Gayle Force barges into Bermuda

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9: Tugs, tows and tankers all descend on Bermuda this week in a ‘licorice allsorts’ start to 2013 in the shipping world.

On Sunday the tug Eileen McAllister rumbled into Dockyard after hauling the barge, Gayle Force, all the way across the Atlantic from Chesapeake in Virginia.

Her cargo of more than 100 concrete blocks and industrial piping will be used in the initial phase of the infrastructure expansion of the sewage system that runs from Dockyard to Boaz Island.

The tug and tow are expected to make a series of return voyages to the island to deliver more raw materials for the project, which is also tied in the Victoria and Albert Row redevelopment.

Meanwhile the tanker MT Bull is running slightly behind her Wednesday morning arrival slot due to bad weather.

And she is now expected to arrive at the Oil Docks off St George’s later this week to deliver fuel for Esso.

The bulk carrier, MT Antarctic, has also been forced to delay her arrival into Bermuda for a crew change.

Instead of calling into Five Fathom Hole yesterday to take on board five new crew, she is now expected to arrive off St David’s on Sunday as she travels between the US and Europe.

The cable ship, Wave Sentinel, sustained damage as a result of the high seas in the Atlantic on her way from France and will be calling into Bermuda next week.

The vessel, which was based in Dockyard for six months last year, was due to make a quick stop on the island just to pick up a new crew member.

But now she will be with us for five days for repairs to be completed.

At the other end of the island the tall ship, Christian Raddich, is due to sail through Town Cut and into Penno’s Wharf on Saturday.

The three-masted vessel was built for training sailors for the Norwegian merchant navy, before entering the charter market in 1999.

Since that time she has appeared on movies and television shows as well as taken part in a series of tall ship races.

The Christian Raddich and her crew of 18 are expected to be in Bermuda until next Monday.

Finally all container vessels are on-island this week.

The Oleander was given a rude reception when she arrived on Monday to the news that dock workers had decided to go on strike.

The industrial action meant she was left idle and fully loaded on the dock for more than a day and the strike is also expected to severely impact the Somers Isles and Bermuda Islander that get into Hamilton today and tomorrow respectively.