2015 was another eventful year at the Port of Halifax

Incidents

Australian Spirit was towed to Portugal for repairs. Harefield also spent Considerable time at pier 9 waiting for a new rudder part after sustaining Ice Damage. She was Joined at Pier 9 by the Stadt Caditz who suffered engine troubles and also needed parts. Ex RCN Research vessel Cormorant took a List in Bridgewater, and Ex Sea Shepard Conservation Society vessel Farley Mowat sunk. Also worth a mention was the March Crash of AC624 at Halifax Airport.

New Ships

Svitzer Won the contract for tugs at Port Cartier, and imported Aussie Immigrants. They also won a contract for and imported Svitzer Nerthus And Njal.  The Former Greek Ferry, Canada 2014 became the Fundy Rose went on trials and in the summer took her place as the replacement for Princess of Acadia. The New Halifax Transit Ferry Craig Blake was delivered and went into service in the spring.

The much delayed Bluenose II – was finally open to the public  and sailed on her own. And the 2 new CCGS Hero class boats for the west coast sailed there under there own power.

Harbour Works

The New Hibernia Atlantic Express Cable was laid. Irving demolished and began reconstructing their wharf in woodside, and The Bridge Commissions’ big lift got under way, with the arrival of Barges
removal of the walkways, and the replacement of the first sections.

The Kings Wharf Harbour Taxi went into service.

Navy News

2015 saw visits from numerous foreign Naval vessels including the Submarine USS Virginia and the third LCS USS Milwaukee. US Coast guard Cutters USCGC Campbell  USCGC Bristol Bay  USCGC Morrow Bay and the First visit for a National Security Cutter USCGC James. French Rocket tracking ship FS MONGE  also stopped in avoiding weather. The PCTC Glovis Century tied up at pier 9 and unloaded Cars. This was to reduce her draft to load  a military cargo in Montreal. She picked up the cars on the way back.

Bigger Ships

CMA-CGM and the Oceans 3 Alliance add a stop in Halifax. This Service is responsible for setting the biggest Ship record, first with the CMA-CGM Vivaldi  , which lost to Hapag Llyods Budapest Express and Colombo Express Finally regaining it with the Arrival of the  USAC ZAMZAM

Retirements

The RCN Paid off HMCS Iroquois on may 1,The Nova Dock was sold, Cut in two, and towed to Tampa Florida. and ACL began retiring and scrapping their conro vessels as the new series come online. The First, Atlantic Star arrives the first week of January.