What are the Odds

 The title of this post is intended to be a rhetorical question, although someone with a higher degree of mathematical proficiency than I might the able to answer it. 

With some 1500* ships calling in Halifax in the course of a year there are many times when the same ships are in port together at the same time. Leaving out cruise ships (there were 178 cruise calls in 2023 - many of which were duplicates and there were many times when there was more than one ship in port at a time) and leaving out regular coastal cargo ships or tankers, that are in port regularly, the numbers of "coincidental calls" reduces dramatically.

Most container lines use the same ships for extended periods of time, and those with relatively short haul weekly or monthly calls are likely to have coinciding visits, with ships from other lines. But for the long haul lines, with a given ship calling in the port maybe only one two times a year, the coincidence rate becomes even lower.

Therefore today's repeat visits by CMA CGM J. Adams and MSC Pratiti must be considered a rare event. They were last in Halifax together in June 2022. 

CMA CGM J. Adams is on the Ocean Alliance (CMA CGM / APL / COSCO / Evergreen /  OOCL) Asia to North America east coast service from Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Of interest is that after stopping in Colombo January 14-15 it did transit the Red Sea safely, passing through the Suez Canal January 25-26. It stopped in Tanger Med Febraury 3-4 and sailed directly for Halifax.

Followiing newly instituted regulations, as of Janaury 2024, the ship used two stern tethered escort tugs. 

All container ships with an overall length greater than 335 meters (1099 ft) and a draught greater than 14.0 meters (46 ft) are now required to use dual tug escorts. This particular ship measures 365.96 meters (1200 ft) overall length and 15 meters (49.2 ft) draught. 

The ship also took the western, deep water channel on its way in.

Once close to Pier 41, the tugs swung out into position to turn and berth the ship.

 

The CMA CGM J.Adams was built in 2017 by Hyundai, Ulsan, and has tonnages of 141,950 gross and 148,425 dwt with a capacity of 14,414 TEU. [For some reason tonnages have been revised since its last visit when they were 140,872 gt and 148,8992 dwt.]

At the adjacent berth, Pier 42, was the MSC Pratiti on MSC's Canada Express 2 service from the Mediterranean. When the CMA CGM J. Adams was here June 21 -22, 2022 the MSC Pratiti was also at the adjacent berth. (It was a sunnier and warmer day, see post at: June 22, 2022.)

The MSC Pratiti has been a familiar visitor to Halifax over the years. Built in 2004 by Hyundai Ulsan as ZIM Pusan it was a regular. The 53,453 gt, 66,597 dwt ship has a capacity of 4814 TEU including 330 reefers. In 2014 it was renamed Pusan and in 2017 Kowloon Bay. It took on its current name in 2021. 

After discharging some cargo to reduce draft for the St.Lawrence River, the ship sailed for Montreal. It is due there February 13, but is due back in Halifax February 18 to take on a bit more cargo for efficient sailing at ocean draught. 

* The 1500 ships per year figure has been used for a long time. I guess the increase in size of ships, rather than the number of ships, is responsible for the growth in cargo tonnage that the port has recorded recently.

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