Liner Shipping: Halifax

Port of Halifax Receives Largest Containerized Cargo Vessel to Date

The 10,062-TEU Zim Antwerp became the largest container ship ever to call the Port of Halifax when it arrived June 29 at Halterm International Container Terminal.

Delivered in 2009, Zim Antwerp has a length overall of 349 meters/1,145 feet, beam of 45.6 meters/149.7 feet, summer loaded draft of 15.0 meters/49.2 feet, and deadweight capacity of 116,294 metric tons. It operates in the Israeli carrier’s Zim Container Service Pacific, between the Far East and East Coast North America via the expanded Panama Canal.  

Earlier it had called the ports of Savannah, Charleston, Virginia, and New York/New Jersey. Subsequent calls include Kingston (Jamaica), Slavyanka (Russia), Qingdao (China), Ningbo (China), Shanghai (China), and Pusan (South Korea). Zim Antwerp is scheduled to return to Halifax in September.

"With three services calling on the Port of Halifax, Zim remains committed to serving Canada through the Halifax Atlantic Gateway," said Volker Kluge, president, Zim Canada. "We look forward to working with our partners to increase the flow of goods and cargo moving through Halifax."  

Halterm Container Terminal Limited operates the 30.2-hectare/74.5-acre South End Container Terminal under a long-term lease agreement with the Halifax Port Authority. The facility has on-dock double stack rail service, seven ship-to-shore container cranes (including four super-post-Panamaxers), berth lengths ranging up to 333 meters/ 1,093 feet and alongside depths of up to 16.2 meters/53 feet. Container throughput capacity is 750,000 TEUs annually.

"This is a very exciting day for the Halifax port community and for our province," said Karen Oldfield, president and CEO, Halifax Port Authority. "With the arrival of the first vessel over 10,000 TEU, Halifax is taking part in the next stage in international shipping along the East Coast of North America. I would like to recognize the hard work of all involved including Halterm, Zim, our rail carrier CN, and the ILA. I would also like to thank the Atlantic Pilotage Authority and Atlantic Towing for their dedication to safety in preparing to effectively handle vessels of this size."


Zim Antwerp at Halterm Container Terminal
Photo/Halifax Port Authority