Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Issues continue to plague the marine shipping on the coast. Northern Ranger was late leaving Goose Bay yet again. Monday, July 11th
Departed Goose Bay 4:00 pm
ETA Rigolet 10:45 pm;

Tuesday, July 12th ETA Makkovik 07:00 am

Only four hours late but these continued delays must start to concern some political types one would think. Then again maybe they don't give a rats arse so to speak

Some questions that need answering are: what is the hold up with the Ranger every week departing Goose Bay. Is it on shore issues, is it on board issues like mechanical, are the engines able to keep up with these constant running times to make up lost time??? Has there been sufficient maintenance done over the winter months for the engines and ancillary equipment to keep up the pace.

The ultimate responsibility for the safe and efficient running of the vessel is in the hands of the provincial government, so that is where the questions should be asked.

Then we have the Dutch Runner: It is still in Hopedale according to the CAI-Nunatsiavut web site:
July 11th, 12:49pm
MV Dutch Runner Information
ON TIME


Monday, July 11th
Arrived Hopedale 10:00 am
Departure time to be advised.

No updates since the above posted.

I have it on good authority that there were loading and offloading issues in Makkovik this trip. Things like no fork lift for the wharfinger. The fish plant had to provide their forklift so sea-cans could be loaded at high tide.
Then while offloading a sea-can:
"As the crane of the DR was lowering a seacan to a flat bed on the dock the DR listed towards the dock with the weight of the seacan. Of course when the seacan landed on the flat bed the weight came off the crane. The DR then righted itself taking the seacan back into the air like a match box swinging around uncontrollably, nearly taking out the stablizer on one of the crab fishing boats moored on the other side of the wharf. Not sure who owned the freight inside or if it was damaged. Very lucky nobody was hurt. A dent in the large green upright on the DR. Maybe you can see that when she arrives in Nain later this summer".

Fogged right in here at moment here.

Update: According the CAI-N web site the Dutch Runner miraculously arrived at Natuashish without departing Hopedale.
Tuesday, July 12th
Arrive Natuashish 06:55 am; departure time to be advised when loading completed


Just kidding but that is the image given when following the web site.

For folks on the Wanderbird, Siutik is in fussy eating mode again, food she gobbled up for three days she now refuses to eat, is your husky a female?

Update2: A brighter story from the north, unfortunately further north. The
Nuliajuk passed through here not long back.


Update3: Had my first search hit from

Nain,
Newfoundland,
Canada

Usually not so defined.

Also a shipping update: Even thought the Ranger was advertised to leave Makkovik at 9 am she did not depart until 11:15'ish.

9 comments:

Shammickite said...

There are certainly some obvious problems with the shipping according to all your horror stories about loading and unloading, late departures etc. Is this worse than previous years?

Brian said...

No, one cant say it is worse than some other years, and there have been some doodzies.

What is disconcerting this year especially is the fact that the company operating the service is an alleged "Inuit owned company" and they raised peoples expectations that things would run smoother and more efficiently.

Maybe they can smooth out the wrinkles, but for most of us these wrinkles should have been foreseen, plus the season is so short we cant have these wrinkles going on for too much longer.

Wanderbirds said...

Hey Brian. Pitsik is female, 50 lbs and on her 4th day of eating well. A big surprise as that doesn't usually happen. Interesting story; had Pitsik spayed at the vet in Maine. Vet came to us all excited to say that after 3000 similar operations had never seen anything like this. The reproductive organs were completely enclosed in a "protective " sack of fat. Obvious protection of these parts from cold weather. Really neat> karen LOVES her husky. We are due in Nain around 23 July. Want to have our usual party for the kids. If available would hope to ask you and /or Fran to walk the town with our 12 guests and ourselves. ( I have 6 cold, delecious, brewed good reasons that you may want to say yes!) Oh yes also keeping an eye out for 30 odd foot yellow sailboat named "Hannah" please say hello to them from Wanderbird should they arrive first.

Brian said...

Interesting about the fat around the reproductive organs, makes sense eh.

No problem with the walk around, seeing as I owe you we will forgo our usual high stipend + another six cold ones from up north wink wink.
No yellow boat as yet, nor any other 'pleasure yacht as yet.
Keep eye out for Issuma, red two master, was up here last year and giving it another go.

Anonymous said...

Ok then! hey getting groceries at the CO-OP here in St. Anthony and had a long talk with our old friend Boyd, who is back from Nain. He said to say a big hello to you. I chuckled and said that "
Brian must keep you on your toes with the groceries at the store" he smiled and said that you were a good fellow and you never really hassled him. He is a nice guy Boyd. Cheers, Rick

Brian said...

Had many a good chat with oh Boyd, I always get on with reasonable intelligent helpful people.
When i did complain he always took it as it was meant, he knew I was working to improve things for everybody.

Anonymous said...

Well said Cobber!

MargaretJ said...

Brian, from reading your comments I went to the Wanderbird's webpage and their Facebook photos, and maybe this is the way to travel to Labrador!

Brian said...

I would recommend it for sure, if you have the cash and some time on your hands the Makkovik to Greenland trip would be ideal.
But there are other shorter ones that could do just as well.