There They Go

 Three ships sailed in quick succession early this afternoon - each with its own point of interest.

MSC Mexico V 

First off was the container ship MSC Mexico V leaving PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub, Pier 42. The ship is on the Mediterranean Shipping Company's Indus Express service, sailing from Mundra May 10 non-stop to Halifax, passing Capetown June 4, and arriving here last evening. It is now en route to New York for June 13.

I gave the ship's history in detail when it was here previously, see October 12, 2023  but the basic details are:

It was built in 2002 by Hyundai, Ulsan, and is 53,453 gt, 66,547 dwt with a capacity of 4839 TEU (other sources give 4992 TEU nominal and 3433 TEU at 14 tonnes), and has 500 reefer points. It was retrofitted with an exhaust gas scrubber system, stacked tight against the superstructure.

As per the previous post it also has a history with Halifax, having arrived here for the first time April 5, 2002 on its maiden voyage. It was then called ZIM Mediterranean and continued to call here for several years. It was the first of a series of six Panamax ships built for ZIM, and flying the Israeli flag. (See photos in that previous post.)

It was renamed OOCL Mexico in 2014, and simply Mexico in 2016. In 2022 it became MSC Mexico and the "V" was added later the same year.

Mount Cook 

The big dry bulker Mount Cook spent less than six hours in port this morning while the Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducted an examination for invasive species, particularly the dangerous "spongy moth" [Lymantria dispar], which would attack deciduous trees. Upon completion the ship was given clearance to proceed on its voyage from Rotterdam to Sept-Iles, QC, where it is due to load 170,000 tonnes of iron ore.

 The ship was built by New Times Shipbuilding Co Ltd in Jingjiang City in 2023. The Newcastlemax sized 112,435 gt, 208,886 dwt dual fuel ship carries its LNG storage tanks on deck, and has a widely projecting stern to make room. The ship is one of eleven sister ships ordered by Eastern Pacific Shipping.

 

The ship is named for the highest peak in New Zealand, the 3,724 meter (12,218 ft) high Aoraki / Mount Cook to give its present official name. It was named Mount Cook in 1851 to commemorate Captain James Cook, who explored the area in 1771 (but never actually saw the mountain.) It was renamed, adding its Maori name, in 1998.  

[Captain Cook has more connection with Halifax. He was stationed in Halifax from 1758-1762 as sailing master of HMS Pembroke (60 gun, fourth rate) and later HMS Northumberland (70 gun, third rate) and participated in the capture of Louisbourg, Quebec City and the re-capture of St.John's. He also conducted innumerable surveys and mapping in the region, most notably Halifax harbour itself, and participated in construction of defences.]

 Marsgracht

It was a very short stay for the multi-purpose type general cargo ship Marsgracht. It arrived at the pilot station at 0815 hrs ADT, berthed at Fairview Cove an hour or so later, and ordered a pilot for a 1330 hrs departure.

 Unlike many of the Spliethoff ships we see here, this one, a member of the "M" class, has  conventional folding hatches, and no side loading elevators. It is a typical tween deck type with moveable pontoon tween decks that can be arranged as ten compartments at TEU intervals. The holds are ventilated and de-humidifed.

Built in 2011 by Zhejiang Oahu Shipbuilding Co in Zhoushan, it measures 9524 gt, 12,284 dwt with a capacity for bulk and breakbulk and heavy cargo or 696 TEU. It carries three cranes each of 80 tonnes SWL, which can be combined for 160 tonne lifts. It has ice class F/S 1A  and is fitted for the Great Lakes and Australia. 

The ship arrived from Salerno, Italy, and sailed for the English Channel. I could not see what the ship offloaded that was worth a solo trip from the Mediterranean. 

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