ACL and H-L call it splits

 The fallout from the Maersk / Hapag-Lloyd "Gemini Cooperation" began earlier this year. As soon as the arrangement was announced H-L stated that they would be leaving THE Alliance effective early 2025. There was some fear that that the other partners, ONE, HMM and Yang Ming would not be able to survive the loss, but it has now been reported that MSC has stepped in. As the world's largest container line MSC can bring considerable stability to THE Alliance. (MSC had been party to the 2M Alliance with Maersk which will also expire). It is still possible that various lines will re-form into different arrangements, but it is now much less likely.

Atlantic Container Line has announced that it is withdrawing from the longstanding "reciprocal space charter and sailing agreement" with Hapag-Lloyd. Initially established in 1986 and renewed every ten years, the agreement saw ACL moving some of its ships to H-L's Montreal route for a time and even renaming them with "Express" names.

The G3 (third generation) ACL ship Atlantic Companion was renamed Companion Express from 1987 to 1994.

 There was lots of Hapag-Lloyd orange on deck as Atlantic Cartier arrived in Haifax and also on the Atlantic Compass:

Atlantic Concert carried the name Concert Express from 1987-1994.

In recent years H-L boxes (and the green United Arab Shipping Co's UASC boxes) have been fewer and fewer on ACL ships (at least from what can be seen on deck), so it is uncertain how severe a jolt this latest development will be for the Grimaldi-owned ACL. There is also talk that H-L may establish a new transatlantic service of its own calling in Saint John, NB. H-L and CP Rail (now CPKC) also have longstanding ties, so this may be a loss to Halifax which is served only by CN Rail.

 Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will be establising feeder services as part of of their new network but ACL also has feeders to Gothenborg and between Liverpool and Dublin and Belfast. The shakeup may have more ramifications however, but that is purely speculation at this point.

You can play "Where's Waldo" trying to spot the Hapag-Lloyd and UASC containers on the Atlantic Sky at PSA Fairview Cove yesterday, September 20. 

.

ACL cuts the cord

In a series of strongly worded statements the two top leaders of Atlantic Container Line threatened to, then indeed did, cut Halifax out of its transatlantic shipping schedules today, diverting all traffic to US ports. The move was in response to a rail blockade between Montreal and Toronto that has resulted in CN largely halting all rail operations east of Toronto. The blockade is in sympathy with protests over the proposed routing of a gas pipeline through indigenous territory in British Columbia.

As the Port of Halifax's oldest container customer, ACL also offers RoRo service which includes oversize cargo such as aircraft components.

Fuselages and tail structures built in Ireland are shipped via Liverpool, UK to Halifax then trucked to Quebec. 

Starting even before Halifax's first container terminal was completed, ACL now runs its fourth generation of ConRo ships. The ownership of the line has evolved from a consortium of traditional shipping companies from the UK, France, Holland and Sweden to its present position as a wholly owned Grimaldi Group subsidiary.

One of the magnificent  "S" class of first generation ACL ships, Atlantic Saga unloads at a barely recognizable pier 36. It belonged to ACL partner Swedish America Line. Built in 1967, it was broken up in 1987.

ACL also serves New York and it is thought that most of the cargo that was worked through Halifax can be handled by US railways or trucks.

The G4s are the largest ConRos in the world and are also an impressive sight.

There was some train activity in Dartmouth today, with autoracks and open gons. However Autoport has issued layoff notices and all its tracks are full of racks waiting resumption of rail service. There should be no reason why gypsum trains can't keep moving but apparently CN feels it is being targeted and any activity could result in more protests.

Some sources say ships of other container lines and autocarriers will continue to call in Halifax, but is seems certain there will be a huge drop off in cargo handled.

.

ACL double header

1. Atlantic Companion (left) glides into anchorage and Atlantic Conveyor overtakes, passing west of George's Island bound for Bedford Basin.

It is not unheard of to see two ACL ships in port at the same time - it usually happens once or twice a year - but it is still unusual enough to warrant notice. Because the ships make westbound and eastbound calls in Halifax, when the westbound ship is delayed, it overlaps the eastbound caller.
Today's duo is Atlantic Companion and Atlantic Conveyor. Although Atlantic Companion was first to arrive, it apparently lost power and was met by two tugs which shepherded it into the number one anchorage area. Atlantic Conveyor then proceeded up west of George's Island, without tugs and headed directly for Fairview Cove to berth unassisted.
Atlantic Conveyor was built in 1984 by Swan Hunter on the Tyne, and made its first call on Halifax February 1, 1985. It was lengthened in 1987 at Greenock, on the Clyde. As the British ship in Atlantic Container Line as it was originally organized, the ship was in fact owned and operated by Cunard Steamships Co Ltd, and was one of the last cargo ships operated by that venerable line. Under the current ACL configuration all ships are Swedish flagged.
Atlantic Companion was built by Kockums in Malmo, Sweden in 1984 and lengthened in 1987 by Ulsan in South Korea.Originally owned by the Bostroms Group it has always been Swedish registered. From 1987 to 1994 it was renamed Companion Express under a vessel sharing arrangement with Hapag-Lloyd.
Its first call in Halifax was a westbound voyage March 27, 1984. Eastbound out of Halifax on April 7, 1984 it had a supercharger failure and had to be towed back into port by the tugs Point Vibert and Point Vigour. It seems to have suffered a less serious mechanical failure this time round, since it has now anchored in number one anchorage for a few hours for repairs. Atlantic Larch will remain alongside as long as the ship has no engine power.
There are five ships in the ACL fleet, allowing them to maintain a weekly transatlantic schedule -one of the toughest in the world.All are due for replacement in the very near future.

Double Header at the Cove

1. Atlantic Cartier at the west berth (nearest the camera) and Atlantic Compass at the east berth this afternoon.

The ships of Atlantic Container Line are regular callers at the Fairview Cove container terminal operated by Cerescorp. There are usually two visits per week, with one ship eastbound and one ship westbound. The visits usually occur on Sunday and Tuesday, but these can vary.

So it is relatively rare that there are two ACL ships in port at the same time.

Early this morning Atlantic Cartier arrived and tied up at the west end of the pier. Later in the morning Atlantic Compass arrived and tied up at the east end of the pier.

Although ostensibly sister ships, they were built by different yards for different owners, and a close study of the photo will show some differences in the superstructures and the deck fitting and ramp structures.

Atlantic Cartier was built at the Chantier du Nord, Dunkirk, Frnace, in 1985 and was initially owned by Cie Generale Maritime SA under the French flag. CGM was one of the original partners in the Atlantic Container Line. The ship's boat deck (immediately below the wheelhouse) is substantially longer than her fleet mate's, and shows a much larger accommodation space. As built it measured 25,362 gross tons.

Atlantic Compass was built in 1984 by Kockums AB of Malmo, Sweden for Rederiaktiebolaget Transocean, and measured 25,348 gross tons.

As built, the ships had a container capacity of 2157, of which 725 could be carried on the car deck. Alternatively, large numbers of cars or trailers could be carried.

In 1987 the ships were lengthened by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, Korea, with the additional of new container cargo section. They emerged with a capacity of 2908 TEU. At that time their gross tonnages were recalculated. Atlantic Compass's present gross tonnage is 57, 255 and Atlantic Cartier's is 58,358 reflecting the greater enclosed space in the accommodations. As such they are still the largest RoRo container ships in the world.

During the lifetime of the ship's their ownerships have changed but as of 2002 all ships in the ACL are owned by the Atlantic Container Line, which is now part of the Grimaldi Group.

.

Bad day for Atlantic Companion

1. Atlantic Companion arriving Halifax September 7, 2010.

Atlantic Container Line's Atlantic Companion parted its lines while docked in Baltimore on February 25. Wind gusts in the range of 65 to 70 miles per hour resulted in the ship breaking free from the Dundalk Terminal and drifting across the channel and, according to some reports, running aground.
The ship was freed by tugs some time later and returned to its berth.

Atlantic Concert finally gets away

1. Atlantic Concert revs up to pass under the MacKay bridge at 0830 this morning in blowing rain.

Atlantic Concert arrived on Wednesday February 16 with two stowaways aboard. The two had apparently boarded the ship in Liverpool, UK, ten days before. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) is not releasing much information about the incident, but it is most likely that their presence was detected by the crew before the ship arrived in Halifax.

The ship was held in port while the two were removed (they have apparently applied for refugee status in Canada) and a full scale search conducted to see if there were any more on board.

Stowaways are unusual on the North Atlantic in winter, but the Atlantic Companion and its sister ships of the Atlantic Container Line (ACL) are not typical container ships.

As the largest RoRo/LoLo (Roll on Roll off/Lift on Lift off) ships in the world, they are in reality huge floating garages with many internal decks to stow trailers, cars, and other rolling goods, as well as conventional deck loaded containers. Built specifically for ACL's transatlantic service, the ship run on a tightly organized schedule with weekly eastbound and westbound calls in Halifax. They have been targeted by human smugglers before, since they are a fairly quick way to get across the Atlantic, have lots of places to hide, and stop in Canada first before going on to the US.

The ship was built in 1984 and lengthened in 1987. Between 1987 and 1994 the ship was renamed Concert Express when HAPAG-Lloyd and ACL ran a coordinated service. Otherwise the ship has lead an uneventful existence plying its route in strict rotation with the other ships in the fleet.

Because the ship was not able to get away until this morning, that schedule must be in a bit of a mess at this point, however it will probably be made up by skipping some US ports and its eastbound call in Halifax. The ship is giving Baltimore as its next port.

Atlantic Container line is part of the Grimaldi Group of Italy, but its ships still fly the Swedish flag reflecting some of the orginal founding owners of ACL. Crew services and other management has recently passed from Rederi AB Transatlantic to other operators.

.