What's the Hold Up

 The transfer of containers stranded in Halifax from the Montreal lockout and strike does not seem to be happening very quickly. As previously noted trucks and trains have done what they could do, but they also have the normal regularly scheduled containers moving through the port.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company applied for coasting licenses to use the foreign flag MSC Sagitta III and Baltic III as no suitable Canadian ships are available. They made the application to the Canadian Transportation Agency on November 15 and as far as I can tell the Agency made its recommendation to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on November 20 with a proposed start date of November 24. 

As reported the MSC Sagitta III is alongside at PSA Fairview Cove and MSC Baltic III is anchored standing by offshore, but as of today, November 27, there has been no start to load. What is the hold up? Surely the Minister is not so busy that they can't apply a signature. 

As ZIM's H Cygnus (nearest camera) prepares to sail from PSA Fairview Cove this morning the MSC Sagitta III (background) sits idle.

 I wonder if the stranded containers are clogging up the normal flow in the terminals. The truck lanes are certainly chock full and lined up out into the streets at PSA Fairview Cove and there are MSC boxes stored in places that I don't normally see.

 Things appear to be closer to normal at PSA Atlantic Gateway but there are lots of MSC boxes there too, stacked well to the south of the main terminal (left background in the photo) at the Pier 30s.

 

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