ShipSpotting.com Forum
Shipspotters all over the world => Shipping News and information => Topic started by: Dean Porter on April 06, 2007, 11:49:36 PM
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Heard on the local news station here, that the icebreakers are busy on the Northwest coast and Northeast coast of Newfoundland, the ice is down from the North and is pinned on the land.
The Coast guard in Newfoundland has a loan of the Des Groseilliers from Quebec and the Sir William Alexander from Nova Scotia and this is in addition to the Henry Larsen, Ann Harvey and George R. Pearkes.
Local ferries are not able to operate, fishing boats are not able to get out of port, and sealers are not able to get out, and then there are the freighters and tankers trying to get to Botwood and Lewisporte, as well as the Apollo trying to operate from St. Barbe and Blanc Sablon. The Coast Guard said on Vocm.com, that it took a day for one of the icebreakers to move one mile.
Dean
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Hi Dean,
Here in Quebec City, the ice has melted and the Coast Guard ships have left the area... perhaps going towards Newfoundland. I just saw the TERRY FOX leave yesterday and it was heading East.
Good luck...
Steve G
Quebec City (born in Sept-
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Hi Steve,
I thinks that where they are headed, at least some of them. The Pierre Radisson is on her way to Halifax for refit. The Terry Fox I'm not sure where she is heading.
Thanks
Dean
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Hey Dean,
I heard the Terry Fox in the Canso Traffic VTMS zone last night.I am not sure if she was in my area because of the storm yesterday.I would say that she is heading for Halifax.I will let you know if i hear more.
Happy Easter
Jarrod
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Hey Jarrod,
Thanks for that, I think the Sir William Alexander is back in Sydney. Maybe the pressure on the ice has eased a little.
Dean
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Hello Dean,
I just wanted to update you. The Terry Fox is at anchor in Inhabitants Bay which is in the Strait of Canso.She has been here since Saturday.At last I heard she was stifting anchorages.
Take Care
Jarrod
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Hello Again Dean,
The Terry Fox left the Canso VTMS zone and I would say is heading for Sydney or Halifax.
Take Care
Jarrod
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Hi Jarrod,
Thanks for that. The icebreakers here in Newfoundland are really busy.
Dean
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Hi Dean,
I've been tracking the CCGS TERRY FOX since it left Quebec City on Thursday 5th of April with shiptracking. As of 21h00, it was:
2007-Apr-09 21:00 N 45
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The Coast Guard are still having a hard time on the Northern Pennisula of Newfoundland. According to CBC, there are 60 fishing boats stuck in the ice and three icebreakers trying to assist.
Most ports they can't get into because of the ice.
Dean
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Wow!
I didn't think it was that bad!
Steve G
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Its probably the worst its been in a number of years.
Dean
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Report this morning on the coast guard web site that Sir Wilfred Grenfel is stock in ice and has request help of the George R.Pearke. Nice to ear: Icebreaker that need icebreaker assistance! What a winter this year.
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bateauxque wrote:
Report this morning on the coast guard web site that Sir Wilfred Grenfel is stock in ice and has request help of the George R.Pearke. Nice to ear: Icebreaker that need icebreaker assistance! What a winter this year.
Hi bateauxque
Well we have been having "summer" weather here in the UK but the waethermen are predicting that the temperatures you have been experiencing on your side of the pond will be heading in our direction towards the end of the week. Global Warming :-o
I don't however think we will have a need for Ice Breakers!!!
Regards
Steve Ellwood
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Now it says on the radio there are at least 100 vessels stuck in the ice, and the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell is still stuck.
Does this not seem similar, with the icebreaker assisting icebreaker, the incident with the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent and the CCGS John A. MacDonald? Not exactly the same thing, but it
reminded me of it. They radio just said that some of the stuck vessels have been there for over a week. The Grenfell got stuck when rescuing a ship.
Kier
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In fairness to the Sir Wilfred Grenfel, she's Ice strengthened but is not a true Icebreaker. With her strengthened hull and thrusters she would be okay in loose pack ice of moderate thickness, but from what I'm hearing here, it's much thicker than that. The Grenfel was designed as a offshore supply boat for Newfoundland waters which would give a moderate ice class rating but it isn't the same as for the George R. Pearkes, which itself is only a light icebreaker and probably wouldn't be able to help much.
I'm not sure if anyone here has been aboard an icebreaker or a ship passing through ice, but the sound and vibration through the hull is unmistakable. I was crossing the gulf one time aboard the Caribou and we had to assist the Northern Ranger. It delayed our passage by some 4 or 5 hours, so it's also slow going.
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Just listened to the CBC Newfoundland online and they stated that the Grenfel normally wouldn't get herself in that position but they felt the need to take the chance in order to rescue a crew of a longliner caught in the ice. The crew is safely onboard the Grenfel but she'll need assistance herself now. The coast guard are now looking at flying supplies by helicopter to those vessels stuck in the ice. A situation as bad or worse as it's ever been before.
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Sounds pretty bad! Here in Quebec, days are getting sunnier and warmer. I hope the same happens in the Newfoundland area.
Steve
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Thanks for the information.... keep us updated.
Steve
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The local news here is reporting (vocm.com) that the crews from the fishing vessels Southern Pride and Labrador Current are on the ice off Reb Bay, Labrador after heavy ice forced their vessels out of the water, the Des Groseilliers is enroute to that area.
The coast Guard is also assisting there own vesel, the Sir Wilfred Grenfell is stuck in ice in Hamilton Sound after it responed to a search and rescue incident, the George R. Pearkes is enroute to assist her.
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Why the coast-guard doesn't call for their heavier ice breaker to help for the situation in newfoundland? Seem that the St-Laurent and the Terry Fox didn't get much job this winter, might be good for them to se a little action before the season is over.
Does anyone have link, info or picture of all these news?
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i'm just wondering,why there are so many vessels in difficulties.there was a warning of heavy ice pressure for the North East coast of Nfld.with NE'ly or E'ly wind is that normal and a shipper should know it and avoid the area.it might be,that seal killing is so important,that the shippers don't listen to the weather forecast.
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These are men who depend on the sea for a living. Its inportant because its a way to make a living and to make a bit of extra money to get through a cold winter. The sea has provided a living in Newfoundland for many years and continues to do so.
When they issued a warning of ice pressure, many of these boats may have been on the way in, but having said that it was reported that the ice closed in really fast trapping a lot of these boats.
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The CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell is according to the coast guard website (ccg (http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/fleet-flotte/vessels-navires/main_e.asp)) an offshore patrol vessel. The Terry and Louis are here in Dartmouth, so perhaps the response time would be too slow?
The St-Laurent has been here for such a long time, I do think it could use some action. I just should note that today looking at the Louis S. St-Laurent they are putting fuel in. Maybe they will go?
Kier
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Thanks Kier, let me know if the Louis S St. Laurent leaves.
Thanks
Dean
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The ice has not been this bad in 20 years, as Dean stated this is a way of life for the people of Newfoundland. And to comment on mooringman's post, we pefer the term "Seal Harvest" but I wont start that arguement here.
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hi,i'm still wondering what is going on there in the ice.i saw some bad pictures in german tv from the fishing vessels closed in ice pressure.they said,even an icebreaker has problems.somebody has made a wrong decission,this should not happen for an experienced shipper.i know,from what i'm talking about,i had my first ice experience in that area,later in the baltic sea.about the seals i discuss always with my wife,she is a newfie....i hope nobody will loss the life or his vessel.brgds mooringman
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Well, mooringman, if you know about the area then you should be aware that ice packs the coves and inlets EVERY year and fishermen have been (on the most part) able to navigate through it. However, this year the ice is particularly heavy and thick. Also, the weather hasn't been cooperating to help clear away some ice, to loosen the pressure.
I remember a few similar occasions over the years when excessive ice filled the bays in the spring. While I feel these flucuations are mostly cyclical and periodical,I'm wondering if this isn't just another little tap on our shoulders about the effects of global warming. There have been reports of a milder than usual winter in the Artic, combined with larger than usual breakoffs from the polar ice cap.
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There maybe some good news today, the wind is suppose to change today. The Coast guard in Newfoundland has requested help from the Maritimes region to help. There are about 100 fishing boats stuck in ice.
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thats what i thought too,the global warming makes more ice come down the coast this year,but it was in earlier years sometimes the same.i remember in the late 70thies and early 80thies we had problem with our ocean vessels there.i think the problem is the wind direction,but they said something abt.SW'ly and later NW'ly winds in the forecast.that will ease the pressure of the ice.i just saw some pictures again in tv and a lot of shippers are not in a good situation in the moment.but matter of fact is,we have a global warming and there are some politicans ,who don't realize that at all.brgds mooringman
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Last update from vocm news on the radio, there are now 120 boats stuck in very heavy pack ice the worst fisherman has seen in years.
The boats are being watched very closely by helicopter from the icebreakers. Food is being brought in by helicopter in which they would land on the ice next to the stuck vessel and drop what they need, it may be fuel in some cases.
The icebreakers in the area working really hard are the Henry Larsen, Des Groseilliers, Ann Harvey, George R. Pearkes and the Sir wilfred Grenfell.
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A further update from CBC news. The icebreaker Ann Harvey was stuck in the ice last night and was still stuck this morning.
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Hey, Dean...do you have a personal photosite other than Shipspotting.com? I'm curious if you've been up on Signal Hill or been around some of the bays near town and taken some photos. I know you can't show them here and was wondering how it looked this year with so much extra ice blocking up the coast. I've seen one picture overlooking Torbay, but it was on a news story and it is so small it's next to useless.
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I haven't lately, we have been having some pretty miserable weather, rain, drizzle and fog. The weather is suppose to change, I may on the weekend or Monday.
I have heard though its starting to spill into Conception Bay.
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Sorry I don't think I answered your question. I don't have a website.
A further update the Terry Fox is leaving Dartmouth today for Newfoundland.
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Well, if you want, you can have up to 5 Gb free at eSnips.com. I've been using it lately transferring high res pictures I have taken of the shipyard to one of my bosses. It's handy to sometimes refer people to pictures which help explain your commentary here but normally wouldn't be allowed to post.
For example, here's Torbay full of ice in 1995.
(http://www.pbase.com/pinemikey/image/24720936/medium.jpg)
http://www.pbase.com/pinemikey/image/24720936
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Thanks very much, I will check it out.
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Ice is still causing problems. Vocm news reported this moring there are stll 33 vessels stuck and even the heavy icebreaker Terry Fox is having trouble. They could only watch last night as the pressure got so bad that three vessels ended up on the ice out of the water.
The Henry Larsen is trying to assist the Jade Star out of Lewisporte, she is stuck.
The Coast says they are going to use the two large icebreakers to escort the smaller icebreakers which in turn will escort the fishing vessels.
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Thanks for keeping us updated! Even here in europe we heard about the ice and all the problems. I hope the ice will be gone in mid of june.
Stefan
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Your welcome, it should be gone but we have ice block harbors in June before, lets hope this is not a repeat.
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There are still 7 fishing vessels stuck in ice in which some have been stuck three weeks.
The Coast Guard are trying to get a tanker out of Lewisporte, read it on vocm.com a paper carrier trying to get to Botwood has sustained rudder damage.
Coast Guard says its the worst in 15-20 years for ice.
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The Coast Guard has all vessels now escorted out of the ice, the last three were escorted Friday pass. I read on the coast guard website that the Terry Fox has been released back to the Maritimes and the Ann Harvey is now in St. John's, although today they are getting ready to escort a ship out of Botwood.
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hi,after a two weeks visit in a local hospital i'm back and saw the bad news about the ice.does anybody know which vessel bound for botwood had the rudder damage in the ice?i couldn't find out.brgds mooringman
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I'm sorry I did not hear the name. However in the past two days two local ferries have been damaged, the Capt. Earl W. Winsor and Inch Aaran, both have damaged propellers.
If I hear what ship recieved damage I will advise right away.