The launch of a new container feeder service between Montreal and Hamilton signals a new and more environmentally friendly era of goods movements in Canada. The weekly fixed day service will provide marine transport for more than 250 TEU per sailing creating an alternative to truck and rail for containers connecting with international liner services calling on Montreal. The service is a Hamilton Port Authority initiative driven by its wholly owned subsidiary, Sea3 Inc. The service is beneficial in three key areas. It will lower the overall transportation costs for many cargo types, it can reduce the environmental footprint versus truck or rail and it provides social advantages such as lessening road and rail congestion.
“One of the real advantages of this service is its ability to carry heavy boxes. It can carry up to the container’s plated capacity (approx 28 metric tonnes) and initially this will mean that heavy cargos such as steel and ceramic tiles moving in 20’ containers and paying overweight surcharges will benefit hugely. We are also in the process of creating an inland container depot for empties in Hamilton so users can pick up their containers in Hamilton and minimize the local drayage charges,” says Hamilton Port Authority vice president Ian Hamilton.
Studies that support efficiencies in marine transport in the environmental arena have demonstrated waterborne advantages, including fuel litres burned per tonne kilometer. In fact, McKeil Marine estimates that it will take less than 3 litres of fuel to transport a tonne of cargo from Hamilton to Montreal with this mode. This also reduces congestion on our major highways shifting traditional long haul truck loads to available capacity on the Seaway. “Being a part of the service fits our corporate philosophy to promote and develop Short Sea Shipping. Sea3 is designed to increase transportation system efficiency in our region and meet the demands of economic expansion, increased trade and population growth. Promoting multi-modal transportation, and integrating the efficiencies of the marine mode, will ensure a competitive position for Hamilton,” said McKeil Marine president Blair McKeil.
Service providers include McKeil Marine Limited providing the tug and barge service, the 260 teu capacity Niagara Spirit, Montship Inc. who will act as the sales agent, managing bookings, Federal Marine Terminals managing the Hamilton port terminal service and Montreal Gateway Terminals, providing the Montreal port terminal service. Cargo booking and pricing inquiries can be made by contacting Montship on 1-800-668-6850. “We are very excited to be a part of this service. Sea3 brings a new dimension to intermodal transport in the Quebec-Ontario corridor. That a viable alternative to rail and truck is being introduced in the 50th year of the Seaway is noteworthy. We are very encouraged by the reaction from shippers and carriers alike. The cost savings alone sell the concept, but the environmental benefits make it a winner. For the many companies who have a green policy in place, this is a long-awaited solution,” said Montship’s president Brian McDonald.
The commencement of the service is planned for July 3rd and will mark the first regular container movements on the Great Lakes and will demonstrate the viability of short sea shipping linking Great Lakes ports with St. Lawrence River and East Coast gateway ports. Short Sea Shipping, a significant component to goods movement throughout Europe, has been increasingly identified as providing long term sustainability for the Seaway. “We are pleased to support the development of new traffic in the port and our terminal management experience is well suited to handling container volumes,” said Federal Marine Terminals marketing and corporate relations director Mike Kirkpatrick.
“We’ve invested a significant amount of time with a number of partners and have made the feeder service a key component of our strategic planning,” said HPA president and CEO Bruce Wood. Events are planned for July to officially mark the launch of the service. Global economic conditions are forcing many sectors to evaluate further cost saving measures and programs. Transportation costs are a substantial constituent of the total supply chain and one which is not insular to recent downturns in the economy. This is the ideal time to launch such an offering in the marketplace.
Sea3 brings together an experienced team of marine transportation service providers in 3 core areas: vessel operations, bookings and terminal services.
Vessel owner and operator, McKeil Marine Ltd, has more than 50 years of maritime experience and will operate the Niagara Spirit between Hamilton and Montreal.
Montship Inc. is one of the oldest and most respected shipping agents in Canada. Montship will handle sales and customer service.
The Hamilton Port Authority, Montreal Gateway Terminals and Federal Marine Terminals combine to provide state-of-the-art terminal management. The Hamilton Port Authority serves a region that includes more than 120 million people within an eight-hour drive and the Montreal Gateway Terminals connects to worldwide destinations through seven of the world's top container shipping lines.
