MSC Sagitta III - unusual diversion

 The container ship MSC Sagitta III made a diversion from its usual northbound route on MSC's Canada Gulf Bridge service from Mexico to Montreal, arrriving in Halifax April 2. Instead of berthing at PSA's Fairview Cove or Atlantic Hub container facilities it tied up at Pier 27-28 in the Ocean Terminals section of the port. Pier 27 is an open pier and Pier 28 is the grain export pier and has no means of handling container cargo.

The ship requires some repairs that may involve the main engine, and thus could not be made with the ship at anchor. (Ships must have their main engine available while at anchor in the Port.) 

This is not the ship's first call in Halifax. It was here in June 29, 2024 on its first inbound trip on the Gulf Bridge run, likely for Canadian Food Inspection Agency clearance. It was back again in November and December 2024 when it was one of two MSC ships granted coasting licenses to transfer containers from Halifax to Montreal. The boxes had been stranded in Halifax during the Montreal port workers strike earlier in the year*. The ship was in port from late November to mid-December while the coasting license application was in the works. 

December 16, 2024 photo
 

The ship is a rare European built container ship. Dating from 2010 the 36,519 gt, 42,614 dwt vessel was built by Nordseewerke, Emden to the Thyssen C3X design. It was delivered as Frisia Brussel but immediately renamed Sagitta. It became MSC Sagitta III in 2021. 

It is fitted with a prominent exhaust gas scrubber abaft the superstructure.

 

November 25, 2024 photo

 MSC's schedule shows the ship arriving in Corner Brook April 10 and Saint John April 13, but no longer shows an arrival date for Montreal.

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* Two MSC ships were granted coasting licenses to transfer stranded boxes from Halifax to Montreal.  The other is the ill-fated MSC Baltic III which was on the same Canada Gulf Express service. On February 15 it lost power and drifted aground on the west coast of Newfoundland while making for Corner Brook. 

The ship remains aground with its bottom holed. A laborious salvage operation has removed hazardous cargo, and is now working on removing fuel. It is in a precarious position with the risk of more damage if struck by bad weather. It is not clear if it will be possible to refloat the ship.

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