East is East and West is West

The twain did meet in Halifax today with Atlantic Kingfisher and Pacific Constructor at pier 9C.

As previously posted Pacific Constructor with ROV was likely here for some well capping work off Sable Island.

Owners are Swires, one of the old established European / Hong Kong companies, with many business interests in the far east.

Atlantic Towing on the other hand is part of the J.D.Irving companies based in Saint John, NB.

Atlantic Kingfisher was built in 2002 by Halifax Shipyard, another J.D.Irving company. It is normally based in Newfoundland, and was also here in connection with the same well decommissioning project.

.

Articulate tug

The articulated tug / barge combination Leo A. McArthur / John J.Carrick arrived with another load of asphalt for McAsphalt Industries in Eastern Passage. Although the tug is equipped to tow if necessary, it rarely separates from the barge, even in rough seas.

The pair usually call a couple of times at least each paving season. The tug was built in 1908 as Victorious and was renamed in 2017.  Its fleet mates tug / barge Everlast / Norman McLeod do not venture this far east anymore, but seem to be confined to the Great Lakes. 

They are the only articulated tug/ tanker barges in regular service in eastern Canada. When competitor Irving Oil needs to transport asphalt they use the US flag tug Coho / barge Penn No.92 under a coasting license.

.

Rig Move

Offshore drilling oil rigs are becoming a rare sight these days as there are no active offshore oil  or gas fields and no plans for drilling any new ones. Therefore today's arrival may be the last for a while. Noble Regina Allen has completed its work plugging five gas wells in the Deep Panuke field off Sable  Island and arrived in port this morning.

The jack-up rig and was towed in by Atlantic Kingfisher and Siem Commander assisted in the harbour by Atlantic Fir, Atlantic Oak, and Atlantic Willow.

Atlantic Kingfisher cast off first and headed for Pier 9C.

Siem Commander followed later after the rig was alongside the IEL dock.

.

Firebird's new home

The former HMC Dockyard fireboat Firebird has found a new home on the west coast of Newfoundland. I recently received some pictures showing it doing pilot transfer and ship assist work in Lower Cove for the US flag self-unloading bulk carrier Donald M. James as it took on a load of limestone for Jacksonville, FL.

Built in 1978, the Firebird was declared surplus in 2014 a few years ago and acquired by Sealand Shipping Services of Baie Verte, NL. The vessel remained in Halifax until July when it sailed for Stephenville, NL. That area of the west coast had been without a regular tug since September 23, 2019 when Omni St-Laurent sank at its dock in Stephenville. Sealand's R.J.Ballott has also been reported in Stephenville and it may have been providing some tug service.

Firebird was most recently alongside The COVE (former CG base) in Dartmouth until July 23 when it sailed for Stephenville.

Firebird still has all its fire fighting pumps and gear, but is now classed as a tug with two 455 bhp main engines driving two Z-drives.

For more on the Firebird's naval history see: firebird farewell

.