More Cars

 Traditionally as spring returns, car sales increase and so do the numbers of European import cars arriving at Autoport. Even with the current economic uncertainty this year, there does seem to be the usual influx.

Today, March 12, saw two ships in succession at Autoport. MOL's Supreme Ace arrived early this morning and sailed early this afternoon. The Siem Confucious arrived in the afternoon and is due to sail this evening. The two ships did not meeet in the harbour as I expected, and the Siem Confucious waited outside the pilot station until the Supreme Ace had cleared.

The Foundation Pilot makes its way outbound as the Supreme Ace leaves Eastern Passage to swing into the main harbour.

Owned by Mitsui OSK Lines of Japan and operating under their Auto Carrier Express (ACE) fleet of about 110 ships, the Supreme Ace was built in 2011 by Minami Nippon, Shitanoe. The 59,022 gt, 18,834 dwt ship has a capacity of 6,183 small cars or 5,063 medium size or 4,425 large cars. It has the usual stern ramp and a smaller starboard side ramp.

 The ship is taking an unusual port rotation. Since leaving Kanda, Japan on January 30 it has stopped in Mazatlan, San Juan, New York and Baltimore (Dundalk). It is now headed for Brunswick, Georgia.

The second arrival was Siem Confucius, on charter to Volkswagen. It is the first of Siem's Super-Ecos, and was delivered by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry in 2020. It first called here in August 2021. The 72,090 gt, 19,090 VLPCTC (Very Large Pure Car and Truck Carrier) has a capacity of 7500 CEU, which works out to about 4800 vehicles of Volkswagen's normal mix. The ship has a 200 tonne capacity stern ramp, 45.1m long x14.94m wide and a 20 tonne capacity starboard side ramp 25m long x 7.7m wide. The ship uses LNG fuel, which is available at VW's home port of Emden.

 The ship was previously here on January 25 and has since called in Sparrows Point, and Veracruz. It sailed from Emden Febraury 27 and seems to have taken a long time to reach Halifax. Siem Car Carriers AS, an arm of the Norwegian Siem Group, operates five autocarriers. The parent copmany is also active in reefer and bulk shipping and offshore petroleum support.

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