FEDERAL BISCAY

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Bulkcarrier freed from ice trap

The "Federal Biscay" which had been stuck in the ice near Snell Lock in Massena since Jan 2 was finally able to free itself on Jan 6 after a major effort over the past 24 hours to melt the ice around the vessel using pressurized steam. Tugs had tried since Jan 2 to pull the "Federal Biscay" free from the ice, beginning with an effort of more than seven hours and continuing through the week. Seaway officials also attempted to melt the ice around the vessel using pressurized steam, with additional tugboats brought in to assist. The efforts took place at a time when temperatures had dropped below zero and wind chill readings were as low as 45 below zero. The vessel exited the lock in the afternoon with tug assistance. The vessel was now tied up along the upper approach wall to the lock. “The effort to free the vessel lasted several days and involved the hard work of many individuals under severe weather conditions. This included dedicated SLSDC work crews, technical experts from the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), the vessel operator (Fednav, Ltd.) and numerous contractors. The bulkcarrier had been on its way from Port Weller, Ontario, to Montreal when it became immobilized by heavy ice buildup on the lock wall, as well as on the vessel’s hull. Four other ships that remained in the Seaway system when the Federal Biscay became immobilized had been put in queue until the ship could be freed and shipping could resume. They were the "Mitiq" and the "Beatrix" from the Netherlands, the bulkcarrier "Pacific Huron" and the Panama flagged boxship "Billesborg". The vessels still must transit downbound (eastbound) through the U.S. Seaway locks toward Montreal to exit the Seaway, which originally had been scheduled to close for the season on Dec. 31. The vessels were already positioned to allow for as safe and expeditious lock transit as possible. Seaway officials said they would issue another advisory when all five vessels have cleared the U.S. locks and have exited the U.S. sector of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Report with photo: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/ship-finally-freed-after-several-days-stuck-in-ice-near-snell-lock-20180107

Bulkcarrier frozen in lock

The "Federal Biscay" got frozen in the Snell Lock, St. Lawrence Seaways, on Jan 2, 2018, being unable to break free even with the help of two tugs. Efforts to pull the ship out of the Snell Lock were not successful. The tugs "Ocean A. Simard" and "Robinson" pulled together for hours, but the ship is frozen solid into the lock. The "Ocean A. Simard" meanwhile has departed upbound in the Seaway. On Jan 3 tugs were outside the lock. The bulkcarrier was en route from Port Weller to Montreal with a cargo of soybeans. The "Federal Biscay" was blocking four other freighters from continuing downriver to Montreal. Those include the "Pacific Huron", the ship that hit shoals and grounded near Clayton. It’s now waiting its turn anchored at the Iroquois Dam in Lisbon, as of Jan 4 afternoon. Reports with photos: https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/35383/20180105/a-cork-in-a-bottle-seaway-ship-remains-lodged-in-ice-in-massena-locks http://www.wwnytv.com/story/37181174/tugs-work-to-free-ship-stuck-in-locks http://www.mpcourier.com/dco/ship-gets-stuck-in-ice-near-snell-lock-in-massena-20180103

Oshima to Build Four More Bulkers for Fednav

Canadian shipowner and operator Fednav has ordered four more dry bulk carriers from a Japanese shipbuilder Oshima Shipbuilding. The vessels are scheduled to join Fednav’s fleet in 2018, Clarksons added. The parties did not reveal the value of the order. In October of 2015, Fednav took delivery of a 34,500 dwt laker Federal Biscay from the same shipyard. This was the first of the company’s twelve new vessels which transited the Great Lakes to be equipped with a ballast water treatment system. Source Clarksons Platou