Itea sold to breakers

A container ship that was a regular caller in Halifax for more than two years has been sold to breakers "as is" in Hong Kong. Itea began to call for ACL in 2016 on its container only service from North Europe (Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, London gateway), in cooperation with what was the G6 Alliance.
Its first call in Halifax was likely July 25, 2016 - at least that is the first record I have.

It took a regular slot in the rotation and was here roughly monthly thereafter, usually calling east and westbound until its last call March 8, 2018.

It was reported yesterday that the ship had been sold to breakers only a few weeks before the 20th anniversary of its construction. Rather than face the strict requirements for classification after a twenty year survey, the Owners opted to unload the ship.

Itea emerged from the Hyundai, Ulsan shipyard June 8, 1998 as Bunga Raya Satu owned by Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Berhad (MISC Berhad). In 2011 MISC decided to get out of the highly competitive container business, and in 2012 sold the ship to Liberian flag owners, under the Costamare umbrella who renamed it Ky Parissia. The ship was renamed MSC Itea in 2014 for a charter to the Mediterranean Shipping Company that lasted until early in 2016. With a swipe of the paint brush it became simply Itea.

The ship is a 39,582 grt, 49,304 dwt vessel with a container capacity of 3842 TEU. During the most recent slump ships of this size were thought to be highly inefficient and were scrapped in droves, however there is again demand in that size range, but it was too late for Itea, which was likely built and operated for a short life.

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More Saturday

With gloomy weather and snow showers in the forecast I thought my early morning shot of Monte Toledo might be it for the day, but conditions improved somewhat allowing for a few more photos.

Over at Autoport it was more business as usual with Morning Cindy in port all day. The Panama flag ship owned by Excel Marine of Fukuoka, Japan arrived from Bremerhaven in the early hours of the morning. Sailing for the Eukor fleet (EURope-KORea) The 59,432 grt, 18,954 dwt ship was built in 2012 by Imabari Shipbuilding's Marugame shipyard in Japan.

It is low tide in Eastern Passage but Morning Cindy is immune thanks to the design of the pier, which allows ship's ramps to remain operational in all states of the tide.

Autoport is once again stuffed full of cars, with Greeen Cove anchored off awaiting her turn tomorrow.

Across on the Halifax side, it was (nearly) all systems go at Halterm, with Maersk Penang at pier 42 and the CMA CGM Cendrillon arriving for pier 41. Oceanex Sanderling was back at pier 36, ballasted down by the stern again - probably to complete bow repairs from ice damage.

Tugs Atlantic Oak and Spitfire III take CMA Cendrillon in hand south of George's Island and turn it to back into the pier.

The 90,931 grt, 109,021 dwt ship, with a capacity of 8465 TEU was bilt by Samsung in 2009. Jusrt a coincidence, but Cendrillon translates as Cinderella in English - no relation to the Cindy at Autoport.

At pier 31 the Pure Car and Truck cxarrier Tosca was finishing off discharging non-car RoRo cargo. It had unloaded its cars yesterday at Autport.

Fairview Cove was all out too, with Atlantic Star and NYK Daedalus sailing early and Itea arriving late afternoon.

 Atlantic Oak moves Itea toward the Fairview Cove pier.

Itea has been calling for ACL since last July. The 39,582 grt, 48,304 dwt ship with a capacity of 3842 TEU is operated by Costamare under Liberian flag.  Built in 1998 by Hyundai, Ulsan, as Bunga Raya Satu, the ship was renamed KY Parissia in 2012 and MSC Itea in 2014. It was renamed Itea in 2016.

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