News ItemsNews & Events | The Port of Halifax
2010 News Items:
- Port of Halifax Responds to End of Montreal Labour Lockout
- Maersk Line announces a weekly call at Halifax
- CN, HPA and terminal operators announce new service agreement
- The Halifax Port Authority recognizes the Canadian Naval Centennial
- 2010 Cruise Season kicks off with the Inaugural call of the Silver Spirit
- Shipping Line Builds on Their Success at the Port of Halifax with an Upgraded Weekly Service
- The Halifax Grain Elevator Diversifying and Supporting the Export of Atlantic Agricultural Products through the Port of Halifax
- “K” Line (a member of the CKYH Alliance) and Mitsui-OSK Line -Announce Enhanced Asian Service for Halifax
- Port of Halifax to welcome over 240,000 cruise passengers this season
- Infrastructure Enhancements Underway at the South End Container Terminal
- Port of Halifax Waives Tariff Charges for Humanitarian Relief Shipments to Haiti
- News Archives
Port of Halifax Responds to End of Montreal Labour Lockout
July 23, 2010 – Halifax, N.S – During the labour lockout at the Port of Montreal this week, the Port of Halifax handled five diverted containerized cargo vessels.
“The Port community and many members of the supply chain worked together quickly to accommodate additional cargo this week and Canadian trade was able to continue flowing over our Port because of their cooperative efforts, on behalf of the Port Authority, a thank you to all,” says Karen Oldfield, President and Chief Executive Officer, Halifax Port Authority.
Extra vessels were handled thanks to the work of a broad range of companies and individuals. Supply chain members delivering service included, but were not limited to, terminal operators, stevedores, CN, trucking companies, harbour pilots, tug companies, freight forwarders, ship agents, Halifax traffic, Canada Border Services Agency, and Port Authority staff.
"We are happy to have been able to help those customers, with whom we have an ongoing business relationship with at the Port of Halifax during this difficult time for them. I think they were glad to have the Halifax option and appreciate the fact that our workforce was able to work their vessels and that CN was able to provide additional rail capacity," says Doug Rose, President, Halterm Container Terminal Limited.
The Port of Halifax is a diverse port handling bulk, breakbulk, roll-on/roll-off, and containerized cargo. “Our aim this week was to be helpful to Canadian shippers and businesses in the short-term, and we are pleased to see a resolution for the country. The Port of Halifax has 20 shipping lines regularly calling the Port and we are working aggressively to build the Port business on solid commercial grounds for the long term. We provide efficient and reliable service to 150 countries, providing global reach for Canadian economic interests,” says Karen Oldfield.
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For further information contact:
Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
(902)426-1060
Maersk Line announces a weekly call at Halifax
May 3, 2010, Halifax – N.S - Maersk has announced that they will have a new direct service connecting the Port of Halifax with North Europe. This new service will offer customers in Halifax fixed weekly calls from Halifax to North Europe, and connections to the Far East Asia via transshipment.
This new service will open new markets and opportunities for Atlantic Canadian exporters in particular with the seafood and agricultural industries.
The first vessel on the new rotation will be the Maersk Palermo with an estimated time of arrival at the Port of Halifax on May 18, 2010.
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Michele Peveril
Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Halifax Port Authority
(902) 426-1060
(902) 229-3236
www.portofhalifax.ca
Maersk Line partners with Aqualife to transport shellfish by container from Canada to Europe
New technology supports lower carbon emissions
Charlotte, North Carolina (April 30, 2010) – With the arrival of the Maersk Palermo on May18, Maersk Line returns for a weekly call to Halifax, Nova Scotia at Halterm with a new exciting technology inside some of its containers –aquariums which will hold live seafood to be transported from Canada to Northwest Continental Europe. This patented technology has been in development for the past five years by Maersk Line and Aqualife. Each refrigerated container (reefer) holds 20 water tanks allowing the shellfish to remain in their natural environment.
The first containers will make their maiden voyage as a direct alternative to sending shellfish by air. Sea transport involves substantially lower carbon emissions than airfreight. In 2011, the French government is requiring fresh food products to be labeled with their carbon footprint. Maersk’s “Eco-Efficiency” strategy requires all business units to pursue greater efficiency through innovation and technological advances – with the aim of using natural resources more efficiently and with less impact on the environment.
“Maersk Line is excited to be returning to Halifax with this unique and environmentally significant technology,” said David Cardin, President, Maersk Line Canada. “This service has a superior on time performance and schedule reliability to serve our customers. We enjoy a positive working relationship with the port and look forward to a mutual and beneficial economic opportunity.”
The TA4 service has a 100% schedule reliability performance in 2010; in 2009, the overall schedule reliability was 96%.
The new Transatlantic (TA4) service rotation will be Montreal, Canada; Halifax, Canada; Bremerhaven, Germany; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Antwerp, Belgium; Le Havre, France; Montreal, Canada. Maersk Line operates four vessels in this service utilizing 2900 TEU capacity vessels.
Lobster is an important export for eastern Canada; approximately 3,400 metric ton of lobster export from Canada’s Atlantic coast to Europe each year. Other exports include crab, shrimp, roe, herring, fish, mussels, blueberries, forest products, peat and other agricultural products.
For more information on the Maersk Line environmental strategy, see www.maerskgreen.com.
CN, Halifax Port Authority and port terminal operators
introduce innovative supply-chain partnership framework to
improve competitiveness of Halifax as key 
east coast gateway
MONTREAL, April 29, 2010 — CN (TSX: CNR)(NYSE: CNI), the Halifax Port Authority
(HPA), Cerescorp Company Limited (Ceres) and Halterm Container Terminal Limited
(Halterm) announced today an innovative agreement to better measure and align each
party’s performance in the Halifax Gateway supply chain and en hance the port’s role as
a preferred gateway on the east coast to Ontario, Quebec and the U.S. Midwest markets.
The agreement establishes clear and defined performance standards for these Halifax
Gateway partners – CN, HPA, Ceres and Halterm – regarding times for unloading and
loading containers between vessels and cars, the timing of the placement of rail cars at
the terminals, and CN transit times to key markets in eastern and central Canada and the
U.S. Midwest.
Claude Mongeau, CN president and chief executive officer, said: “I am very encouraged
that key stakeholders at the Port of Halifax have agreed to work collaboratively on this
initiative. This supply-chain agreement will align the parties’ interests in executing to
plan, and support quality service to improve the competitiveness of the Halifax Gateway.
This innovative pact will foster balanced accountability of each supply-chain partner and
ensure data on performance will be fully transparent.”
Karen Oldfield, president and chief executive officer of the HPA, said: “This agreement
between CN, HPA and terminal operators is ground-breaking, and it will help build on
the port’s already strong competitive position as an East Coast North American trade
gateway.”
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information included in this news release constitutes “forward -looking statements” within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian
securities laws. CN cautions that, by their nature, these forward-looking statements involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that
current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made,
subject to greater uncertainty.
Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results of performance of the Company or the rail industry to be materially different from the outlook or any future results or performance implied by such statements. Important factors that could affect the above forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effects of general economic and business conditions, industry competition, inflation, currency and interest rate fluctuations, changes in fuel prices, legislative and/or regulatory developments, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, actions by regulators, various events which could disrupt operations, including natural events such as severe weather, droughts, floods and earthquakes, labor negotiations and disruptions, environmental claims, uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation, risks and liabilities arising from derailments, and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” in CN’s annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators, available on CN’s website, for a summary of major risks.
CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable Canadian securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related maters, or any other forward-looking statement.
CN – Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries – spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company’s website at www.cn.ca.
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Contacts:
For Halifax Port Authority Media
Michele Peveril
Manger Communications & Public Affiars
(902) 426-1060
For CN
Media
Mark Hallman
Director
Communications & Public Affairs
(905) 669-3384
Investment Community
Robert Noorigian
Vice-President
Investor Relations
(514) 399-0052
The Halifax Port Authority recognizes the Canadian Naval Centennial
For 100 years, Halifax Harbour has been home to Canada’s East Coast Navy. The Port of Halifax is working with a local community driven group to raise awareness during this Canadian Navy Centennial year. The Navy has played a significant role in our shared history and the Halifax Port Authority recognizes those who have served and congratulate the Canadian Navy on their Centennial.
A complete list of Canadian Naval Centennial activities is available at canadiannavy100.forces.gc.ca
Pictured to the right are representatives from the Glorious & Free Committee as well as Mayor Peter Kelly, and Paul MacIsaac, Senior Vice-President of the Halifax Port Authority at an April 27th, 2010 event at Halifax City Hall.
2010 Cruise Season kicks off with the Inaugural call of the Silver Spirit
April 27, 2010 – Halifax, N.S – The 2010 cruise season for the Port of Halifax kicks off today with the inaugural call of the Silver Spirit, a Silversea cruise line vessel. The Silver Spirit is a luxury cruise vessel with a total passenger capacity of 540. The Silver Spirit is one of nine inaugural calls that the Port of Halifax will have this season.
“The cruise industry has advanced significantly in Halifax, and we are pleased to mark 30 years this year of modern day cruising at the Port of Halifax,” said Cathy McGrail, Manager of Cruise Development at the Halifax Port Authority. “We anticipate we will welcome over 240,000 cruise passengers onboard 130 vessels.”
The Port of Halifax cruise activity has a significant economic impact, bringing an estimated expenditure of $50 million from passenger, crew, and cruise lines each year to our local area
Some highlights from this year’s cruise season include:
9 inaugural calls of new cruise ships calling the Port of Halifax for the first time
2 new cruise lines bringing the total to 21 cruise lines that visit the Port of Halifax
Range of 240,000-250,000 passengers aboard approximately 130 vessels
The Silver Spirit will be visiting the Port of Halifax on day five of their 14 day voyage that originated in New York City and will finish in Southampton, United Kingdom. The Silver Spirit was commissioned in 2008, and embarked on her inaugural voyage in January of this year. The Silver Spirit is scheduled to dock at the Port of Halifax at approximately at 8am on April 27th, 2010.
The Port's full 2010 cruise schedule is available at www.cruisehalifax.ca
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For further information contact:
Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
(902)426-1060
Shipping Line Builds on Their Success at the Port of Halifax
With an Upgraded Weekly Service
April 21, 2010 – Halifax, N.S - CMA CGM, the world's 3rd largest container shipping company, has announced plans to upgrade to a weekly service at the Port of Halifax. This revised service will shorten the transit time for import and export containerized cargo.
With this new configuration, the "BLACK PEARL " service will be able to offer a regular and competitive service with connections between the Caribbean’s transhipment port at Kingston and all the key markets in the Caribbean, Central America, East, West and North Coast of South America via the CMA CGM global service network. This service will include an additional vessel and will provide for greater connectivity to Latin America and to CMA-CGM's global network.
“This service means shorter inbound transit times for containerized cargo moving over the Port of Halifax and more frequent service for Canadian exporters to reach international markets,” said George Malec, Vice President of Business Development and Operations, Halifax Port Authority. “The wide range of ocean carriers calling at the Port of Halifax offer customers with cost effective and efficient connections to global markets and this upgraded service is good news for importers and exporters.”
This revised service cuts import transit times with cargo reaching its destination 3 to 5 days quicker. Outbound exports through the Port of Halifax will also be quicker, which improves the competitiveness of Canadian exports.
"Deployment of bigger capacity vessels on this service will help CMA CGM to achieve economies of scale adapted to the present situation and to strengthen the Group’s offer with a weekly solution on this expanding axis" said Nicole Chamard, Line Manager Caribbean and South America for CMA CGM
.
This service will take effect on May 7th when a second vessel, Stadt Berlin, with a capacity of 1,100 TEU enters service in New York. This upgrade will see CMA CGM deploy two 1,000- TEU vessels with the following port rotation: New York, Halifax, Kingston and back to New York.
Container handling services for CMA CGM vessels are provided by Halterm Container Terminal Limited.
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For further information contact:
Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
(902)426-1060
The Halifax Grain Elevator Diversifying and Supporting the Export of Atlantic Agricultural Products through the Port of Halifax
April 15, 2010 – Halifax, N.S – The Halifax Port Authority is working with the operators of the Halifax Grain Elevator to expand and develop an export market for pulse products from the Maritime region. ‘Pulses’ are edible seeds of legumes, like beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils that can be shipped around the world to emerging markets in marine containers.
Recently the Halifax Grain Elevator was able to use their facility to load twenty foot marine containers with Maritime grown soybeans. “This is distinctly different than previous handling practices, because it represents the first time that we have been able to export this type of pulse product in containers directly from the Port of Halifax.” said Jeff Brownlie, Manager of Finance and Administration at the Halifax Grain Elevator Ltd. “Before this container loading technology was installed here, these soybeans would have been transloaded at the nearest such facility located over 1,000 kilometres away from the Port of Halifax,” said Brownlie.
“We are always looking for new ways to add value for Atlantic Canadian exporters and to continue to diversify our regional business,” said Patrick Bohan, Business Development Manager at the Halifax Port Authority. “The pulse growing industry has really started to develop in the Maritimes, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to expand this container loading activity to additional commodities and new markets.”
The Halifax Grain Elevator is a longstanding landmark on the Halifax Harbour – the first silo was built in 1924, with multiple expansions as demand grew. In 1967, the final expansion was completed and to this day the Grain Elevator has been serving the region with feed for livestock, grain for local mills and export, wood pellets for export and now pulse products for export. The Halifax Grain Elevator includes 365 silos or bins and three “workhouses” with 10 bucket elevators, 20 dust collector units and 55 conveyer belts. It is the only operating elevator of its kind in Atlantic Canada.
Please find attached a photo of the loading of soybeans into a vessel.
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For further information contact:
Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
(902)426-1060
“K” Line (a member of the CKYH Alliance) and Mitsui-OSK Line Announce Enhanced Asian Service for Halifax
April 13, 2010 – Halifax, Nova Scotia - “K” Line, Hanjin Shipping, Yang Ming Line and COSCO Container Line, members of the CKYH Alliance, in cooperation with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will launch a Pearl River – Southeast Asia – Suez Canal express service in mid May with the Port of Halifax as the first inbound North American Port.
The CKYH Alliance commenced service with the Port of Halifax from Asia, via the Panama Canal, with eight Panamax vessels during May of 2009.
The new service will deploy nine x 5500 TEU Post–Panamax Class Vessels in a vessel sharing cooperation with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
Officials from “K” Line commented that this service network modification will enhance port coverage and transit times from Asia into Canada via Halifax and North America and continue to offer quality service to its customers.
“This service announcement is of significant importance to Canada’s commercial 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,” said Karen Oldfield, President and Chief Executive Officer, Halifax Port Authority. “We appreciate the support of the CKYH partners for again selecting the Port of Halifax and we welcome MOL’s return to the Port of Halifax”.
Details of the service are as follows:-
Vessels Deployed:
5500 TEU vessels x nine (7 vessels operated by “K” Line, 2 vessels by MOL)
Port Rotation:
Ho Chi Minh – Cai Mep (Tue/Wed) – Shekou (Fri/Sat) – Hong Kong (Sat/Sun) - Yantian (Sun/Mon) - Singapore (Thu/Thu) – Halifax (Tue/Wed) – New York (Thu/Fri) – Norfolk (Fri/Sat) – Jacksonville (Sun/Mon) – Savannah (Mon/Tue) - Singapore (Sun/Mon) – Ho Chi Minh – Cap Mep (Tue)
Commencing voyage:
Suez Canal Bridge, ETD Shekou May 15, 2010k
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For further information contact:
Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
(902)426-1060
Port of Halifax to welcome over 240,000 cruise passengers this season
March 10, 2010 – Halifax, N.S –This cruise season the Port of Halifax expects to welcome over 240,000 passengers to visit between April and October. The Port's full 2010 cruise schedule is now available at www.cruisehalifax.ca.
“Our Province and Region are becoming increasingly popular with cruise lines and passengers because of the attractions, hospitality and facilities we offer," said Cathy McGrail, Manager of Cruise Development at the Halifax Port Authority. “The Port of Halifax cruise activity has a significant economic impact, bringing an estimated expenditure of $50 million from passenger, crew, and cruise lines each year to our local area.”
Some highlights from this year’s cruise season include:
- 9 inaugural calls of new cruise ships calling the Port of Halifax for the first time
- 2 new cruise lines bringing the total to 21 cruise lines that visit the Port of Halifax
- Range of 240,000- 250,000 passengers aboard approximately 130 vessels
The Port of Halifax welcomes the Silver Spirit on April 27th, which is the first vessel call of the 2010 cruise season. The 2010 cruise season runs until late October.
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For further information contact:
Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
(902)426-1060
Infrastructure Enhancements Underway at the South End Container Terminal
January 26, 2010, Halifax, N.S – The Halifax Port Authority has started work at the South End Container Terminal on a $35 million infrastructure project.
The project’s primary purpose is to allow the terminal to simultaneously berth and service two full-sized post-Panamax vessels. The project involves d eepening the berth to a depth of 16 metres from 14.5 metres and extending the berth to ensure that the terminal, and the Port of Halifax, remain competitive in attracting containerized cargo.
“This $35 million dollar infrastructure project is significant as it means that the Port of Halifax will remain competitive by offering multiple berths that are the deepest on the Eastern Seaboard of North America,” said Karen Oldfield, President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority. “The Port of Halifax can today handle the largest ships afloat and this investment will ensure we can compete for all size vessels as a gateway for trade.”
The South End Container Terminal site was chosen 40 years ago as the first common-user container terminal in Canada for its geographic location with unrestricted access from the Atlantic Ocean. This year also marks the 10th year that the terminal is post-Panamax ready, with two cranes that are capable of handling post-Panamax ships.
The South End Container Terminal is operated by Halterm Container Terminal Limited. The Halifax Port Authority administers the terminal land as landlord.
The HPA has invested over $100 million in cargo-related Port infrastructure in the past five years and plans to invest over $225 million over the next five years. In addition, the private sector has invested over $250 million in port-related infrastructure in the past five years.
Visit www.portofhalifax.ca for additional details on the South End Container Terminal infrastructure project.
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Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
(902) 426-1060
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
www.portofhalifax.ca
Port of Halifax Waives Tariff Charges for Humanitarian Relief Shipments to Haiti
Halifax, N.S January 18, 2010 – The Halifax Port Authority has announced that they will waive tariff charges for humanitarian relief shipments that are being shipped to Haiti (including direct calls on the island of Hispaniola) following the earthquake that struck the country on January 12th. The Port of Halifax currently has several of its 19 shipping lines with connections into the Caribbean market.
“Our thoughts are with Haitians, and all those that have lost family and friends in this tragic disaster", said George Malec, Vice-President, Business Development & Operations at the Halifax Port Authority. “With our Caribbean market connections for containerized cargo, the Port of Halifax can be helpful by waiving tariff charges for relief shipments going to Haiti as the country recovers."
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Michele Peveril
Halifax Port Authority
(902) 426-1060
mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
www.portofhalifax.ca
Press Releases from Previous Years
