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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