat Strait Raven It was launched February 14 at the owner's own shipyard but has not been registered yet. It is reported to be heading for Newfoundland on contracted work.

Also new is Groupe Océan's latest ASD tug. Océan Pierre Julien was registered in Quebec City on February 22. The 204 gross tons, 3,000 kw tug is the latest in a series of small powerful harbour tugs built by the company's Industrie Océan yard in Ile-aux-Coudres, QC. It is expected to go into service in the spring, possibly in Montreal. The shipyard has now started work on the TundRA class escort tug.

Back under Canadian flag for the second time in as many years, but this time with a another new name is Atlantic Tern. When acquired by Atlantic Towing last year for support work it was given the very odd name Atlantic Birch II . It was almost immediately transferred to Barbados flag but was re-registered in St.John's February 26, 2013 with the much better name Atlantic Tern.
Built in 1975 as Canmar Supplier II, it was later Suppplier II, REM Supporter and Thor Supplier.
Atlantic Towing follows a naming policy of using tree names for its tugs and bird names for its suppliers. The old  tug Atlantic Birch has been laid up in Saint John for many years, and is not the same vessel as this one.


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Gulf Spray - sign of spring

March 6, 2013, 6:19 pm
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The hardworking tug Gulf Spray was hauled out on the IEL dock this week for a refit. After being "evicted" by public pressure from its long time home near the old CN Pier last year, the tug was laid up for the winter somewhere in the lower Burnside area.
Used for transferring garbage barges from cruise ships, the tug does useful work in the harbour. Built in Pictou in 1959 it was extensively rebuilt in 2007. It is a single screw tug with a fixed nozzle.
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Tamarack is back

March 7, 2013, 4:20 pm
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 1. Atlantic Tamarack comes alongside at pier 9.

The tug workboat Atlantic Tamarack arrived last weekend with the hopper scow HD7. Fleet mate Swellmaster also brought in the dredge Cranemaster, but returned to Saint John. All will be working at pier 6 on a major dredging and pier construction project for Halifax Shipyard.
Tamarack has become the dredge tender of choice for Harbour Development, although the old T-Boat Irving Chestnut is also in port. 
2. Irving Chestnut sits alongside as crews cut down the derrick scow Channelmaster at pier 9.
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Sandra Mary - will try again

March 11, 2013, 6:07 pm
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1. Engine humming at full speed, Sandra Mary pulls the Canadian Argosy past the Tall Ships Quay this morning.

Sandra Mary set out this morning for Digby towing the big derrick scow Canadian Argosy. However when they got outside conditions were too severe to make headway and they returned to port.
Owners McNally Construction, have been trying to get the rig to Digby for a week now, but conditions have just been too rough. High seas and headwinds would make progress nil, not to mention risking damage to the derrick and gear.
They may try again tomorrow.
2. Sandra Mary is a product of the famed Russel Bros shipyard in Owen Sound, ON, and is a proper little tug of traditional design.
3. The tug is fitted with a towing winch and has cutaway rails at the stern.
4. The tug/workboat Whitby is cradled on the deck and secured with braces for the sea trip.
5. The flotilla returns to pier 9 this afternoon.
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Sandra Mary - update

March 14, 2013, 6:36 pm
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Sandra Mary got underway late this afternoon with the derrick barge Canadian Argosy. (see previous post.) The delay in returning to sea may have been to repair some damage incurred during the prior attempt. - see previous posting.
Yesterday one spud was lowered and men were working on the other.
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Mega Motti update

March 14, 2013, 7:10 pm
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It appears from the excellent Redwise site that Groupe Océan's newly acquired tug/barge combo Mega/Motti has sailed from Bermdua.
Thanks to Google translate, I hacve this rough translation from the Captain's log:

Go or notgo.....

Ifyou lieto wait for aperiod of"beautiful"again,playscontinuedthe question: dowe ordo wenot now.Tomakethat choice, youobviouslyneeda weather report,that theentireperiod of thesailingroutespans.
Previouslyyoupreviouslylistenedto theweather reportsonthe radioand watchedmainly ontheprospects.Witha notebookand apencilwashastily"co-written" with thereader oftheweather.Oftenresultedin anillegiblescrawl, anda discussionwiththe helmsmanin thetrend:"I thinkitsnapsbackquitenicelyon".

Today theweatherandtheprospectsnicelyvia emailsentto the shipand printed.That discussionwiththehelmsmancanthereforebe omitted.That savesa lot of time!
Wealso of coursehavethe Internet,wherea range ofsites to seeareallweather forecastsshow.Think of it as"radar"but forthe sea.
And that,dear reader,then divesagainthe old problem of"go"or"nogo" on.Forhow many sitesyouvisit,there arealwaysdifferences.Sogetbacktodiscussion withtheofficer, "butanother siteshows that......."

Go or notgo........... butwehavenowgone!

E.Wiechmann

So it would seem that after several weeks of waiting for better weather, they are on their way!
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Swellmaster joins the pier 6 operation

March 16, 2013, 6:27 pm
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Swellmaster arrived today with a mud scow from Saint John and joined the crowd of equipment at pier 6. Work there is to include dredging and placing a gravel mat for nine new cribs to extend the pier area. Now at the pier are Channelmaster - reconfigured as a deck scow with two spuds, Cranemaster, mud scows HD-8 and HD-7 (which is now at pier 9-A) Atlantic Tamarack and Irving Chestnut, and the little scow Mighty Master. This is all the gear they need to start dredging, but it appears that there is a loading ramp is also under construction. This may be to bring in gravel for the mat.
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Leonard M gets new outlook on life

March 17, 2013, 6:48 pm
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 Clar Vautier photo used with permission.

McKeil Marine's tug Leonard M. is getting a new elevated wheelhouse while in refit in St.John's, NL.
Built as Point Halifax for Eastern Canada Towing in 1986 the tug seldom ventured outside of Halifax Harbour for many years, because it was not considered a great sea-boat.  However as newer tugs came on line it was used more and more outside, and in its last years with Svitzer/Ectug it ventured as far north as Hudson's Bay and Rankin Inlet and as far south as the Bahamas.
Built by McTay Marine in Bromborough, England, the tug is rated at 4,200 bhp with a pair of Ruston/English Electrics driving z-drives. It was the pioneering z-drive on the east coast of Canada and was built of very good stuff. In addition to the ship handling winch forward, it is fitted with a towing winch (enclosed in the deck house extension) stern roller and full towing gear. Its after deck was also sized to accommodate two 20 foot ISO containers.
Since being acquired by McKeil the tug has operated from the Great Lakes to Newfoundland and beyond in barge service, and it looks that will continue with addition of the bird house.
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It must be spring- Atlantic and Secunda expand

March 20, 2013, 4:50 pm
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There must be spring in the air as both Atlantic Towing Ltd and Secunda Marine Canada have added to their fleets.
Atlantic Towing Ltd have acquired a sister to last year's acquisition Atlantic Kestrel built as Jaya Supreme. The large anchor 12,000 kW anchor handling tug suppliers are the largest in the Atlantic fleet.
The ship to be acquired is under construction as Jaya Sovereign in Singapore for May 2013 delivery. See spec sheet here: http://www.jayaholdings.com/UploadedImg/1337165558_JayaSovereign_Anchor.pdf

Secunda Marine Canada* (through a Nova Scotia numbered company) has acquired the Scotian Sea from Havila Shipping ASA of Norway. Built as Rescue Saga, it has carried the name Havila Runde since 1998. Of 2,107 gross tons, it is powered by a pair of 3500 bhp Cats and is fitted with an azimuthing thruster forward, and transverse bow and stern thrusters. It was registered in Halifax today (March 20) in Halifax.
Find full specs and illustration at: http://www.havila.no/fleet/rrv/havila-runde
Could this spell the end of Sable Sea which has been laid up for months at pier 9A?

* Since being repatriated from ownership by McDermott International one year ago, Secunda Marine Services became Secunda Canada LP, doing business as Secunda Canada.
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Mega and Motti - successfully handed over

March 25, 2013, 4:55 pm
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The tug barge combo Mega and Motti arrived in Quebec City March 23 and were successfully handed over to Groupe Océan. (It is always good when the new owner accepts delivery!)
Thanks to our anonymous translator here is a summary of Capt. Wiechmann's (the delivery skipper's) last diary report:

The Mega Motti is alongside in the Vieux Port,Quebec and the
Dutchmen have successfully handed the vessel over to the new
owners, Groupe Ocean.The captain and the crew had a little
get together for a "end of voyage beer" which he described as
being "heeeel gezellig". There is really no precise English translation
for this dutch expression.Google translate makes it "very nice"
but that does not cut it, a pleasant atmosphere of camaraderie
would be closer.

The whole saga is on the Redwise site, for now, but will soon be gone: http://www.redwise.com/page/mega-motti-weblog.html. Their home page is: http://www.redwise.nl/homepage.html
 
We await transfer of flag from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and of course new names, and some made in Canada photos.
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Leonard M. - progress report

March 25, 2013, 5:48 pm
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Thanks to Capt. Clar Vautier I have more photos of the McKeil tug Leonard M. (ex Point Halifax) in St.John's acquiring its new elevated wheelhouse.





It appears that the tug's original single mast has just been plunked down atop the new wheelhouse. As one commentator observed, if she was thought to be a poor sea boat before, this will not help!

For reference purposes, here is Point Halifax, less than a month after entering service in Halifax harbour.


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Sharon M 1 to join Beverly M 1 at McKeil

April 5, 2013, 1:53 pm
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The latest acquisition by McKeil Marine was registered in St. John's today as Sharon M 1. She is the former Pacific Tempest, ex Mai Pobuilt in 1993 by Inamura Shipbuilding in Japan for Hong Kong Towing & Salvage and lately operated by Swire Group.
She joins sister Beverly M 1 ex Pacific Typhoon, ex Shek O, which was registered February 20.
The 4,000 bhp ASD tugs will likely be used with a pair of new barges under construction for McKeil at Glovertown Shipyard in Newfoundland. The barges, built in cooperation with Mammoet and Hunt's Transport, are to be used in construction of the huge new Hebron Gravity Base Structure at Bull Arm, NL. The 120 meter high concrete structure will eventually be placed in 93 meters of water on the Hebron oil field off Newfoundland. In the meantime it will take more than 2,000 workers and 132,000 cubic meters of concrete to build. Substantial quantities of aggregate, reinforcing steel and other materials will be needed, and they will be transported by these and other tugs and barges. Also at the Bull Arm site workers will assemble the accommodation topside structure. The topside production structures will be built overseas.
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