Canada Maritime and OOCL commission new containerships for the Montreal Gateway trade

For the third time in seven years, Canada Maritime and Orient Overseas Container Line, long-term partners in the St Lawrence Co-ordinated Service (SLCS), have agreed they will each commission new tonnage to be built simultaneously for deployment in the trade between North Europe and North America via Montreal.

The two shipping lines have contracted with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Heavy Machinery of South Korea to construct three ice-strengthened and winterised container ships. They will be 294 metres long and 32.2 metres wide, with a draught of 10.78 metres.

With a loading capacity of 3500 teu, the ships will be larger than previously deployed on the St Lawrence River. This will enable the carriers to meet an anticipated growth in trade over the next decade, while still keeping within the St Lawrence`s fluctuating draught limitations. Nominal capacity will be 4100 teu.

The ships are scheduled to be delivered in 2003. Two will be owned by Canada Maritime and one by OOCL.

Marking its 20th anniversary this year, SLCS is one of container shipping's most enduring partnerships. Since 1996 SLCS has also been co-operating with Cast, Canada Maritime's sister company. All three lines compete with each other and with the many other carriers serving the North Atlantic trade.

By cross utilising ships, each line is able to offer more comprehensive and efficient service to their respective customers on three separate Montreal gateway routes.

Route 1 : Links Montreal with Thamesport, Antwerp and Le Havre with ships operated by Canada Maritime and OOCL.
Route 2 : Links Montreal with Antwerp and Hamburg with ships operated by Canada Maritime and OOCL.
Route 3 : Links Montreal and Liverpool with ships operated by Cast.
The three new ships are scheduled to operate in Route 2. They are the third set of three sister ships to be commissioned by OOCL and Canada Maritime for this route under the SLCS co-operative alliance. The first group, 2200-teu Canmar Fortune, Canmar Courage and OOCL Canada, entered service in 1996 and currently operate on Route 2. The second set, 2800-teu Canmar Pride, Canmar Honour and OOCL Belgium were delivered in 1998 and operate on Route 1.

Ted Wang, Managing Director OOCL (Europe) Ltd commented, "OOCL is committed to serving the ever increasing needs of our customers in the unique gateway of Montreal. These newbuildings, which will be introduced in 2003, are planned for the anticipated trade growth. They will not only cater for the increased volume but will also deploy the latest technology in navigation and ice-breaking capability to ensure uninterrupted service to the Port of Montreal." By commissioning these ships, we are able to demonstrate once again our ongoing strong commitment to this key regional market", commented Terry Burrows, Senior Vice President CP Ships, responsible for the Montreal Gateway services of Canada Maritime and Cast. The new ships are part of a CP Ships group-wide US$ 1 billion fleet replacement programme announced last year.

Further details regarding the design of the new ships and the redeployment of the existing ships they will replace will be provided by the lines in due course.