MSC out, MSC in

MSC Stella departed this morning after its inaugural call on MSC's Indus 2 service. 

This was the first visit to Halifax for the 6724 TEU capacity ship, which is now underway for Norfolk.

This afternoon's arrival is a regular caller in more ways than one. Since 2020 MSC Veronique has been calling Halifax en route to or from Montreal on MSC's Canada Express 2 service. 

Today the 4437 TEU ship was escorted to its berth at PSA Halifax by the tugs Atlantic Oak (not visible - on the starboard side) and Atlantic Hemlock. (The latter is in port temporarily from Saint John as the big tugs are needed there for an LNG tanker).

MSC Veronique was a regular caller in Halifax as far back as the 1990s when it was the Mette Maersk. Built IN 1989 by Maersk's own Odense shipyard. the 52,1919 gt, 60,9000 dwt ship is one of the oldest on transatlantic routes, but in these boom times (for shipowners) it will likely be kept in service for a while longer.

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MSC starts Indus 2

 The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has now included Halifax as a stop on its Indus 2 service, linking ports in India with east coast North America. Today (October 5) marked the first arrival, MSC Stella. The ship sailed from Mundra September 7, subsequently calling in Nava Sheeva, Gioia Tauro (Italy) and Sines (Portugal). After its stop here it is scheduled for Norfolk, Baltimore, Miami and Freeport (Bahamas) before sailing back to Mundra (via Suez).

MSC Stella dates from 2004 when it was delivered by Hyundai, Samho. Measuring 73,8219 gt, 85,680 dwt, it has a capacity of 6724 TEU including 400 reefers.

It was not the only ship at PSA Halifax today, as the ZIM Vancouver was working at Pier 42.

Built in 2007 by Dalian New Shipbuilding Industry Company, it is 39,906 gt, 50,532 dwt ship with a capacity variously reported as 4250 or 4225 TEU. It carried the name Pearl River I from 2007 to 2012. It has been calling Halifax for several years on the ZIM ZCA service (ZIM Container Service Atlantic), which operates also for HAPAG-Lloyd as its Atlantic Loop AL7 service, which is a Mediterranean / North America east coast route, with weekly calls at a dozen or so ports.

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