CMA CGM Cochin

 An unusual ship arrived today (September 22) on the CMA CGM led Columbus JAX service. The CMA CGM Cochin is much smaller than the usual ships on the service and it did not call at all of the usual ports. Other than its name it does not carry any of the usual CMA CGM identifiers.

Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding in Jingjiang built the 113,509 gt, 119,180 dwt ship in 2018. Rated at 10,000 TEU, it has about 75% of the rated capacity of the usual ships on the route, which are the largest ships to call in Halifax. (CMA CGM Mexico which was here on Monday - a few days late due to weather - is rated at 15,000 TEU).

The joint service, operated by the Ocean Alliance of CMA CGM, China Ocean Shipping Co (COSCO), Evergreen and OOCL, usually calls in 18 ports and requires 21 ships to maintain its weekly service, with a 147 day rotation of ships. The route is from the North American west coast, via China, Vietnam, Malaysia  (Singapore eastbound) and Colombo via Suez to the North American east coast. This ship however sailed directly from Port Klang to Halifax, with no stop in Colombo but with a one day layover in the Suez anchorages. This suggests to me that it may be on the route to pick up extra cargo due to seasonal demand.

Also unusual is the lack of CMA CGM markings. The funnel (which is concealed from view by the scrubber housing) has no CMA CGM insignia and the usual "CMA CGM" banner is missing from the hull. The ship, which has been on charter to CMA CGM since new, is owned and managed by Seaspan Ship Management. These charters are usually ten years or so, which would justify painting CMA CGM identifiers. I note that the ship was drydocked in May / June of this year, and on line photos show the CMA CGM banner and red arrows in May 2023, so these were apparently painted over in June.

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