HALIFAX — The Honourable Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and for the Atlantic Gateway and Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margaret’s, welcomed the Berlin Express to the Port of Halifax.
“I am proud to welcome the Berlin Express to the Port of Halifax. The Berlin Express is one of largest ships in the industry” said Parliamentary Secretary Keddy. “The shipping industry is critical to Canada's future economic growth. I am proud to be a part of a government whose investments in the Port of Halifax are making it possible for large ships such as the Berlin Express to dock here, growing our economy in Atlantic Canada through the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor.”
“Having the right infrastructure is key to being a highly competitive trade gateway," said Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority. “The Port of Halifax appreciates the federal government’s support of infrastructure investments that allow us to improve operations and work with stakeholders to maintain and grow the cargo industry. We welcome the Berlin Express to the Port of Halifax, and we value our continued long-standing relationship with Hapag-Lloyd.”
The Berlin Express as well as the Yantain Express and Dalian Express, owned and operated by Hapag–Lloyd, are the largest twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container vessels to call in the Port of Halifax and on the Atlantic Coast of Canada. These Super Post Panamax vessels with 7506 TEU capacity, 700 reefer plugs and 100,000 deadweight tonnes at 320 metres in length are deployed by Hapag-Lloyd in the G6 Alliance’s AZX service between Asia and North America via the Suez Canal. The Port of Halifax and Ceres Terminal are the first inbound call from Asia. This new service provides Canadian companies with direct access between the growth markets in Asia for both dry and temperature control cargo. Asia is the fastest growing segment of the containerized business for the Port of Halifax.
Hapag-Lloyd has been a customer of the Port of Halifax since 1969. Hapag-Lloyd’s Canadian management recently received the Port’s high volume award for 2012. This was Hapag-Lloyd’s 15th consecutive year as the top volume carrier.
The Government of Canada has invested $52.5 million in the Port of Halifax for various projects to upgrade and improve its capacity. For example the government has contributed up to $17.5 million for the South End Container Terminal project at the Port of Halifax, which will allow the Port to berth two of the world’s largest ships simultaneously, giving it a competitive advantage in international trade.
The Government of Canada is committed to working with its public and private sector partners to help position the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor as a key entry point into North America.
Under the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund, Canada is investing more than $250 million in transportation infrastructure projects supporting the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor.
The Port of Halifax and the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor are the shortest all-water and intermodal inland route between North America and markets in Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal.
More information on Canada’s Atlantic Gateway can be found at www.atlanticgateway.gc.ca.
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Contacts:
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Lane Farguson
Communications Advisor
Halifax Port Authority
Office: 902-426-7375
lfarguson@portofhalifax.ca
