MOL Partner lives up to name

MOL Partner is the name for this post-Panamax container ship, and indeed is in partnership with other Japanese shipping companies.

What would normally be a rivalry between K-Line (Kawasaki Kaishen Kaisha) has become a joint operation with MOL (Mitsui OSK Lines) to increase the number and size of ships on ther CKYH service (with Cosco, Hanjin and Yang Ming.)

MOL Partner was built in 2005 by Koyo Dockyard in Mihara, Japan and is a typically functional vessel of 71,902 gross tons. With a capacity of 6350 TEU, the ship can do 26 knots if pushed, but is nowadays steaming at a more economical speed as part of the nine ship rotation from Asia to the east coast of North America. It is the second MOL ship to join the rotation, and apppears to be fairly fresh from the shipyard, with pristine hull paint.

When it sailed this morning at 0745, the ship gave 1130 tomorrow for arrival at Ambrose pilots for New York.

Out and In at Halterm

1. Zim Beijing has cleared Halterm.

2. Meeting east of the Middle Ground. Atlantic Larch is approaching Tsing Ma Bridge to make up on the starboard side.

3. Tsing Ma Bridge preparing to make her turn to back in to Halterm.

4. Backing in to Halterm (the tug has gone round to the port side - see Tugfax for more on this.)

It was quick turn around at Halterm this afternoon. Zim Beijing sailed and Tsing Ma Bridge arrived in quick succession. The ships provided an interesting contrast, due to their relative sizes.

Zim Beijing is Panamax size. Her dimensions (both length and width) are the absolute maximum that can pass through the Panama Canal as it is presently configured. She measures 294.1m length x 32.6m breadth, and carries 5047 TEUs. Her gross tonnage is 54,626 and she was built in 2005. The ship's size allows her to follow Zim's Asia/ North America/Middle East service, without passing through the Suez Canal.

Tsing Ma Bridge is a post-Panamax ship. Her dimensions are too large for the Panama Canal. She is 284m long x 40m wide. Her capacity is 5610 TEU and she measures 68607 gross tons and was built in 2002. She is too broad to pass through the Panama Canal as of today, due to her width. Interestingly she is shorter than the Zim Beijing, but can still carry 563 more TEUs - a substantial number. The ship runs from Asia, via the Suez Canal to the east coast of North America for the K-Line operated CKYH service with Cosco, Yang Ming and Hanjin.

When the present reconstruction of the Panama Canal is completed Tsing Ma Bridge will be able to transit with ease, as the new Panamax dimensions will be 366m long x 49m wide, allowing ships of some 12,000 TEU to pass through the locks.

The two ships reflect the importance of China in today's shipping: Beijing, the capital of China and Tsing Ma Bridge which joins two islands in Hong Kong.

MOL makes a big arrival and big departure.

1. MOL Paramount gets away from pier 42 at dusk. In the background Algoma Dartmouth bunkers Oceanex Sanderling at pier 41. The ship shows symbols for two bow thrusters, and only needed on tug on the stern to get off the berth.

2. MOL Paramount gets up to speed slowly.

The CKYH Alliance, run by K-Line and including Cosco, Yang Ming and Hanjin has been gradually increasing the size of ships on their AWE-4 service since May. Previously operated with eight ships of 4700 TEU capacity, the service has now been increased to nine ships of at least 5500 TEU.

At the same time the number of ports has also increased, so they are still calling in Halifax weekly. The port rotation is Ho Chi Min City/ Shekou/ Hong Kong, Yantian/ Singapore/ Halifax (via Suez Canal)/ New York/ Norfolk/ Jacksonville/ Savannah/ Singapore.

With the increase in number of ships, K-Line actually reduced its ships in the service to seven and partnered with Mitsui OSK Line (MOL) to provide two ships. This effectively joins MOL's SVE (South Vietnam-US East Coast) service with the AWE-4 service. MOL also operates the New World Alliance with APL Singapore and Hyundai Merchant Marine.

That is a long winded explanation for the arrival today of MOL Paramount, a 71,902 gt behemoth, built in 2005 and carrying 6350 TEU. While it doesn't appear much larger than the other post Panamax ships we see in Halifax, this one is a full 13m longer (at 293.19m) and the same 40 m width. This means one complete container bay at the maximum width of the ship. It carries containers 15 wide on its decks. OOCL's post-panamax ships are in the 5888 TEU range (280.54m x 40m.) MOL Paramount is powered with a MAN-B&W main engine of 85,000 bhp and can do 25 knots. However on this service, with nine ships, it will likely steam at slower, more economical speeds.

Built by Koyo Dockyard in Mihare, Japan, MOL Paramount flies the Panamanian flag-even though it cannot pass through the current Panama Canal.

Granville Bridge

K-Line's Granville Bridge sailed this afternoon. Although the ship appeared well laden by the number of containers visible on deck, she was certainly not down to her marks in terms of draft.

The ship is a post-Panamax type, of 68,570 gross tons. It was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan in 2006. It has a capacity of 5624 TEUs.

Post-Panamax at Halterm

1. Atlantic Larch scoots around the stern of the Tsing Ma Bridge, as the ship starts to back in to Halterm. Although the ship looks loaded, she is not down to her draft marks, indicating a large number of empty containers on board.

2. Atlantic Oak (port side) and Atlantic Larch (starboard) swing Tsing Ma Bridge off Halterm.

The latest post-Panamax container ship to arrive at Halterm is Tsing Ma Bridge, which put in this morning for the first time. K-Line continues to ramp up its ship sizes here, and so it is a good thing that Halterm plans to extend its berth to be able to work two post-Panamaxes at once.

Tsing Ma Bridge was built in 2002 at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, with tonnages of 68,687 gross and 71, 310 deadweight. This gives her a capacity of 5610 TEU, 500 of which can be reefers.

For more on the structure after which the ship is named try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsing_Ma_Bridge

Glen Canyon Bridge

K-Line is gradually increasing the size of ships calling on its Halifax service. This morning was the first time that Glen Canyon Bridge has been here. The ship was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries of Korea in 2006 and measures 68,570 gross tons. It is rated at 5624 TEU, and appears to be close to capacity. However judging by its draft, it does not appear fully laden.

With the start of the pre-Christmas shipping season when North American and Europe are building up inventory for the late fall shopping boom, empty containers are being re-positioned to Asia. It is therefore possible that this ship is carrying a good many empties.

The tug Atlantic Oak is coming alongside to assist the ship into pier 41, Halterm.