ZIM Feeder

 ZIM Integrated Shipping Services operates numerous routes world wide, with a system of feeders interlocking at major ports. Two of ZIM's services overlap in Halifax. There is the ZCA (ZIM Container Atlantic) service from Mediterranean ports to the North American east coast which is considered a "main line" and the CFX (Canada Feeder Express), which as the name implies is a feeder. The CFX calls in New York, Kingston, Jamaica and Miami, FL

The CFX route normally operates weekly with three ships, but today, May 14 an "extra" ship arrived from New York for a one time call. The Seamaster is typical of the size and type that ZIM employs on this route. The other ships currenely on the route, Pacific Trader, Contship Leo and Contship Art are also charters, and do not carry ZIM names or colours.

Built in 2013  by SPP Shipbuilding Co in Sacheon, South Korea, the Seamaster is a 20,239 gt, 24,129 dwt ship fitted with three 40 tonne SWL cranes. It has a capacity of 1756 TEU including 350 reefer plugs.

Notable about today's arrival was its relatively light draft and the large number of reefer boxes on deck. My assumption is that most of those reefers are empty, and are being positioned here for produce exports.

ZIM's schedule indicates that the ship will be heading for Kingston, but then shifting to the VEL Venezuela Line service to South American ports. It is therefore unlikely to be seen in Halifax again.

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ZIM feeder, Melfi and Autoport

 ZIM

 A new ship on ZIM's CGX feeder service arrived and sailed today for Kingston, Jamaica. This is a little unusual as another of ZIM's CGX feeders was in port yesterday.

Today's visitor was the Seamaster a 23,239 gt, 24,129 dwt ship built in 2013 by SPP Shipbuilding Co in Sacheon, South Korea.

The ship has a capacity of 1756 TEU with  very high count of 350 reefer plugs. It also has three 40 tonne capacity cranes, one of which serves the after deck.

Yesterday's caller the Contship Leo has been a regular caller since 2021.[see yesterday's post]. It also sailed for Kingston. Contship Leo was built in 2008 by China Commerce Group Kouan Shipbuilding as Vega Saturn. It became CFS Paceno in 2016 and took on its current name in 2020. The 9957 gt, 13,803 dwt ship has a container capacity of 1118 TEU had carries two 45 tonne cranes.

 Melfi

Melfi Marine Corp, running Melfi Lines from Spain to Cuba,  has been using the BF Fortaleza since late last year. As reported in my November 28, 2023 post: BF Fortaleza was built by the famed, but now defunct, J.J.Sietas shipyard in Nuenfeld, Germany in 1996. It was launched as Partnership but renamed Yvette on delivery. It became Partnership again from 2003 to 2004 then City of Lisbon until 2005, Carla until 2009 and WEC Rubens until 2011.  The 6362 gt, 7202 dwt ship has a capacity of 700 TEU, and unusual for Melfi, it is gearless.

The ship also has a large section of the hull open to the elements with no hatch cover. This was a design developed by Sietas, as reported in my January 28 post of this year. At that time I did not have a clear photo of this feature. Today, April 9, I did get a better picture.

 
The protective dam between hold number one (which does have hatches) and the open hold is clearly visible. There are high bulwarks around the open section. The step down secton aft of the open hold marks the engine room below deck,but with container stacking over.

Autoport

Spring is usually a busy time for automobile imports, and this year has been no exception. Despite a five week strike (which ended last week) the facility has been handling large numbers of cars, and a small amount of RoRo machinery. (Ships with large amounts of non-auto RoRo go to Pier 9C.)

The Morning Lady arrived today from Southampton on the usual Wallenius Wilhelmsen transatlantic route. The ship's recent itineray includes a departure from Shangai February 8, then, presumably via the Cape of Good Hope, arriving Zeebrugge March 18, Bremerhaven March 23, Goteborg March 28 and Southampton March 30.

It is a large ship of 70,853 gt, 27,343 dwt with a capacity of 8100 CEU. It was built in 2010 by Hyundai Ulsan. Overall length is 232.4 m (762.47 ft) which is well within the limits of the Panama Canal (289.56m / 965 ft).

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