PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub

 PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub, had both berths operating the South End Container Terminal for a brief time this morning. The ONE Madrid sailed from Pier 41 soon after the MSC Shannon III arrived ar Pier 42.

The ONE Madrid was built by Imabari Zosen, Mihara, Japan as Madrid Bridge, 152,068 gt, 146,778 dwt with a capacity of 13,900 TEU. The ship's owners, K-Line, joined the other Japanese container Lines, NYK Line and MOL to form Ocean Network Express (ONE) in 2017 and began the process of renaming their ships and giving them them the "cherry blossom" hull colour. Madrid Bridge was renamed in 2023.

Due to its size the ship required two tethered escorts astern. The Atlantic Ash (left) and the Atlantic Maple (right) are positioned to turn the ship into the western, deep water channel.

 

The ONE Madrid is currently on the EC5 Asia to North America service of THE Alliance (Hapag-Lloyd / ONE / Yang Ming / HMM). Next month when Hapag-Lloyd drops out, the remaining lines (ONE, Yang Ming and HMM) will carry on as the Premier Alliance. If you can imagine the ship without any Hapag-Lloyd containers, you will have an idea of how the reduction will effect both the shipping companies and the Port of Halifax. Hapag-Lloyd has joined with Maersk to form the Gemini Cooperation and so far will not be calling in Halifax.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company is the largest container line and will exit the 2M Alliance with rival Maersk as of next month and remain unaffiliated. It operates several services through Halifax, including the Canada Express from the London Gateway, Antwerp and Le Havre to Montreal with an outbound call in Halifax.

MSC Shannon III arrived from Montreal this morning and appears to be new to the Canada Express route. It and was previously running between Antwerp and St.Petersburg, until this trip.

Hiding behind a forest of cranes and RTGS, the MSC Shannon III lies at Pier 42, with the ONE Madrid on its off side (its bow and funnel are visible to sharp eyes) sliding back into berth 41.

MSC Shannon III is another MSC veteran, built in 1991 by Bremer Vulkan AG in Vegesack as Berlin Senator and renamed NSC Shannon in 2004. In 2023 it had "III" added in a company- wide effort to classify ships by size. The 37,071 gt, 56,127 dwt ship has a capacity of 2668 TEU.

 

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