Messages

1

Shipping News and information / Getting Late for MAERSK PALERMO and sisters

« on: October 02, 2020, 11:53:42 PM »

MAERSK PALERMO and MAERSK PENANG were recently sold to Greek firm with charter-back deal to Maersk. They will be re-flagged to Liberia thus winding down the relationship to the Dutch flag from the merger with P&O Nedlloyd in 2005. There are fewer than 5 ships left in the Maersk fleet that are flying the Dutch flag.

The ships were workhorses on the North Atlantic run from Europe to Montreal. Their Dutch captains were much appreciated from the pilots here on the St-Lawrence and I wish all the best to them in their transition to something different.

Third sister MAERSK PATRAS is currently undergoing main engine repairs at Cuxhaven, time and health are running out slowly on the three remaining German-built ships.

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Shipping News and information / Re: ships sold for scrap

« on: September 26, 2017, 02:38:45 PM »

ill-fated MAERSK PEMBROKE being offloaded by Maersk following engine-room fire of August 21. She will go to Turkish Breakers for Green Recycling @ 302$/LDT

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Shipping News and information / Re: Updates on vessel changes and services to New Zealand in 2016/2017

« on: September 26, 2017, 02:36:30 PM »

Any observers anticipate a tonnage increase, in the form of bigger vessels, on Maersk's Southern Star service currently being served by Maersk's "L" class vessels?

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Help and Advice / Re: Photographing at Fort Lauderdale

« on: January 12, 2017, 03:31:28 PM »

If you are motorized the best thing to do besides the small ferries that cruise the harbour, is to drive to Dania Beach from Ft. Lauderdale. This will take you approx. 20 minutes depending on traffic. Find your way to the beach by either Dania Beach Blvd. or Sheridan, these two streets lead to bridges that cross the Intracoastal waterway. Once on the A1A road (Ocean Drive) head north until you reach the JOHN U.LLOYD BEACH STATE PARK. There is a 5$ park entrance fee as I recall for cars. Once there, drive to the very last parking, you may stop at a couple spots along the way and peek through the mangroves to see ships that are docked on the Intracoastal part of the port. Once at the parking you can walk to the breakwater and go quite far out to sea. This spot is good from morning to about 1600. The further out you go the more unobstructed view you will have, I was there both pre and post 9/11 and was never bothered despite spending hours standing waiting for ship movements. There is a beach right next to the breakwater where non-spotters can take in the sun. Fishermen are usually not taking all the space because pelicans do the most fishing around the breakwater.

Finally, cap or hat is a must as well as good sunscreen as there is absolutely , positively, no shade unless you withdraw from the breakwater.

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Shipping News and information / Re: USCG Searching for Missing Container Ship EL FARO

« on: October 17, 2015, 01:07:15 PM »

Case in Point

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/missing-el-faro-cargo-ship-highlights-vulnerability-of-aging-us-fleet/

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Shipping News and information / Re: USCG Searching for Missing Container Ship EL FARO

« on: October 07, 2015, 01:24:57 PM »

I must say that I agree with the reflexion put forward by the Florida lawyer, this tragedy would  ultimately qualify as a Jones Act induced tragedy. There is only so much things you can renew on a ship that has been run hard fo 45 years... There is a reason that MOST commercial vessels sailing foreign going rarely see 30 years of service, let  alone 45.

Maybe 33 deaths will be enough to send a wake-up call, it did not register after the Marine Electric casualty in the 80's unfortunately. If the owners had the choice to built foreign instead of trying to stretch an asset beyond its useful life could this have been avoided ? There would most likely still be an American Merchant Marine today, and safer, newer, more economically viable ships sailing.

This will sound probably harsh, but I know its not going to get questionned, it never is, it would be unpatriotic to do so.

Those who do not learn the lessons of history are bound to repeat the same mistakes.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Ship photography from Maasvlakte

« on: December 12, 2014, 08:22:19 PM »

Thanks to all for the information, I just might make the journey next summer if I get some time off the ships.

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Shipping News and information / Ship photography from Maasvlakte

« on: December 12, 2014, 03:37:18 PM »

I seem to notice that most photos taken from Maasvlatke date back from this summer, except from those of Pilotefrans, is there a reason for this? Has the place become off limits for photographers. I looked on the internet to find an answer but to no avail.

Thanks for any information

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Shipping News and information / Re: Question concerning beam length on the Great Lakes

« on: July 19, 2013, 07:11:41 AM »

Lot of tanker owners will be scratching their heads with this in the coming months !

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Shipping News and information / Re: Lagest ships in each category to reach the Port of Montreal ?

« on: July 19, 2013, 07:09:13 AM »

Bonjour Jean,

Largest Tanker; recent years NS CONCEPT, I recall hearing about similar sized ships going up in the 70's 80,s but have no records.
Largest bulker; close to 100 000 dwt , again no names but pretty sure about the size, 107 000 dwt to Sorel, late 90's.
LArgest Cruise; AIDA LUNA
Limitations: currently the size limitations besides the draught are 300m in lenght and 44m in breath. The next limiting factor will be the vertical clearance under the Qu

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Shipping News and information / Re: Opening of the Saint-Laurent seeway

« on: March 14, 2013, 01:26:03 PM »

Maintenance period could be reduced down to 1.5 months according to some sources on the ground but it would be extremely difficult to lock through full 23m wide vessels due to ice buildup on the lock walls. FEDERAL RIDEAU actually jammed in a lock chamber while the water was being pumped-out a few years back, they had to put water back in in a hurry and she was still jammed! You could easily do it with 15-17 m beam ships like Wagenborg's vessel. That is something the Canadian companies, who are in fact the operators of the seaway from the government through the St-Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., will never allow since they do not have ships of that size.

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Shipping News and information / Re: Vessel movements

« on: December 04, 2012, 05:26:50 PM »

Great Davidships,

That is the sort of information I am looking for, Would you still have access to the same info if the vessel was scrapped in 2010 let's say ?

Bruno

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Shipping News and information / Re: Vessel movements

« on: December 03, 2012, 11:46:11 PM »

Perhaps I was not clear enough in my request,  i do know which ship has gone to scrap and where, what I am looking for is her last ports of call PRIOR to its sailling for the beach.

Hope this narrows it down a bit

14

Shipping News and information / Vessel movements

« on: December 03, 2012, 03:06:50 PM »

Need help finding the last port of calls (with dates) of vessels gone for scrap recently. Tried many website including this one, MarineTraffic, Vesseltracker, Ports of Call etc and cannot get the pertinent information, can someone help me ?

Recent examples; NORTHERN PIONEER and NORTHERN FAITH, MSC SARDINIA

Thanks in advance for your help
Bruno

15

Shipping News and information / Lloyd's Shipping Index

« on: April 27, 2012, 12:51:46 PM »

Good day all,

Since 2009, Lloyd's Shipping Index is no-longer distributed "in print" but instead as .pdf file to its subscribers. I am looking to obtain copies of such "electronic indexes" from that date onward. For very recent issues, i understand the cost of such publications I would be willing to pay a fair share of the cost involved for current publications.

Anyone who can help, please contact me via private e.mail at [email protected]

Thanks in advance for your help.

Capt. Bruno Boissonneault
Marine Pilot