Post Panamax ships to call to Halifax

[Wishblade]

Super-size container ships will stop in Halifax


By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Wed. Apr 14 - 4:53 AM

Some of the world’s biggest container ships are part of an enhanced Asian service announced Tuesday for the Port of Halifax.

One of the shipping groups providing a link between Southeast Asia and Halifax said it was upgrading its service to Nova Scotia to include post-Panamax vessels.

"These are the biggest ships and they require the deepest ports," said Michele Peveril of the Halifax Port Authority.

Major port customers, such as Canadian Tire, will be beneficiaries of the new express service to Southeast Asia that features the large container ships, she said.

The Port of Halifax will be the first inbound North American port for the express service linking the East Coast and Southeast Asia via the Suez Canal.

It means there will now be five shipping lines participating in the CKYH Alliance. The five lines that make up the alliance include: K Line, Hanjin Shipping, Yang Ming Line, Cosco Container Line and Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL).

The CKYH Alliance commenced service with the Port of Halifax from Asia, via the Panama Canal, with eight Panamax vessels in May 2009.

Panamax vessels are the largest that can pass through the Panama Canal. Post-Panamax ships are too big for the canal.

Nine post-Panamax vessels are part of the newly enhanced service. The vessels are part of a vessel-sharing arrangement with Mitsui O.S.K (MOL).

Karen Oldfield, the port authority’s president and chief executive officer, said the service enhancement improves Canada’s supply chain with Asia.

"This new service, along with the port’s existing Asia services, will enhance Canada’s trading position, providing fast and secure logistics through an Atlantic Canadian gateway port," she said in a news release.