MV Asterix returns to port

MV Asterix, the replenishment vessel currently leased to the Royal Canadian Navy by Federal Fleet, returned to port on Wednesday evening, and I had enough warning that I was able to get out onto the Macdonald Bridge to get some photos. Asterix is the RCN's interim replenishment vessel, converted by the Davie Shipyard from the hull of a commercial tanker and with a custom-designed aft superstructure that was built in Scandinavia and shipped over to be joined to the hull. It is a nifty solution to provide the RCN with a capability that they would otherwise have to wait several more years to regain, with construction of the two new purpose-built replenishment vessels still underway on the west coast. 

MV Asterix arriving in the background with Scotia Pilot in the foreground.

As Asterix headed up the harbour, she was joined by two tugs, and the setting sun broke free from some cloud and illuminated the ship most splendidly. Asterix had been at sea for several days providing a training opportunity to HMCS FREDERICTON.

This is the sort of light that photographers spend all their time chasing, so I was especially fortunate that it came our just as I needed it that evening.

CMA CGM Marco Polo visits Halifax

Monday saw the inaugural visit to Halifax of the CMA CGM Marco Polo, the largest yet container vessel to visit the port (she will similarly be the largest to visit several other ports along the Eastern Seaboard in the coming weeks). Although some other ship watchers in the area managed to catch the ship on it way into port, I wasn't so lucky, and had to make do by taking some photos of her alongside from a vantage point in Dartmouth early on Monday morning after sunrise.

Marco Polo alongside at Halterm near Point Pleasant Park, taken from Woodside.

Marco Polo as seen from Shearwater.

The latter viewpoint here afforded a slightly better angle, not only with better lighting, but without one of the Halterm piers getting in the way. Some people have commented that they can't quite tell how bit the ship is from these photos, so perhaps this next photo provides a better perspective.

Marco Polo at the south end of the main Halterm seawall - she is being serviced by all three of the new, larger, container cranes installed specifically for these larger classes of container ship. There is just enough room ahead of her for another, smaller, container vessel.

This new generation of container vessel is larger than previous generations, such that it can't fit under the Halifax Harbour bridges, and the bridge superstructure has moved forward - presumably to allow better visibility forward. 

I was hoping to catch the ship's departure on Monday evening, but I misjudged my timing, and only caught her after she had already left the seawall. Better than no photo at all, I guess. 

Marco Polo departing Halifax.

Marco Polo passing McNab's Island.

Dartmouth Viewpoints for Harbour Shipspotting

My typical viewing locations to keep track of harbour shipping are either on the harbour ferry or somewhere along the Halifax waterfront, but COVID-19 means I'm supposed to stay closer to home, and I have no need to commute to the office currently - so I have had to try out a few new locations.

The first is thankfully a short walk from home, near the little gazebo on the Dartmouth Common. 

Atlantic Sun

It from here that I captured the arrival of ACL/Grimaldi's Atlantic Sun last Sunday, May 9th. Facing south, the lighting is not always optimal, but if you time it right you can get the Maple Leaf flag flying at Alderney in the frame. 

Atlantic Sun

You also get a slightly elevated view of ships in the harbour, and the Halifax skyline shows up better behind some of the bigger ships. Because it is a longer walk, it is a bit more difficult to time with ship passages, but if you are after an elevated view of the harbour then the pedestrian walkway on the Macdonald Bridge is even more spectacular. 

Atlantic Sun.

I was chasing shots of Atlantic Sun heading out to sea, but I was not quite quick enough, and she passed under the bridge before I could get on the main span.

Atlantic Sun

By watching the harbour traffic on my Marine Traffic phone app, I could see that the ship was departing the Fairview Cove container terminal, and was able to walk/run down to the bridge. I wasn't quite in time, but still managed to get some good shots of the ship's departure, and with the beautiful dawn light as a nice bonus. It was from here that I could see that the raised lettering indicating the ship's original port of registry, Liverpool (England), have been painted over and a new port of registry (Valleta) has been painted underneath. 

Atlantic Sun

The bridge definitely provides some angles you just can't replicate without a drone. Presumably the view on the bridge's bike path is also nice, but I haven't dusted off my bike in too many years. And due to COVID-19, people from Dartmouth have been asked not to go to Halifax, so I was careful not to cross the entire bridge. 

Atlantic Sun

Atlantic Sun

Atlantic Sun

On Saturday night, I noticed that sistership Atlantic Sky was inbound, so I ran down to get some photos of her too. 

Atlantic Sky

Atlantic Sky

Atlantic Sky

Atlantic Sky

Atlantic Sky

Atlantic Sky

It is definitely impressive to have a ship of this size pass directly underneath you. I also timed my visit well last night, as a RHIB launched from MV Asterix and headed into the Dockyard. 

Navy RHIB launched from MV Asterix

Navy RHIB launched from MV Asterix

Navy RHIB launched from MV Asterix

Navy RHIB launched from MV Asterix

Another spot I have recently discovered is the parking lot up behind the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. You have to shoot through a chain link fence, but this isn't a problem with a sufficiently long telephoto lens. This has prove useful to capture Margaret Brooke on sea trials last weekend, and then CCGS Hudson this weekend. Hudson is approaching her 60th birthday - she launched in 1963 and commissioned in 1964. Originally built for the Canadian Hydrographic Service, she was absorbed into the Coast Guard fleet some years ago. Her replacement is apparently under construction on the West Coast. 

CCGS Hudson

CCGS Hudson

Another spot I sometimes try is the Dartmouth shore of the harbour narrows, in front of a building in which I used to live. In this case, I timed it just right, and guessed that Hudson was heading this way after she left the Basin (rather than going back alongside at BIO). As an aside, I'm not sure I would feel comfortable using the port-a-potties hanging off the side of the McKay Bridge (the grey boxes right above the ship's stern). Especially if it was a windy day.

CCGS Hudson

CCGS Hudson

CCGS Hudson

Future HMCS MARGARET BROOKE on sea trials

The second of the Royal Canadian Navy's new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV) started builder's trials this week. The future HMCS MARGARET BROOKE, AOPV 431, left the pier at Halifax Shipyard on Thursday and headed into Bedford Basin under escort by a tug in case of trouble. 

MARGARET BROOKE on trials in Bedford Basin.

The ship has since headed out to sea and continues trials with a tug nearby. The first of class, HARRY DEWOLF, underwent a longer series of trials in Bedford Basin before heading to sea, which may have been a combination of caution with the first of the new ships as well as being necessary to familiarize crew with the operation of the first of class. 

Technically, the ship has neither had her naming ceremony nor her commissioning ceremony, and still needs to be handed over to the Navy. Only once all those steps are completed can the new ship properly be called HMCS MARGARET BROOKE. Her elder sistership, HARRY DEWOLF, is scheduled to commission this summer, and until then is properly called "future HMCS HARRY DEWOLF". The RCN has decided to simplify things in the interim, and usually just refers to the ship as HMCS HARRY DEWOLF in press releases and on social media.

Part 2 of my piece on HARRY DEWOLF, and an interview with her CO, appears in the May 2021 issue of Warships IFR Magazine - it is out now in the UK. The April issue, with Part 1, should appear shortly on Canadian shelves (assuming it hasn't already). 

HMC Dockyard Syncrolift

Originally designed and installed in the 1960s for the RCN's Oberon class submarines, the Syncrolift in HMC Dockyard (it is attached to FMF Cape Scott and their submarine maintenance building) has been upgraded over the years - in both length and lifting capacity - to allow it to lift the Navy's Halifax class frigates and Iroquois class destroyers. 

HMCS TORONTO is currently up on the Syncrolift - a platform suspended between an array of 180 and 280 ton winches (which are under the light blue covers running along each side of the lift platform). The 280 ton winches are located midships (the heaviest portion the ship) while the 180 ton winches are arranged towards the bow and stern. 

While a Halifax class ship comes in at around 5,000 tonnes, 134 metres long, and 16.4 metres wide, the next generation of RCN frigate - the proposed Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) - is going to be a bit larger. Those ships, based on the British Type 26 design, will be almost 8000 tonnes, 150 metres long, and 21 metres wide. 

I'm guessing that this will exceed the design parameters for the Syncrolift as it is currently configured, and wonder if another upgrade is planned (assuming it is possible to do so).