What are the Odds

 The title of this post is intended to be a rhetorical question, although someone with a higher degree of mathematical proficiency than I might the able to answer it. 

With some 1500* ships calling in Halifax in the course of a year there are many times when the same ships are in port together at the same time. Leaving out cruise ships (there were 178 cruise calls in 2023 - many of which were duplicates and there were many times when there was more than one ship in port at a time) and leaving out regular coastal cargo ships or tankers, that are in port regularly, the numbers of "coincidental calls" reduces dramatically.

Most container lines use the same ships for extended periods of time, and those with relatively short haul weekly or monthly calls are likely to have coinciding visits, with ships from other lines. But for the long haul lines, with a given ship calling in the port maybe only one two times a year, the coincidence rate becomes even lower.

Therefore today's repeat visits by CMA CGM J. Adams and MSC Pratiti must be considered a rare event. They were last in Halifax together in June 2022. 

CMA CGM J. Adams is on the Ocean Alliance (CMA CGM / APL / COSCO / Evergreen /  OOCL) Asia to North America east coast service from Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Of interest is that after stopping in Colombo January 14-15 it did transit the Red Sea safely, passing through the Suez Canal January 25-26. It stopped in Tanger Med Febraury 3-4 and sailed directly for Halifax.

Followiing newly instituted regulations, as of Janaury 2024, the ship used two stern tethered escort tugs. 

All container ships with an overall length greater than 335 meters (1099 ft) and a draught greater than 14.0 meters (46 ft) are now required to use dual tug escorts. This particular ship measures 365.96 meters (1200 ft) overall length and 15 meters (49.2 ft) draught. 

The ship also took the western, deep water channel on its way in.

Once close to Pier 41, the tugs swung out into position to turn and berth the ship.

 

The CMA CGM J.Adams was built in 2017 by Hyundai, Ulsan, and has tonnages of 141,950 gross and 148,425 dwt with a capacity of 14,414 TEU. [For some reason tonnages have been revised since its last visit when they were 140,872 gt and 148,8992 dwt.]

At the adjacent berth, Pier 42, was the MSC Pratiti on MSC's Canada Express 2 service from the Mediterranean. When the CMA CGM J. Adams was here June 21 -22, 2022 the MSC Pratiti was also at the adjacent berth. (It was a sunnier and warmer day, see post at: June 22, 2022.)

The MSC Pratiti has been a familiar visitor to Halifax over the years. Built in 2004 by Hyundai Ulsan as ZIM Pusan it was a regular. The 53,453 gt, 66,597 dwt ship has a capacity of 4814 TEU including 330 reefers. In 2014 it was renamed Pusan and in 2017 Kowloon Bay. It took on its current name in 2021. 

After discharging some cargo to reduce draft for the St.Lawrence River, the ship sailed for Montreal. It is due there February 13, but is due back in Halifax February 18 to take on a bit more cargo for efficient sailing at ocean draught. 

* The 1500 ships per year figure has been used for a long time. I guess the increase in size of ships, rather than the number of ships, is responsible for the growth in cargo tonnage that the port has recorded recently.

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MSC Pratiti

 It was a return visit today, July 7, for the MSC Pratiti, but this time on a different route. When it was here previously in June, I believe it arrived from Turkey-Greece, but this time it is on the CANEX 1 run from the Mediterranean, via Sines, Portugal to Montreal. With so many ships at its disposal MSC can shuffle them around to suit current needs.

 MSC Pratiti is a good size for St.Lawrence River service. Built in 2004 by Hyundai Heavy Industry, Pusan, it is a 53,453 gt, 66,597 dwt ship with a capacity of 4814 TEU including 330 reefers. It sailed as ZIM Pusan until 2014 (and called in Halifax regularly), the Pusan until 2017 and Kowloon Bay until 2021.

It appears to be loaded to seagoing draft, so will be offloading some containers to reduce draft to meet St.Lawrence River restrictions. It is due in Montreal on July 11.

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Busy, Busy, Busy - updated

 Halifax has now joined many other ports in the world with container ships waiting for berths as the terminals seem to be working full out. It is still nothing like the west coast US ports of Los Angeles / Long Beach or Chinese ports such as Shanghai. But to see ships anchored offshore for days, the terminals stretched for space, and CN putting on extra trains is virtually unheard of here.

PSA Halifax, operators of both container terminals, Southend (Atlantic Gateway) and Fairview Cove have been sharing the load between the two facilities, with big ships docking at the Southend and (relatively) smaller ships at Fairview Cove.

At the Southend the14,414 TEU CMA CGM J. Adams, (see yesterday's post) occupied berth 41 today (June 22).

That left berth 42 for the MSC Pratiti  on the Turkey-Greece service.

An interesting ship, MSC Pratiti was built in 2004 by Hyundai, Ulsan, and is a 53,453 gt, 66,597 dwt vessel with a capacity of 4814 TEU including 330 reefers. It was a frequent caller in Halifax under its original name, ZIM Pusan. It was renamed simply Pusan in 2014, then Kowloon Bay in 2017 and MSC Pratiti in 2021. 

I also noted that the ship was refueling while at Pier 42. This is not something I have seen much of as most container lines arrange bunker stops overseas.

As soon as CMA CGM J.Adams sailed this evening Navarino docked. It is MSC's Indus 2 route from North India. I will cover that ship tomorrow.

Back in 2017 Shipfax speculated that the ZIM Pusan was going for scrap. See February 7, 2017 , but it was apparently saved by the huge upswing in demand for even "uneconomic" sized ships, and MSC's buying spree.

Interestingly another MSC ship on the service from Turkey and Greece, MSC Matilde, which was due yesterday, has opted to bypass Halifax. In fact it just cleared Sines, Portugal June 21 and is giving a June 30 ETA for Freeport, Bahamas.

Heading for Fairview Cove, the MSC Alyssa is on the Canada Express 1 service from the Mediterranean. It will stop over long enough to unload boxes to reduce draft to meet St.Lawrence River restrictions.

On the way in it passed the Vistula Maersk, also bound for Montreal, which has been anchored offshore since June 20 awating its turn at the Southend.

 

Built in 2001 by Hyundai, Busan, MSC Alyssa is registered at 43,575 gt, 61,487 dwt with a capacity of 4340 TEU, including 150 reefers.

The ship took the tug Atlantic Oak as stern escort, as required by harbour regulations, to make its way through the Narrows to Bedford Basin where it anchored untill its berth was clear.

Fairview Cove was also working the Humen Bridge. It moved out to Basin anchorage in the evening to allow MSC Alyssa alongside.

 Humen Bridge, built 2007 by IHI, Kure, 98,747 gt, 98,849 dwt, with a capacity of 9040 TEU, settling in at anchor in the Basin. It sailed later in the evening.

Not to be left out, Autoport has been very busy too, with a great many cars originating from Volkswagen's port of Emden. Today's arrival was a first time caller I believe, SFL Composer.

Built in 2005 by Minami Nippon, Shitanoe, the 58,631 gt, 18,881 dwt ship was named Excellent Ace until 2012 then Glovis Composer until 2020. SFL Corp is a NYSE listed ship investment company with ships of all types, including six auto carriers, four of which (including this one) are dedicated to Volkswagen. It has a rated capacity of 6500 CEU.

On sailing this afternoon, the ship gave its destination as Davisville, RI. That port has recently expanded its auto piers and will now be able to handle more than its previous totals of 300,000 cars per year. By comparison Autoport in Halifax handles about 185,000 vehicles per year and is the sole new car import facility in eastern Canada.

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