Some container lines operate "hub and spoke" routes, allowing big ships to call at a few major "hub" ports with feeder ships coming from several directions to service the hub.
Both MSC and ZIM operate their own feeder services in and out of Halifax while other lines such as Oceanex, Transport Maritime St-Pierre (TMSI), and Eimskip serve as feeders for several lines.
Today (June 3) saw two feeders arrive. MSC's new Halifax Feeder service links Halifax, Boston and Montreal using the MSC Sagitta III.
Although it is early days (I think this is only the second trip from Montreal), only a dozen containers on deck does not appear too promising.
MSC Sagitta III was built by Nordseewerker, Emden in 2010. The 36,519 gt, 42,614 dwt ship was a capacity of 3428 TEU and has a large nuber of reefer plugs, noted as "392 + 108". [I'm not certain what that means but may describe the number below and above deck or vice versa.]
Initially named Frisia Brussel it was renamed Sagitta in 2010 and MSC Sagitta III in 2021.
ZIM's service combines a feeder service to and from New York and Kingston, Jamaica with a longer run to the west coast of South America. It appears to be somewhat better used but the ship Contship Cup had a spotty deck load as it arrived from New York.
The ship was built in 2012 by Zhejiang Ouhua Shipbuilding Co in Zhoushan, China to their Ouhua 1500 class. It is a 17,068 gt, 21,281 dwt gearless vessel with a capacity of 1,496 TEU and a substantial number of reefer plugs. It joined the feeder service in March.
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