The self-unloading bulker CSL Metis has been an occasional caller in Halifax to load gypsum for the United States, but not recently. Its last call here that I recorded was in October 2023. It is also a sometime caller at Auld's Cove on the Strait of Canso to load aggregates, also for US ports.
Although it is now a self-unloading bulk carrier, that is the result of an extensive rebuilding. Starting life as the tanker Berge Helene in 1981 at the Mitsui Chiba shipyard it carried the names Lagovan Sinamaica from 1981 to 1993, Sinamaica from 1993 to 2000 and Ektoras from 2000 to 2007 and briefly Ektora
in 2007. A 31,849 gt, 61,403 dwt ship, it was rendered obsolete when
double hulls became mandatory for tankers. Its mechanicals and
accommodations were still in good condition however, and CSL acquired
the ship on favourable terms. They contracted Chengxi Shipyard to
fabricate a new forebody (cargo section and bow), with bulbous bow and self-unloading apparatus, which was joined to the stern section in a
mere 53 days with completion in October 2007. It then became a 43,022
gt, 69,304 dwt ship and increased in length from 222.3m to 245.0m. It is
registered in the Bahamas and works in the CSL Americas self-unloader
pool. It is a bit too large to take a full load at Gold Bond Gypsum in Halifax, so is more often employed in the aggregates and coal trades.
A regular assignment in 2024 was with coal, loaded in Norfolk for transshipment to large bulk carriers anchored in the Chedabucto Bay. In 2024 it topped off the Alba, NSU Obelisk and Juno Horizon all in the 90,000 dwt to 107,000 dwt range, which are too large to load to full draft in Norfolk. Currently the NSU Obelisk has been anchored in Chedabucto Bay since January 18 and NSU Welfare since December 7, 2024. I am assuming the CSL Metis transhipped to one of them before coming to Halifax.
Arriving February 26 the ship went directly to anchor in Bedford Basin.
Instead of moving in to load gyspum today as I expected, the ship put out sea giving a destination of Richards Bay, South Africa, a notable coal port, but well off the usual routes for ships in the CSL Pool.
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