Halifax Seaport Developments

[Wishblade]

I figured I would start a thread pertaining to developments at the Seaport facilities in the HRM. Here is an article stating that port traffic continues to climb:

Halifax cargo traffic up 11.8% in Q2
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Thu, Jul 21 - 4:56 AM

Cargo traffic through the Port of Halifax continues a slow climb out of the recession.

Numbers for the second quarter of 2011 show an 11.8 per cent increase in cargo traffic at the port over the same quarter in 2010.

"We’re not dealing with a grand change here, but it is encouraging," spokeswoman Michele Peveril said in an interview...

read more here: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1254334.html

[q12]

Source: Halifax ship bid on course
Warship contract worth $25 billion
thechronicleherald.ca
By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor
Fri, Jul 22 - 4:54 AM

Halifax looks like the front-runner for a $25-billion contract to build about 20 warships, an Ottawa insider says.

Read more here:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1254511.html

After reading this article it looks like this should be an easy win for Halifax, since it seems to be the only facility capable of building the big war ships and also has a large enough ship building workforce. This is huge news for the economy of Halifax, Nova Scotia and even the Maritimes.

[someone123]

I'm optimistic about the larger contract. Halifax does seem like a frontrunner when political considerations are removed from the equation. The Davie yard is sketchy -- if I were a government official seriously interested in a successful project I'd prefer a bidder with a successful track record, all else being equal. And it's not clear that Davie has any particularly significant advantages.

Halifax also has the advantage of being Canadian-owned, whereas Davie apparently needs a foreign buyer. Do we really want a foreign business running shipyards that build warships for the military?

If the $25B contract is awarded to Irving it will be huge for the region. I could see there being significant spinoff effects from the new investment and talent.

[Wishblade]

$73M upgrade underway at Richmond Terminals

A $73-million upgrade is taking place at the Richmond Terminals, including the installation of a new road, three railway tracks and a 550-metre pier.

"It's part of improving our competitiveness," said Michele Peveril, a spokeswoman for the Halifax Port Authority.

"This Richmond upgrade gives us the chance to move cargo around and handle it at this end of town in the next decade or two as volumes increase."

The Richmond Terminals in the north end of Halifax is a common-user facility that handles break bulk cargo, or cargo that can't fit into a 20-feet container. Right now, much of that is landed in another part of the port, at piers that may have to be converted to handle containers.


link here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/09/08/ns-richmond-terminals-upgrade.html

[Wishblade]

I found a couple of articles stating that Halterm will be receiving 2 new super post-panamax cranes in June:

http://blog.halifaxshippingnews.ca/2013/02/more-halterm-crane-details.html

http://shipfax.blogspot.ca/2013/02/new-halterm-cranes-coming-this-summer.html

[Ziobrop]

Addtional Articles that may be of Interest:
Expansion Plans For Pier 9
http://blog.halifaxshippingnews.ca/2012/05/whats-going-on-at-pier-9.html

you can also keep tabs on the expansion work at halifax shipyards at http://blog.halifaxshippingnews.ca/search/label/Halifax%20Shipyard

[macgregor]

This older newsletter to local residents shows the redevelopment also:

http://www.portofhalifax.ca/english/port-facilities/infrastructure/documents/April-Letter-2012.pdf

[fenwick16]

The port statistics for the 2nd quarter and year-to-date for 2013 are out. The container numbers are up significantly over the first half of 2012. Here is a link - http://www.portofhalifax.ca/english/about-us/statistics/index.html

[Hali87]

Shed 22 (the warehouse between Pier 21 and the Cunard Centre) seems to be undergoing renovations. IIRC it is being converted into office space. It looks like it will look similar to the Seaport Market when completed.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Check out this baby, which just floated into the harbour today:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/acl-atlantic-star-halifax-harbour-1.3391605

http://i.cbc.ca/1.3391652.1452096157!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/acl-atlantic-star.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYCkzKCWcAA4Vcl.jpg:large

Summary of points from the article:

- It's the first of five such ships being built for Atlantic Container Lines

- The ship, he said, is 296 metres long and 37.6 metres wide, "about as big as we get coming into Halifax these days in the container ship range."

- It's a unique kind of ship in that it carries containers and roll-on, roll-off cargo. Things you can put wheels under, either that, or have wheels themselves, things that don't fit into containers

- Atlantic Star has the capacity for 3,800 six-metre containers and 1,307 vehicles

- It's only got 16 crew members

[Colin May]

Check out this baby, which just floated into the harbour today:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/acl-atlantic-star-halifax-harbour-1.3391605

http://i.cbc.ca/1.3391652.1452096157!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/acl-atlantic-star.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYCkzKCWcAA4Vcl.jpg:large

Summary of points from the article:

- It's the first of five such ships being built for Atlantic Container Lines

- The ship, he said, is 296 metres long and 37.6 metres wide, "about as big as we get coming into Halifax these days in the container ship range."

- It's a unique kind of ship in that it carries containers and roll-on, roll-off cargo. Things you can put wheels under, either that, or have wheels themselves, things that don't fit into containers

- Atlantic Star has the capacity for 3,800 six-metre containers and 1,307 vehicles

- It's only got 16 crew members
And retains the heavy RoRo ramp of the predecessors, good for heavy military equipment and choppers. Years ago Massey Ferguson exported combine harvesters using ACL ships. Also good for transporting large pieces of equipment. Down in the lower decks the view was amazing.

[musicman]

She seemed to be alot emptier on the way in the harbour than on the way out.

[OldDartmouthMark]

She seemed to be alot emptier on the way in the harbour than on the way out.

When did it leave? It was still at Fairview when I drove by at about 8:30 last night.

Nice ship.

[pblaauw]

When did it leave? It was still at Fairview when I drove by at about 8:30 last night.

Nice ship.

Approximately 8pm Thursday.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Approximately 8pm Thursday.

Thanks! I knew I wasn't "seeing things"...

[q12]

Great news for the Port of Halifax!

http://www.portofhalifax.ca/media-release-record-year-for-port-of-halifax/

RECORD YEAR FOR PORT OF HALIFAX

January 25, 2018, Halifax, Nova Scotia – Containerized cargo volume through the Port of Halifax has set a new port record. Containerized cargo volume in 2017 is 559,242 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), up 16% over 2016. This is the highest volume of containerized cargo the Port of Halifax has handled in a single year. The previous record was 550,462 TEU, set in 2005.

The cruise industry in Halifax also experienced record numbers in 2017, with 173 vessel calls carrying 292,722 passengers.

“The current growth cycle is a reflection of the hard work of key port partners including terminal operators, ocean carriers, rail provider CN, labour, marine pilots, tug operators, and our partners in the tourism sector,” said Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority. “This past year also saw the arrival of Ultra container vessels over 10,000 TEU to our port. All of this combined provides a very strong foundation on which to build, and we are looking forward to our continued work together in the year ahead.”

2017 Cargo

Containerized throughput for 2017 is 559,242 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), up 16% year-over-year.
Non-containerized tonnage in 2017 is 371,913 metric tonnes.
Total cargo tonnage through HPA facilities in 2017 is 5,010,735 metric tonnes, up 12%.
2017 Cruise

173 vessel calls, up 27% year-over-year
292,722 cruise guests, up 23% year-over-year
The statistics are now posted to the Halifax Port Authority website:

http://www.portofhalifax.ca/port-operations-centre/cargo-statistics/

HPA Container Volume
(TEU)
http://www.portofhalifax.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2017HPAContainerVolumeTEUENG.png

Cruise Ships
http://www.portofhalifax.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2017CruiseShipsENG.png

Cruise Passengers
http://www.portofhalifax.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2017CruisePAXENG.png


https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/22382223_1619216508142905_2333085589357697097_o.jpg?oh=3b0d197a1353fe94dff15d3952e0a6f3&oe=5ADAFF92

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/22828965_1633553110042578_1055185997059173757_o.jpg?oh=69a276a193a87cd911fb240aa242e477&oe=5ADAF51E

Image sources Port of Halifax Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portofhalifax/

[atbw]

New crane arrived today for HalTerm!
https://i.imgur.com/MldUHOz.jpg

Brett Ruskin via Twitter (https://twitter.com/Brett_CBC/status/1277550591741513730/photo/1)

[teddifax]

I think it is a marvel that they can ship these fully assemble cranes from China. It is amazing. I believe they are welded to the ship for delivery, but still they must be top-heavy. I guess the red and white one is for us.

[atbw]

I think it is a marvel that they can ship these fully assemble cranes from China. It is amazing. I believe they are welded to the ship for delivery, but still they must be top-heavy. I guess the red and white one is for us.

I've watched a few videos of them being unloaded and it's so impressive. The orange cranes are bound for Algeria and the blue for the south of France. I cannot imagine having a load like that in rough seas though.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Those ships must have copious quantities of ballast.

[q12]

Yesterday the Port of Halifax received the largest container vessel EVER to call a Canadian Port, AND the North American East Coast! We're proud to be the first to board and last to depart in welcoming the
CMA CGM BRAZIL. 366m x 51m x 15072 TEU

https://twitter.com/HalifaxPilots/status/1304503265955115015

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhqGyIuXYAATFL1?format=jpg&name=large
https://twitter.com/HalifaxPilots/status/1304503265955115015

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhqGyqTXYAUM3Qd?format=jpg&name=large
https://twitter.com/HalifaxPilots/status/1304503265955115015

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ehkchg2XgAAqMUv?format=jpg&name=medium

[q12]

CMA CGM Marco Polo just arrived in Halifax. It is the largest container ship to ever call on North America’s east coast and any Canadian port.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E1qVHN_WEAE4u8y?format=jpg&name=large

Source: AeroVision Canada
https://twitter.com/AeroVisionUAV/status/1394592968846331904

[Saul Goode]

CMA CGM Marco Polo just arrived in Halifax. It is the largest container ship to ever call on North America’s east coast and any Canadian port.

A very impressive vessel and a grand sight to see to be sure, and a record is a record, but I was surprised to hear all the excitement about her. You'd think nothing like it had ever been seen in Halifax before, while in fact ships of that size have been calling here for a few years now. The dimensional difference between CMA CGM Marco Polo and the others we've been seeing recently is trivial, even negligible - certainly not enough to be discernible visually.

She's also very far from the largest container ships, of which there are now dozens in the 24,000-TEU range (i.e., 50% more capacity!) in service. Unfortunately we don't have the terminal space, handling capacity or rail capacity to serve them in Halifax.

[mleblanc]

A very impressive vessel and a grand sight to see to be sure, and a record is a record, but I was surprised to hear all the excitement about her. You'd think nothing like it had ever been seen in Halifax before, while in fact ships of that size have been calling here for a few years now. The dimensional difference between CMA CGM Marco Polo and the others we've ben seeing recently is trivial, even negligible - certainly not enough to be discernible visually.

She's also very far from the largest container ships, of which there are now dozens in the 24,000-TEU range i.e., 50% more capacity!) in service. Unfortunately we don't have the terminal space, handling capacity or rail capacity to serve them in Halifax.

I just think we've just been cooped up for a few weeks now, anything will get us excited. :haha:

[Saul Goode]

I just think we've just been cooped up for a few weeks now, anything will get us excited. :haha:

Fair comment, and I certainly wasn't trying to rain on anyone's parade.

To be honest, I suppose it was actually a comment on local media ignorance more than anything. I thought Brett Ruskin was going to soil himself talking about big ships during his interview with Lane Farguson on CBC Radio this morning. It amazes me how reporters, who make a living ostensibly "informing" others, and who live here, can be so stunningly unaware of things going on around them in plain sight every day. It's as if they have no general knowledge base at all - and worse, no interest in developing one...as if everything's just brand-new to them.

This is Halifax. It only exists because it's a port, and for centuries there's been impressive floaty stuff to see here.

[OldDartmouthMark]

As someone who doesn't keep track of container ship traffic, the fact that ships of this stature (negligible dimensional differences aside) regularly visit Halifax, and bolster our container ports and rail traffic with their business is fantastic.

Both pics posted above by q12 are very impressive, with the water-level pic of the Brazil literally having me transfixed momentarily.

Very cool stuff!

[Keith P.]

It amazes me how reporters, who make a living ostensibly "informing" others, and who live here, can be so stunningly unaware of things going on around them in plain sight every day. It's as if they have no general knowledge base at all - and worse, no interest in developing one...as if everything's just brand-new to them.



Having had a period of time in my work career where I had to deal with the news media, both local and to a lesser degree, national, this was my experience as well. I was rather mind-boggled to discover it. It was one thing to get a series of rather clueless questions from someone working for the Coast or wherever, but when you got similar questions from the CBC, CTV or CP you quickly realized that reporters really had zero knowledge of the subject in question. In retrospect that shouldn't be a surprise because why should they, since they are not reporting on it every day? But when you tried to fill them in on the subject before they started going thru their list of questions in order to make your answers more understandable to them, they usually were not interested and behaved like you were trying to misinform them just to make your answers sound better. Most of the time they had reached their conclusions on the story of the day long before they talked to you. I discovered that most reporters who were not calling in response to a news release we had issued were calling because someone they liked to use as a source had set them up with their version of the facts first, and everything they did subsequently was based upon that version being correct when in fact it was often far from it.

[Good Baklava]

http://cdn.statcdn.com/Infographic/images/normal/16147.jpeg
Source (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statista.com/chart/amp/16147/the-uks-most-and-least-trusted-professions/)

A commonly hated yet crucial job.

[Saul Goode]

Having had a period of time in my work career where I had to deal with the news media, both local and to a lesser degree, national, this was my experience as well.

It's just always puzzled me when people professing to be in the information business don't seem to care or make any effort to be better informed themselves. I'd be embarrassed were I in that situation. It seems to me to speak to a bizarre lack of inquisitiveness - I mean, how and why do they even get into that line of work in the first place? Just a burning desire to hear and see themselves speak? Jeez, have some pride in your profession and stop making yourselves look like airheads and dorks.

I want to be careful to say that of course I'm not talking about all media people. I've been fortunate to know and to count as friends some very capable and accomplished journalists. What they have in common is that they're without fail well-educated (formally or otherwise), very well-informed, well-rounded and relentlessly curious. I don't see those qualities as often or as commonly in on-air personalities anymore. I can't count how many news stories lately have left me wondering, "Why didn't you ask this? Why didn't you ask that? Why did you leave out facts that are fundamental to understanding the story? How did you get this job with, apparently, no critical thinking skills at all?". And ditto for their editors and producers.

But I should probably stick to talking about buildings, or shipping...

[q12]

A must watch for the skyline shots:

https://twitter.com/AeroVisionUAV/status/1394787788185288704

https://i.postimg.cc/MT8J1XV6/twit.png

https://i.ibb.co/cxGZxF7/sky.png

[Saul Goode]

If I can do so without appearing to be a total priggish pedant...oh, never mind. That will never work.

[mleblanc]

If I can do so without appearing to be a total priggish pedant

Quite amazingly, you accomplished that before starting your actual argument :haha:

[Saul Goode]

Quite amazingly, you accomplished that before starting your actual argument :haha:

Touché. Right you are. There's just no good way to go about something like that. Sorry.

[kph06]

According to ZPMC’s (gantry crane manufacturer) Facebook page, PSA Halifax, former Halterm, has signed a deal (presumably for a new crane). When the latest one came in 2020 there was reportedly an option for a second.

[kph06]

The final derelict ship to shore crane at Fairview Cove appears to be set for scrapping. A crawler crane is setup along side.

[ns_kid]

A CBC story (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-rail-project-to-cut-truck-traffic-now-under-construction-1.6855003) reports that work is now underway to expand rail capacity between the PSA and Fairview Cove terminals.

My wife and I travelled to Moncton on Via a few weeks ago (to catch a Mooseheads-Wildcats playoff game: very convenient, considering the Avenir Centre and the new Hyatt are just a short walk from Moncton station). It was clear that work was underway, with stacks of new ties and rail in place in the rail cut.

Apparently the port is looking at newer low-emissions locomotives (hydrogen fuel-cell or battery-electric) to power the shuttles between terminals. A port authority spokesperson suggests that when complete, the new facilities and restored double track will mean a 75% reduction in truck traffic through the downtown. Welcome, and long overdue.

[Haliguy]

A CBC story (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-rail-project-to-cut-truck-traffic-now-under-construction-1.6855003) reports that work is now underway to expand rail capacity between the PSA and Fairview Cove terminals.

My wife and I travelled to Moncton on Via a few weeks ago (to catch a Mooseheads-Wildcats playoff game: very convenient, considering the Avenir Centre and the new Hyatt are just a short walk from Moncton station). It was clear that work was underway, with stacks of new ties and rail in place in the rail cut.

Apparently the port is looking at newer low-emissions locomotives (hydrogen fuel-cell or battery-electric) to power the shuttles between terminals. A port authority spokesperson suggests that when complete, the new facilities and restored double track will mean a 75% reduction in truck traffic through the downtown. Welcome, and long overdue.

Great to see it happening!

[Saul Goode]

According to ZPMC’s (gantry crane manufacturer) Facebook page, PSA Halifax, former Halterm, has signed a deal (presumably for a new crane). When the latest one came in 2020 there was reportedly an option for a second.

They've ordered two, both for delivery this summer - giants. They'll give PSA the ability to handle two ultra-size (i.e., 15,000-ish+ TEU) ships simultaneously.

[beyeas]

A CBC story (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-rail-project-to-cut-truck-traffic-now-under-construction-1.6855003) reports that work is now underway to expand rail capacity between the PSA and Fairview Cove terminals.

My wife and I travelled to Moncton on Via a few weeks ago (to catch a Mooseheads-Wildcats playoff game: very convenient, considering the Avenir Centre and the new Hyatt are just a short walk from Moncton station). It was clear that work was underway, with stacks of new ties and rail in place in the rail cut.

Apparently the port is looking at newer low-emissions locomotives (hydrogen fuel-cell or battery-electric) to power the shuttles between terminals. A port authority spokesperson suggests that when complete, the new facilities and restored double track will mean a 75% reduction in truck traffic through the downtown. Welcome, and long overdue.

Oh THAT explains it! My son and I were biking along some of the MTB paths beside the track west of Beaufort Ave, and I had seen the rails/ties and was wondering why it looked like they were making another track. Got me excited for 2 seconds that it was linked to commuter rail and I just hadn't heard, but this makes much more sense. Thanks for the info.