Strange Comings and Goings

 A pair of unusual callers passed each other coming and going this morning, July 13. The first ship to arrive was MSC Melissa, en route from New York to Montreal. The ship anchored in the lower harbour, did not work any cargo, and sailed within four hours. Although there was no notice that it was undergoing Asian Gypsy moth inspection that may have been the reason for its visit.

The lightly loaded MSC Melissa spent a few hours at anchor.

Built for MSC in 2002  by Hyundai, Ulsan, the 73,819 gt, 85,786 dwt vessel has a capacity of 6730 TEU including 400 reefers. Previous ports were Le Havre, June 30 - July 2 and Antwerp June 23-27, New York July 10-11.

The arrival of the next ship was timed so that they could meet conveniently, with the inbound ship taking the western channel.

The inbound Navios Constellation with three tugs, passes York Redoubt in the western, deep water, channel.

Navios Constellation dates from 2011 when it was built by Samsung, Koje as Hanjin Spain. In 2017 it became Asklipios, becoming Navios Constellation in 2019. It is a 113,412 gt, 118,814 dwt ship with a capacity of 9954 TEU including 1400 reefers. The ship has called here before. As Asklipios it was here   September 1, 2017  for ZIM.

Its visit today is for THE Alliance's EC5 service, which normally would be handled at Cerescorp's Fairview Cover terminal. However the ship is too large to pass beneath the harbour bridges and will instead berth at PSA Halifax. Although it is uncommon, the two competing terminals do cooperate from time to time. They are expected to do so again later this month when soister sip Aristomenis ex Hanjin Netherlands will also call at PSA Halifax. Rumours persist that PSA will acquire the lease on Fairview Cove, but nothing has been conformed. 

Once Navios Constellation had reached the area off PSA Halifax, MSC Melissa was outbound in the main channel.

Shooting directly into the sun posed problems for photos - hence the odd coloration of the above images.

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