Thin on Top

 I don't pay close attention to Atlantic Container Lines ships - they come and go, usually twice weekly- one eastbound and one westbound - and are more or less a fixture of Halifax Harbour. Today however I took particular note of the Atlantic Sun  when it was alongside at PSA Fairview Cove. 

Through a rainy-streaked windshield (thanks to Post Tropical Storm Melissa, passing by well out to sea, there was no SUN) the ship appeared to have very few containers on deck.

Sister ship Atlantic Sky had less than a full deck load when I noticed it on September 11.  

After the rush of imports for late fall (US Thanksgiving and Christmas consumer goods), cargo volumes tend to tail off, so I should not be too surprised. East bound cargoes are always lighter than westbound too, and as today's arrival is eastbound from Norfolk I guess it is to be expected that it would be lightly loaded. 

Atlantic Container Line is owned by the Italian Grimaldi Group and is one of the longest standing customers of the port.

ACL runs five 100,430 gt. 49,600 dwt, ConRo ships Atlantic Star, Sail, Sea, Sky and Sun built in 2015-2016. In addition to a modest 3800 TEU container capacity, the have immense RoRo space of 6412 linear meters, served by a 420 tonne capacity stern ramp. 

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