PHOTO: SUBMITTED
The simulator in Quebec City is unique. “It’s designed especially for pilots, run by pilots, and owned by pilots so it is tailor made for pilotage authorities across the country,” Griffiths says. “We all use it and we go there regularly.” Accommodating the new generation of ultra-sized ships requires more than training, though. “It is critical that the APA, Atlantic Towing, and the Port work together on these big, ocean-class container ships,” Griffiths says. “Essentially, they are new for all of us so we have to be sure we are working together for common goals to get these ships in and out safely and efficiently.” He praises Atlantic Towing for supporting APA’s work. “They have been working well with us and they have identified the fact that they need an additional tug and I think they are committed to a fourth tug in the near future,” Griffiths says. “That will be quite a change for Halifax. Some days are a struggle where seven tugs wouldn’t make a difference [but] Atlantic Towing does a good job to minimize delays for everybody. For them to recognize the need for a fourth tug and to commit to providing that in the future is a huge step and shows their commitment to the competitiveness of the Port.” “The men and women of Atlantic Towing are committed to providing the best service to the Port of Halifax, meeting
current needs and anticipating future changes in shipping,” says Atlantic Towing spokesperson Mary Keith. “Local Atlantic Towing management has worked with the Port and the pilots on procedural issues while our vessel masters have participated in simulation training in Quebec earlier this year to simulate and refine requirements for the escorting of these large container vessels to and from the Port of Halifax.” While Atlantic Towing contemplates an additional vessel, the APA took the steps this year to add two new pilots to its fleet. Nova Pilot and Scotia Pilot went into service in Halifax on July 26. “We started the search about year and half ago,” Griffiths says. “It is very expensive to build these boats. It is a niche
market and there are not many places that can build them so we thought we would look outside the country for used boats, which would be a little more cost-effective for us. It would result in lower costs for customers as well so there would be money savings at both ends.” After an extensive search, they found what they needed in the Netherlands. The boats were multi-use sister boats, five and six years old, which had been used for pilot transfers, wind-mill servicing, and crew changes in Rotterdam. The new boats both have jet drives. “[That’s] new for us,” says Griffiths. Two pilots and two launch masters traveled to Rotterdam to inspect the boats, which he says were immaculate. After some testing
Craig Fougere
Terminal Manager
T C E F
902-468-1351 902-237-7100 cfougere@m-o.com 902-468-2086
Maritime-Ontario Freight Lines Limited 81 Simmonds Dr. Dartmouth, NS B3B 1N7
www.m-o.com