Return of the Regulars

 Two arrivals in Haliax today (July 19) were both regulars - one long term and one shorter term.

The "newer" of the arrivals was MSC Nuria from Montreal on the CANEX 2 service to Mediterranean ports. The ship arrived in light draft condition for St.Lawrence River limits and will top up cargo to ocean draft. The ship arrived in a light drizzle, which fuzzified the image somewhat.

 The tug Atlantic Oak is made up forward portside and Atlantic Fir approaches to make up on the starboard bow.

The ship made its first call here June 4, 2019 for Canadian Food Inspection Agency invasive species clearance. At that time there were no MSC ships calling in Halifax on a regular basis, so it was something of a novelty. That has changed with "draft stops" to decant or top off now a regular occurrence. MSC has also added Halifax to some of its North Atlantic services, including Turkey- Greece, Indusa, North Europe-Ecuador along with CANEX 1 and CANEX2.

The ship was built in 2008 by Daewoo's Mangalia, Romania shipyard and launched as Buxplace but was given its current name on delivery. It is a 50,563 gt, 63,377 dwt ship with a capacity of 4884 TEU including 560 reefers.

There was some sort of problem with the ship as it approached the pilot station inbound, and it had to do a 360 degree turn and make is rendez-vous with the pilot boat a second time before the pilot boarded.

The second arrival, later in the afternoon is a long time regular on THE Alliance's AL5 route from North Europe.

NYK Rumina made its way inbound to Fairiview Cove with the tugs Atlantic Willow forward and Atlantic Bear tethered aft.

Built in 2010 by Hyundai, Samho, the 55,487 gt, 66,171 dwt ship a capacity of 4922 TEU including 330 reefers. It has been calling here since at least 2015.

Ships the size of these two were thought to be obsolete a few years ago as larger and larger ships came into service. However the recent COVID/boom in shipping drove their value back up and gave them an extension. With things cooling off, if not slumping now, and with scores of new ships coming out this year and next, there may be a thinning in the ranks.

Nevertheless they are still useful ships on routes that include the St. Lawrence River, and some low volume trade routes.

.