Sunday 23 May 2021

CMA CGM Marco Polo visits Halifax

Monday saw the inaugural visit to Halifax of the CMA CGM Marco Polo, the largest yet container vessel to visit the port (she will similarly be the largest to visit several other ports along the Eastern Seaboard in the coming weeks). Although some other ship watchers in the area managed to catch the ship on it way into port, I wasn't so lucky, and had to make do by taking some photos of her alongside from a vantage point in Dartmouth early on Monday morning after sunrise.

Marco Polo alongside at Halterm near Point Pleasant Park, taken from Woodside.

Marco Polo as seen from Shearwater.

The latter viewpoint here afforded a slightly better angle, not only with better lighting, but without one of the Halterm piers getting in the way. Some people have commented that they can't quite tell how bit the ship is from these photos, so perhaps this next photo provides a better perspective.

Marco Polo at the south end of the main Halterm seawall - she is being serviced by all three of the new, larger, container cranes installed specifically for these larger classes of container ship. There is just enough room ahead of her for another, smaller, container vessel.

This new generation of container vessel is larger than previous generations, such that it can't fit under the Halifax Harbour bridges, and the bridge superstructure has moved forward - presumably to allow better visibility forward. 

I was hoping to catch the ship's departure on Monday evening, but I misjudged my timing, and only caught her after she had already left the seawall. Better than no photo at all, I guess. 

Marco Polo departing Halifax.

Marco Polo passing McNab's Island.


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