The tug Ezra Sol was called out of Norfolk, VA September 12 to tow the disabled 38,795 deadweight tonnes Croatian bulk carrier AP Revelin to a safe anchorage off Halifax. The ship had lost its propeller, en route from Port Allen LA, and was unable to move on its own. The tow arrived on September 17 and with the assistance of the local tug Atlantic Maple the ship anchored outside the port limits with the Ezra Stol standing by.
On September 24 with the Ezra Sol towing, the AP Revelin entered port with the assistance of the port tugs Atlantic Oak (forward) and Atlantic Ash (with line astern) and took up an anchorage in Bedford Basin.
Ezra Sol [2002. 6,000 bhp, triple screw] was built by Main Iron Works in Houma. LA and is powered by three Cummins engines. Originally named O.J.Cenac it was renamed O.J. in 2008 and Copper Mountain in 2013. In 2023 it became the Ezra Sol and works for Seaward Marine Corp of Norfolk, VA.
Port regulations require that ships anchoring in Bedford Basin must have operational engines in order to move on short notice. (The Basin bottom is poor holding ground, and in high winds ships tend to "wander" and must re-anchor). If they cannot move on their own they are required to have a tug alongside.
The tug Point Chebucto [1993. 4200 bhp ASD] was therefore called in from Port Hawksbury, NS where it was in warm layup after NuStar Energy's new tugs entered service in July. It then stood by the ship and the tug Ezra Sol moved to Pier 9C to await further developments. [The five local harbour tugs are kept busy enough that they could not be spared for extended standby work.]
Perched on the end of Pier 9C, the tug shows off its triple stacks and massive towing winch.
Not the only stacks in town- the 550 feet high triple stacks of the Nova Scotia Power Corp's Tuft's Cove generating station provide some contrast.
On October 3 tugs moved the AP Revelin to Pier 27, and the standby tug was no longer required. Point Chebucto tied up for the night at the local tug dock - the IEL wharf. Today, October 4 the Point Chebucto departed for Sheet Harbour, NS. (The bulker Fjord Pearl seems to have sailed from Sheet Harbour without tug assistance, so it appears that the Point Chebucto will carry on back to Port Hawksbury.)
Also today the Ezra Sol sailed, heading for Boston.
So far there had been no sign of activity on the ship. Installing a new prop may require lightering off some cargo or even drydocking, since there may also be damage to the rudder, and shafting. It is likely that an ocean going tug has been called in for a transatltantic tow.
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