Pacific Constructor

The impressive SMPV (Subsea Multipurpose Vessel) Pacific Constructor made a brief stopover in Halifax today (July 31) en route to the Sable Offshore. The ship has apparently been deployed from the Pacific Ocean as its last stop was given as the Pacific anchorages of the Panama Canal.

Operated by Swire Pacific Offshore, it is a 8133 grt, 14,946 bhp ship built in 2014 by Kleven Ulsteinvik. Among its many features is the heli deck for a Sikorsky S-92, a 250 tonne heave compensated crane and all the gear to house and deploy an ROV.

The structure on the after deck carries the name of Ocean Infinity a US/UK outfit that operates dozens of marine robotic vessels used for underwater inspections. Their black and yellow colour scheme is carried on one of their devices which appears on deck.

When built the ship was named Olympic Boa but was renamed Olympic Athene briefly in 2016, then Seabed Constructor when acquired by Swire. It was renamed again the first of this year.

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Big Tug, Big Tow

The 15,500 bhp tug Avalon Sea got underway this afternoon towing the barge BOA Barge 37. The tug was built in 2016 by Remontowna Gdanska in Poland and is equipped for a variety of tasks including anchor handling, ice management and standby.

At first the tug, towing the semi-submersible barge BOA Barge 37, headed from its Pier 9C berth to Bedford Basin where there was more room to turn.

With assistance from Atlantic Fir (stern) Atlantic Willow ( starboard quarter) and Atlantic Oak the tow was turned in about 40 acres or less.

The tow was then straightened out for passage under the MacKay bridge.

Destination is Mulgrave, NS where the barge will be used to carry a new crane to Argentia, NL where it will be stored until next year for installation on the Hibernia gravity base oil production and storage centre. The crane was to have been installed this year by the crane ship Thialf but time ran out for a variety of reasons, including COVID-19.

Maersk Cutter outbound

The tugs Maersk Cutter and Maersk Detector finally got away late this afternoon. Their departure had been scheduled for mid-morning, but something held them up.

In the final configuration it was Maersk Cutter towing the BOA Barge 34. 

Atlantic Towing Ltd brought in two tugs, Atlantic Hemlock and Atlantic Larch to assist with the tow and operations at sea. The Maersk Detector was well out ahead traveling independently, but in company.

The flotilla is headed for the Deep Panuke gas field off Sable Island where decommissioning operations are well underway. The barge will load the 25,000 tonne Thebaud Production Field Centre and move it to Mulgrave, NS where it will be stored until a decision is made on its re-use.

Meanwhile at Deep Panuke the crane vessel Thialf has removed several of the other structures. The first of seven barge loads has recently arrived in Teesbay, England with the tug Princess towing the barge H-591. Able UK will be scrapping the structures.

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More Big Tugs

Big offshore anchor handling tugs are working out of Pier 9C these days. Maersk Cutter, 6490 gt, built in 2015 has been in and out apparently for some big plow anchors.

Another biggie that arrived today is a recent arrival to Canadian ownership. Horizon Arctic 8143 gt, was built in 2016 in two steps. The hull came from the Vard shipyard in Tulcea, Romania and the ship was completed by Brattvaag as Bourbon Arctic. It was re-registered in St.John's March 13, 2020.

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BOA Odin

Back in Halifax for the first time since 2015, the tug BOA Odin arrived June 19 from Storasund, Norway, towing the semi-submersible heavy load barge BOA Barge 34.

Built in 2010 to a Robert Allen design the tug is rated at only 4083 bhp but claims a bollard pull of 97 tonnes (fore winch) and 105 tonnes (aft winch). The tug has GE main engines and Schottel ASD drives. Despite looking like a harbour tug, it has made numerous transatlantic crossings towing barges.

In 2015 the tug was in Halifax on two occasions when it towed the sections of the former Novadock floating drydock to Tampa, FL on the BOA Barge 33.
Seehttp://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.com/search?q=boa+odin

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Maersk Maker back to Denmark

After a very short duration under Canadian flag the large offshore tug / supplier Maersk Maker has returned to the Danish registration. Built in 2019 under Danish International registration the tug was transferred to Canada February 4, 2020 for work in Newfoundland. However that work was apparently cancelled and it was then sent to Nova Scotia. It was in and out of Halifax for work related to the decommissioning of Exxon Mobil's Sable Offshore gas field, possibly setting anchors for the crane ship Thialf, then in supply/support.

http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2020/04/maersk-maker-at-pier-9c.html

It has been replaced in that project by Maersk Mobiliser another vessel of the same Starfish class of 260 tonne bollard pull.

Maersk Maker returned to St.John's, Newfoundland, via Bay Bulls, then sailed from St.John's May 16 for Aberdeen, Scotland. On arrival its Canadian registry was closed June 4 (effective June 1). It returned to Danish International registry and will be working in the North Sea spot market.

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Atlantic Tern and Siem Commander

Atlantic Towing Ltd operates a varied fleet of suppliers, mostly based in Newfoundland, and including some newish vessels. One not so new boat is the Atlantic Tern, based in Halifax.

Built in 1975 by Vito Steel Boat and Barge of Delta, BC, it worked for Canadian Marine Drilling in the Beaufort Sea as Supplier II and Canmar Supplier II until 1998 when it went to the North Sea as Rem Supporter until 2005 and Thor Supplier until 2012. (It was also extensively modified.)

When Atlantic Towing Ltd acquired the boat they initially named it Atlantic Birch II. Atlantic's harbour and coastal tugs are typically named for trees and their offshore tugs are named for birds. Since the boat was assigned to the offshore, it was soon renamed Atlantic Tern.

Although fitted with engines providing 7,040 bhp, it seldom needs all that power. It does carry small amounts of supplies but spends most of its time in offshore standby mode at the Deep Panuke gas field off Sable Island.

Sailing for the same destination at the same time was Siem Commander, followed soon after by Maersk Mobiliser (not pictured).

The wells in the field are currently being capped and the structures removed by Heerema's giant crane ship Thialf  It will load the scrap material aboard company barges which will be towed to the UK by company tugs.

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