Category Archives: container ship

United Arab Shipping Co Adds Halifax call starting in October

The United Arab Shipping Company is due to start calling in October. As Part of the Ocean3 Alliance

CMA CGM, China Shipping Container Lines and United Arab Shipping Co. formed the Oceans 3 Alliance in September 2014, and operate  a route between Asia and the east coast via Suez, and another via panama. The new service reportedly originates in Shanghai.

UASC has six 18,800-TEU ships on order and China Shipping is awaiting delivery of five 19,000-TEU units, which will be the largest container vessels afloat. CMA CGM has six 17,700 to 17,800-TEU units on order, scheduled for delivery in 2015.

More to follow.

First stop in Halifax for Budapest Express, and Largest Container ship yet!

Rated at 8749 TEU, she was built in 2010 and is a member of the 3 ship Vienna Express Class.
CMA-CGM Vivaldi recently made a stop in Halifax, and was touted as the largest ship yet. at 8478, she was just bested by 271 TEU.

The Vienna express class are the 3rd larges ships in the Hapag-Llyod  fleet, with only the 9300teu C-Class and the 13000teu Hamburg Express Class above it.

More on Container Ship Cruising.

It appears Halifax has just added another Container Cruising Route. Eimskip’s Reykjafoss (three single cabins) every 35 days to Argentia and St Anthony NF, three ports in Iceland, Immingham in the UK and Rotterdam. This Cruise is 82euro/person/day

This Follows the recent start of The new CMA CGM Columbus Loop (six ships carrying seven passengers each) via Suez to Malaysia, China, Vietnam and South Korea and then on to Vancouver and Seattle.

And the Existing Options which consisted of Melfi Line’s Vera D (one double cabin) every 55 days to Cuba, Mexico and Italy; and Zim San Francisco (three double cabins) every 77 days from Halifax to China and South Korea via the Panama Canal.

This means there will now be about 185 passenger berths on offer on board cargo ships sailing from Halifax each year, where previously it had been fewer than 40. Is Cargo Cruising Popular? With so few cabins Smaller ships tend to fill early, especially ships like Reykjafoss and Vera D, but space is usually available on ships headed to China – there are so many of them these days. It’s usually a matter of either being flexible or booking as early as you can.

CruisePeoples most popular route, Europe to/from Australia and New Zealand, is fully booked to mid-2017.

File Photo Above. the ship is now red.

New Cruise – Halifax to Vancouver – on a Container ship

The start yesterday of  CMA CGM’s Columbus Loop service regular call to Halifax, has added a unique cruising opportunity.

the 71 day Cruise is on the eastbound route, and sails sails Halifax – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – Suez Canal – Port Kelang – Vung Tau – Hong Kong – Yantian – Shanghai – Ningbo – Pusan – Seattle – Vancouver. This takes 71 days, the longest stretch of which is 37 days from Savannah to Port Kelang. Halifax passengers will board at the Halterm container terminal.

The shorter route is westbound: Vancouver – Nadkhodka – Shanghai – Hong Kong – Yantian – Vung Tau – Port Kelang – Suez Canal – Halifax. The time in transit is 55 days, the longest stretch of which is the last 23 days from Port Kelang to Halifax. Vancouver embarkations take place at the Deltaport container terminal, near BC Ferries’ main Vancouver-Victoria terminal at Tsawwassen.

The scheduled calls to Halifax so far, that can accommodate passengers are:
CMA CGM CendrillonAugust 16
CMA CGM Titus
– October 4
CMA CGM La Scala – November 1
CMA CGM Figaro – November 8
CMA CGM Dalila – November 22
CMA CGM Almaviva – December 13
CMA CGM Cendrillon – December 20

Fares including port charges are €100 per person per day. Vessels include a Gym, Library, Pool and Lounge.

For further details on booking a voyage on CMA CGM’s Columbus Loop please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail cruisepeopleltd@aol.com.

Largest Container ship Yet!

The CMA-CGM Vivaldi arrived this morning at pier 41. at 8500 TEU she is the largest container ship to yet call on Halifax. CMA-CGM will be a weekly stop now going forward.
It looks like there is traffic, as she arrived early this morning, and is due to sail late this afternoon.

HPA Photo. im not able to get out to the pier today.