I have often said it was a matter of time before draft restrictions would eat into container volumes bound for Montreal, and it looks like that may have begun.
This Past weekend saw the first call of MSC Elma to PSA Halifax’s Atlantic Hub,on a new Service from MSC.
MSC has replaced its Boston Express Service with a New service, adding stops, and lengthening the route, while dropping Montreal. The new Ecuador – NWC (for North West Continent) Service consists of an eight week rotation from Antwerp with calls in Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Halifax, Boston, Freeport, Rodman (Balboa), Guayaquil, Puerto Bolivar, Guayaquil, Paita, Cristobal, Moin (Costa Rica) and back to Antwerp. Ships currently assigned to the service are all in the 8800+teu range. This past weekends caller, MSC Elma, features 1700 reefer plugs, which will be well used transporting South American fruits and Agricultural products.
The Boston Express Service used 4 ships, and sailed from Antwerp, calling on Bremerhaven, Boston, Montreal and back to Antwerp. These ships were in the 2500teu range.
The current size record for the Port of Montreal is the MSC Melissa, at 6730teu, which is 9300teu smaller then then the current Canadian record holder, CMA CGM Marco Polo.
One Oceans Cruise ship the RCGS Resolute was finally released from arrest in Argentina, and on the way north sunk a Venezuelan warship. One Ocean itself went through a restructuring, and plans to offer cruises in 2021.
Rail blockages by Indigenous protests caused problems for the port. So did Excess traffic caused by a longshoreman strike in Montreal. MSC Diverted ships, but added Halifax to its regular schedule. Containers began to dwell, due to rail delays cased by a shortage of cars, causing excess empty containers were stacked all around port property. The Strike also led to Hapag Lloyd diverted some traffic to Halifax.
Genoa Express is at Fairview Cove. MSC Ela took to the outer anchorage on the 16th Quebec Express arrived on the 19th,and dropped the hook in the outer anchorage. Ortolan Gamma due on the 20th, MSC Annick is due on the 22nd, having sailed from Montreal. OOCL Montreal is due the 28th MSC Brianna is due the 31st.
Today brought the arrival of the CAP Portland, marking the first call of the Maersk MEX Service.
The fully Maersk Line-operated weekly Med/Montreal express(MMX) service will be a five-vessel rotation stopping in Salerno and La Spezia (Italy), Fos-sur-Mer (France), Algeciras (Spain), Montreal and Halifax (Canada), and Valencia (Spain). The First voyage of the service, began on July 2nd, departing from Salerno, Italy,
The MEX Service will be served by EM SPETSES, SAN ALESSIO, SAN ADRIANO, GERRIT BRAREN, and CAP PORTLAND
in other Maersk news, the Longstanding Maersk Service is running with Ships SEAMAX STAMFORD, EM KEA, ARICA and maersk Panang, making Panang the last Original Maersk Vessel Running on the service.
Maersk Line yesterday announced the expansion of its product portfolio between Europe’s Mediterranean region and Canada to cater for the growing demands of importers and exporters on both sides of the Atlantic.
The fully Maersk Line-operated weekly Med/Montreal express(MMX) service will be a five-vessel rotation stopping in Salerno and La Spezia (Italy), Fos-sur-Mer (France), Algeciras (Spain), Montreal and Halifax (Canada), and Valencia (Spain). The exclusive Maersk-operated service, the Med / Montreal Express, will have its first sailing on July 2nd, departing from Salerno, Italy, and arriving in Montreal on July 19th.
The new service will call Montreal’s Cast terminal, operated by MGT, which is conveniently located closest to the ocean and offers easy access to rail and trucking options.
In addition, the service will make an Eastbound call in Halifax, Nova Scotia, catering for an important Canadian perishable market and facilitating refrigerated shipments of foodstuff traditionally exported from Canadian Maritime Provinces.
Arsos in 2011 when she called on CMA-CGM’s Black Pearl Service.
Zim Has added Halifax to its new Canada Florida Express (CFX), service and removed Halifax from ZIM Pacific (ZCP) loop Service. The Pacific loop was responsible for the arrival of the first 10000teu+ ship to call on Halifax.
The CFX Service will Operate as a fixed-day weekly service, the CFX will deploy two 1,300-TEU vessels and will have a rotation of Kingston, Miami, Halifax and Kingston. the vessels scheduled are AS FELICIA and ARSOS, and are scheduled to arrive April 3 and 10th respectively. Arsos Previously called on Halifax in 2011 as part of CMA-CGM’s Black Pearl Service.
Zim Operates 2 Other services to Halifax. The Mediterranean service (ZCI) is run in conjunction with the Alliance (who calls it AL6) and includes the following port rotation Salerno – Livorno – La Spezia – Genoa – Fos Sur Mer – Halifax – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – Salerno and is served by 5 smaller K-Line vessels (Brevick Bridge, Budapest Bridge, Berlin Bridge, Bilbao Bridge, and Brotonne Bridge) at Ceres.
Bilbao Bridge on the ZCI and AL6 Services.
The Zim Atlantic Service (ZCA) covers a port rotation of Mersin – Ashdod – Haifa – Izmir – Aliaga – Piraeus – Barcelona – Valencia – Algeciras – Halifax – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – Valencia – Tarragona – Mersin and is served by Panamax ships ZIM Luanda, ZIM Alabama, ZIM Constanza, ZIM Monaco, ZIM Texas, and ZIM Qingdao
ZIM Monaco on the ZCA Service
A summary of the various Container line alliances can be found here.
Today marked the beginning of Tropical Shipping’s service from Halifax. They recently re-located from the port of Saint John, after they were unable to reach an agreement with the new terminal operator there. They specialize in container services to the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Tropical Shippings parent company is American, so unlike other services calling in the region from Halifax, they do not stop in Cuba.
With Saint John NB changing container terminal operators from Logistec to DP World, Effective January 9th, 2017, Tropical Shipping will move its port operations to Halterm Container Terminal.
Tropical Shiping specializes in shipping cargo to the Caribbean, and around the Caribbean. It sounds like a weekly service is coming to Halifax.
The Port of Saint John has launched a C$205 million project over seven years to modernize the Rodney and Navy Island terminals to accommodate larger vessels and expand laydown areas for breakbulk and project cargoes. DP World Saint John recently took delivery of two post panamax container cranes.
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.
CMA-CGM will add halifax to its Columbus Loop service August 2 with the arrival of CMA-CGM Vivaldi. A massive loop, its covered by 17 vessels, and will make Canadian stops in Both Halifax and Vancouver with a 119 day round trip.
Vessels are around 8500teu, and will call at Halterm.
