OOCL Britain, port side to.

The OOCL post-Panamax ships that call at Fairview Cove almost invariably tie up "starboard side to". To do this, the ship must turn off the berth and back in. This also allows them to leave bow first, and requires slightly less maneuvering and a straighter departure.

The two post-Panamax cranes at the Ceres Terminal are also stationed at the west end of the pier, so the ship ties up at that end.

It was a bit of a surprise today to see OOCL Britain alongside "port side to". I could detect a diver's boat under her stern, but this was not possible to capture on film. No doubt there was a very good reason to tie the ship up in this way.

Also the ship seemed to be extremely lightly loaded.

Built in 1996, the 66046 gross ton ship can carry 5344 TEU. It is registered in Hong Kong.

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Flying Light

1. OOCL Britain passes beneath the MacKay bridge, with Altantic Fir on the stern.

The post-Panamax OOCL Britain sailed this afternoon very high on her marks. Either she unloaded a huge cargo in Halifax, or she is very lightly loaded. One explanation may be that she sailed from the far east at the time of Chinese New Year when manufacturing production is at a low point. Let's hope it is not a sign of things to come.

OOCL Britain was built in 1996 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Kobe, is owned by Orient Overseas Container Line (through a single ship company) and registered in Hong Kong. She measures 66,046 gross tons and is rated for 5344 TEU.

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OOCL Britain, first call 2011

OOCL Britain glides through the Narrows this morning with the tug Atlantic Larch on the stern wire.

The ship is the first ship to arrive in Halifax this year, but there was no special welcome. In fact the ship went to anchor in Bedford Basin. Because of the New Year Holiday, the longshoremen are not working. The ship will move the short distance in to the Fairview Cove container pier tomorrow morning for an 0700 start.

Built in 1996 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at their Kobe, Japan yard, the ship has a container capacity of 5344 TEU. Gross tonnage is 66046, typical of the post-Panamax ships of the Orient Overseas Container Line, based in Hong Kong.

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