Another summer activity off Canada’s East Coast is starting again: http://www.worldoil.com/news/2017/5/26/tgs-and-pgs-announce-fourth-3d-seismic-project-offshore-eastern-canada
I knew about this one. Some of my former cremates are on this vessel. Wouldn’t I love to have my current job on that ship? I could back-seat drive the data processors on my coffee breaks. Not that I would… >.>
No I know you wouldn’t, but maybe throw a few hints in the mess room or gym that you COULD?
Maybe you would like to get a job on this one, even if not working in Canadian waters??:
Not sure, as I cannot remember where I got it from, but I think it may be the new Ramform Hyperion, which was delivered a few months ago: https://www.pgs.com/marine-acquisition/tools-and-techniques/the-fleet/active-fleet/ramform-hyperion/
Are you aiming to re-join the Seismic industry in your new capacity??
not really. Seismic is great, its my roots, and I love “doodlebuggers.” But I’m really happy with my tanker gig, and I don’t reckon I’d trade it. I like the direct propulsion and the steam cargo plant: call me old fashioned.
Well if you like old steam plants you are a few years late I’m afraid. Aside from a few veteran ships kept alive by conservation grants or volunteers there aren’t many steam ships left in commercial trade. (Maybe some steam turbine ships still in the USMM??)
In 1972-73 I was Captain on a tanker with a Doxford Main engine and everything else steam, incl. generators and steering gear. You would have enjoyed that one.
Here she is in all her glory:
PS> If you are working for TK you should have a lot of opportunities to serve on vessels of different types and different trades.
1 Like
Steam propulsion isn’t so common anymore, true. (I think the Algoma Montrealais was the last commercial steam ship in Canada. There is an engineer a couple of years ahead of me who is going to be the last of us to write his steam ticket, and he got his time on the Montrealais.) But we still use it to power the cargo pumps. And one of the ballast pumps on the ship I was on at the start of the year was steam powered, too.
Another Norwegian owned vessel with more work off Canada: http://sysla.no/maritim/ny-kontrakt-dof-subsea-canada/
It appears that DOF is willing to re-flag vessels to Canadian flag to secure work there, but will rather take US vessels on hire than re-flag some of their own vessels to US flag for work in the GoM.
Could that have something to do with the fact that they are still restricted from carrying their tools and equipment on board due to Jones Act restrictions on US built?
It could certainly not have anything to do with waiver for foreign crews, since US flag means US crews in US waters.
The PSV Siem Pilot is heading to Canada to join the other Siem vessels working there under the Secunda Canada brand. (Now 100% owned by Siem): http://sysla.no/maritim/na-er-jobben-gang-med-omstille-henne-til-offshorearbeid/
A bit surprising is that this PSV will be equipped to tow ice bergs, as well as being fitted with a FiFi system and an additional FRC for standby duty.
(With a BP of only 70 m.t. that must be fairly small ice bergs)
Maybe not so well known around the world is that Siem Pilot have just completed two years as a boarder patrol vessel in the Med. and have picked up abt. 40,000 people in the process.
“Rescue” may be a strong word, since most were picked up just off the coast of Libya in good weather, although from leaky boats or deflating rafts. Some dramatic rescues as well. though .
At most they had well over 1000 people on their deck: http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/siem-pilot-reddet-over-tusen-migranter-i-stor-redningsaksjon/67548556
And babies have been born on board: http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/flyktningkrisen-i-europa/vellykket-foedsel-paa-siem-pilot-hoeylytt-jubel-paa-dekk/a/23934530/
There appears to be a steady stream of new vessels for the Canadian offshore: http://sysla.no/maritim/na-starter-denne-jobben-canada/
This one should give work to a quite large number of Canadians for the next 10 years or more.
Back to the topic of sovereignty, I found this map.
I like it because it shows the disputes, the resources, the major environmental events, the Arctic Council Permanent Members and Permanent Participants, the Strategic Air Defence Radar System, the population centres, and the military bases. Best map.
1 Like
I’d love an English version if you can find one.
Doubt the Aiviq would be a go, but I betcha Chouest would sell the Arctic Ivik/Geco Snapper/Snapper back to them for that… Riddle me this though… how in the HECK is “Edmonton” a home port???
I didn’t find it in English. Happy to translate it, though.
Red star: Territorial dispute in court
Green star: Territorial dispute which has been ruled on
Dark blue line: Established shipping route
Members of the Arctic Council: Canada, Denmark, US, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden.
Permanent Participants in the Arctic Council:
Teal: Conference of Circumpolar Inuit
Hay Yellow: Althbascan Arctic Council
Brown Stripes: International Gwich’in Council
Pea Green: Russian Association of Northern Native People
Lavender: Sami Council
Red Dot: Oil and Gas field
Black Square: Mine
Brown Line: Oil or gas pipeline project
Red and Yellow Star: Major oil pollution event
Dotted Line: Maritime boundary according to bilateral agreements or the EEZ.
Green Line: Claimed by Russia
Purple Line: Claimed by Norway
Blue Star: Military base
Grey Line: Northern Warning Line
I think the North Saskatchewan River is a navigable waterway at least as far up as Edmonton. It isn’t exactly a major port, though. Hay River is more of a port I think, though I haven’t been there.
I saw a yacht which was registered in Rock River, Wyoming. I have been to Rock River. There’s no river there, that I recall. Don’t reckon you could navigate a canoe there, leastways not farther than around the stock pond. Largish motor yacht could only get there by trailer, and then you’d be left wondering, “why?”
1 Like
There are ships registered under Mongolian flag with home port Ulan Bator.
Also ships registered in Bolivia with home port LaPaz,( >4000 m. asl. Beat that)
The earliest transit through the Northwest Passage has been completed by the Nordica: http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/ship-sets-record-for-earliest-crossing-of-northwest-passage/
The Crystal Serenity is somewhere in Alaska and will be doing it’s second transit later this year.
Hey now, don’t be hating on Bolivia… they have a lake… that just happens to provide me with all kinds of juvenile giggles every time I say its name. Say it with me, you’ll at least smile. Titicaca. Seriously though, they do have some traffic on there, not much mind you, but some. As for the LaPaz part, I got nothing. 
I saw Crystal Serenity at the cruise terminal in Vancouver… last month maybe? I was eyeballing all the seabus people to see if I could figure out who were her passengers. Paparazzi fail. I also thought I might try to bluff my way into the ER for a tour: again fail; by the time I got the time she was casting off.