Harbour Photos this Week: October 24-28

Riding in HMCS SACKVILLE back to the Dockyard (covered in a separate post) was definately the high point of my week, photography wise, but there were a few other things to catch my camera's attention. I will start with some incidental photos taken during SACKVILLE's transit.

HMCS ATHABASKAN as viewed from SACKVILLE upon returning to the Dockyard.

HMCS ATHABASKAN as viewed from SACKVILLE upon returning to the Dockyard.

Ex-HMCS IROQUOIS awaiting disposal.

On Tuesday, there was some more naval action when ATHABASKAN and ST. JOHN'S left to participate in Exercise Spartan Warrior. 

HMCS ATHABASKAN.

HMCS ATHABASKAN.

HMCS ST. JOHN'S.

HMCS ST. JOHN'S recovering a RHIB.

Wednesday I was in meetings in Dartmouth, and didn't get to see what was in the harbour, but on Thursday the French Navy's offshore patrol vessel BOUGAINVILLE departed. She had been visiting the Dockyard for the week.

FNS BOUGAINVILLE.

FNS BOUGAINVILLE.

FNS BOUGAINVILLE.

In a relatively rare occurence, there were two cruise ships overnighting on the seawall on Thursday, and the Port of Halifax was kind enough to tweet this news to area photographers. I didn't get the best photos, but here they are:

AIDAmar in the foreground, with the NSPI headquarters to the right.

Carribean Princess and AIDAmar on the seawall Thursday night.

There were also some interesting sunrises and other cloud effects this week, two of which I captured and will show here.

Imposing clouds over the two harbour lighthouses on Tuesday afternoon.

Maple Leaf flag flying from the stern of CSS Acadia.

I will finish with a photo that wasn't taken this week, but which I finally got around to processing this week.

Carnival Sunshine and Amadea arriving on October 21.

HMCS SACKVILLE returns to HMC Dockyard 2016

All good things must come to an end, and so it was that SACKVILLE ended her season on the Halifax waterfront and returned to HMC Dockyard on Monday October 24. I was able to ride along, so I took a few photos.

SACKVILLE's reflection before we left her summer berth.

Pulling out into the stream.

View from the gun shield.

Navy pilot and CO Jim Reddy on the bridge.

Merrickville crew member.

Tug crew.

Navy pilot and CO Jim Reddy on the bridge.

The Navy pilot on the bridge.

Tying up in the Dockyard.,

Framed by SACKVILLE's whaler, Ex-HMCS IROQUOIS laid up awaiting disposal. She will soon be towed to Liverpool, NS, for breaking up.

HMCS KOOTENAY Gearbox Explosion

On October 23, 1969, the Royal Canadian Navy suffered its worst peacetime accident when HMCS KOOTENAY's starboard gearbox exploded during full power trials off the coast of Britain. The lessons learned from this event continue to shape the RCN's approach to damage control to this day. To commemorate this event, a service was held in Halifax on Friday, October 21, 2016.

I assembled an article between 2007 and 2009 on this event, and it appears on the Hazegray and Underway website.

I have been interested in naval powerplants for some time now, and the Y100 powerplant used by the Royal and Royal Canadian Navies between the 1950's and 1990's in particular. As an engineer, the accident in KOOTENAY in itself is a lesson for designers - a component part should never be able to be easily installed improperly in such a way that it can cause a catastrophic failure.

Follow the link.

The ruptured starboard gearbox of HMCS KOOTENAY.

HMCS PRESERVER paid off

HMCS PRESERVER was paid off during a ceremony on Friday afternoon, October 21, 2016. Unfortunately, I missed it almost entirely, and only arrived as the Stadacona Band were marching off the jetty.

Stadacona Band marching off the jetty.

The former HMCS PRESERVER.

PRESERVER will presumably be stripped and sold to be broken up in the near future. She and her previously sold sistership PROTECTEUR (currently being broken up in Liverpool, NS) are due to be replaced by two ships of the QUEENSTON class which are to be built by SeaSpan on the west coast, however, they are several years away and construction has not yet begun. An interim supply ship is being converted from the civilian cargo ship MS Asterix as part of Project Resolve, which will enter service earlier.

Royal Canadian Mint unveils new coin in HMCS SACKVILLE

On Thursday October 20, 2016, HMCS SACKVILLE hosted the Royal Canadian Mint as they unveiled a new two dollar "toonie" coin on the Halifax Waterfront. The coin is intended to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. SACKVILLE was dressed overall for the occasion.

HMCS SACKVILLE "dressed overall", with signal flags running from bow to stern, in addition to the naval jack at the bow, the naval ensign at the stern, and the courtesy Maple Leaf on the mast. SACKVILLE flies the jack and ensign of the Second World War, and not their modern equivalents.

Looking aft from the bow. The flags certainly add some colour to the scene!

There were a number of special guests invited to help with the unveiling.

VIP visitors arriving on the pier.

One such guest was Rear-Admiral John Newton, the current Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic.

Rear-Admiral John Newton salutes Jim Reddy, CO of SACKVILLE, as he boards. The former's face is unfortunately obscured by my copyright watermark.

The unveiling itself occurred in the after accommodation space in the bow of the ship, while some members of the Stadacona Band were set up in the forward accommodation space to provide some music for the event.

Members of the Stadacona Band in the forward accommodation space.

A number of speeches preceded the unveiling of a mock-up of the coin.

Jim Reddy, CO of SACKVILLE.

Kirk MacRae, Board Member of the Royal Canadian Mint.

Steve Wessel, President of the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The coin mock-up is unveiled (I was standing in the wrong spot and missed the actual unveiling). From left to right: Rear Admiral Newton, Steve Wessel, Kirk MacRae, and Jim Reddy.

Rear Admiral Newton making a point after the unveiling.

Sea Cadets were also present for the unveiling.

Two Sea Cadets and Rear Admiral Newton watch a short film about the Battle of the Atlantic.

Among the VIPs gathered for the unveiling were four very special guests, veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic.

From left to right: Norman Crewe (Canadian Merchant Navy, Captain Earle Wagner (Canadian Merchant Navy), Captain Angus McDonald (British Merchant Navy, and J. Vernon Toole (RCN).

From left to right: Norman Crewe (Canadian Merchant Navy, Captain Angus McDonald (British Merchant Navy, J. Vernon Toole (RCN), Kirk MacRae (Mint), and Captain Earle Wagner (Canadian Merchant Navy).

From left to right: Rear Admiral John Newton (RCN), Norman Crewe (Canadian Merchant Navy, Captain Angus McDonald (British Merchant Navy, J. Vernon Toole (RCN), Kirk MacRae (Mint), and Captain Earle Wagner (Canadian Merchant Navy).

For the design of the coin, the Mint turned to Lunenburg artist Yves Berube, who has previously provided the design for the Naval Centennial coin (as well as coins commemorating the Titanic, the Empress of Ireland, and other ships and events). Mr. Berube was present for the unveiling.

Lunenburg artist Yves Berube whose artwork appears on the coin (his initials appear to the right of the coin).

From left to right: Norman Crewe (Canadian Merchant Navy, Captain Earle Wagner (Canadian Merchant Navy), Yves Berube, J. Vernon Toole (RCN), and Captain Angus McDonald (British Merchant Navy).

From left to right: Norman Crewe (Canadian Merchant Navy, Captain Earle Wagner (Canadian Merchant Navy), Yves Berube, J. Vernon Toole (RCN), and Captain Angus McDonald (British Merchant Navy).

After the event was over, I took the opportunity to trade in one of my old toonies for one of the 5 million Battle of the Atlantic toonies that went into circulation on Thursday. At white tent was set up at the foot of the pier, and this is where the first of the new coins became available in Canada.

The Mint's coin exchange tent set up at the foot of SACKVILLE's pier, where the new coin could be obtained after it was unveiled.

I will finish up with two more photos of SACKVILLE dressed in flags.

Note: Thanks to the Royal Canadian Mint's press release for the names of the veterans present at the unveiling, and to HMCS SACKVILLE for having me onboard for the unveiling.