Compass Marine Services (Compass Marine) is an ISO 9001-2008 certified shipping agency, providing top-quality services for vessels engaged in bulk, break bulk and container cargo trades with Canada. Ideadlly situated in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company has earned an international reputation for its seamless handling of vessel and cargo agency on both Canadian coasts.

First 'Fast Cat' Sails for Middle East

31 August, 2009 by admin

A specialized cargo ship carrying the first of three Pacificat ferries recently sold to a company in Abu Dhabi set sail on August 26 from the Port of Vancouver toward its new home in the United Arab Emirates.

Vancouver based CTL Westrans Shipbrokers (CTL), which brokered both the sale and transport contracts for the three Pacificat ferries, had been working on sourcing the best suitable vessel candidates for several months before the “Fast cats” were sold by the Washington Marine Group to Abu Dhabi Mar, a yacht building group based in the United Arab Emirates.

The sheer size of the Pacificats required the specialized capabilities of a semi-submersible vessel with a "float on/float off" loading method. The contract was awarded to Dockwise Shipping BV of Netherlands which operates the world’s largest fleet of such vessels. The chosen vessel types have a deck length of 127m which matches perfectly to accommodate the Pacificats overall 122m length. Some special logistical issues had to be addressed, such as the construction of customized steel supports structures at Vancouver Shipyards.

The loading operation on August 22 entailed excellent cooperation between Dockwise crew, Seaspan tug crews, All-Sea Enterprises Divers and Abu Dhabi Mar representatives on the ferry itself. With the assistance of three tugs and the receiving vessel's lines boats and winches, the Pacificat Voyager was carefully positioned over the submerged deck - a snug fit with five meters clearance to spare - then raised by de-ballasting. The complete operation took one week, with three days for deck preparation, one day for loading, and three days for final securing for sea.

The M.V. 'Swift' departed the Port of Vancouver with the 'Pacificat Voyager', the M.V. 'Teal' will take the 'Pacificat Discovery' in October and the M.V. 'Swift' returns in November for the 'Pacificat Explorer'. The journey is estimated to take 35 days to complete.

In November 2008, CTL was also responsible for arranging the transportation of 80 of Vancouver's de-commissioned electric trolley buses to Mendoza.

For more information contact CTL Westrans Shipbroker Rich Peters 604-681-4331.