New lakes operator

[asz]

re UCCL Alara - wonder if this all means she'll never sail under Canadian flag but rather will be flipped immediately into a flag of convenience and trade elsewhere. doesn't look too promising..

[Jacques]

These are pretty basic ships, no cargo gear which I think would be required for a container feeder ship given the high cost of rented shore cranes and on the small side capacity-wise. Maybe the owner is on the lookout for something larger and a bit more capable?

[Bruno]

Both vessel are still registered under their old names of Jin Man He and Jin Man Hai. The only change since the sale last November was the reflagging of the latter to Sierra Leone in March and more recently to Cambodia which by any standards is not very promising. The registered owners of Jin Man Hai now appear to be Indonesian. To complicate the matter even more, there are no ship registered as UCCL Alara nor Alara at the moment on any class society web site, just the Canadian site but not giving the vessel's IMO number.

[Asz]

The website has a picture of the Port building displayed, whether this means the port is involved or not isn't disclosed but a container yard is referenced in the website. it seems to be a restart of their Sea3 operation maybe with Upper Canada Container Lines replacing McKeils as the vessel operator. Didnt Sea3 sail empty most of the time? Can't have made much money.

[jacques]

the operating company has a website www.shortseasavings.com with pictures of their ship the UCCL Alara. however she isn't showing up on AIS.
Wasn't shortseasavings used by the defunct Sea3 operation that was owned by the port of hamilton with Mckeil involvement? Who actually owns this new company? - thought it was Menpas shipping but maybe mckeil and the port are involved. It's a bit confusing.

[asz]

there doesn't appear to be any sign of the newly Cdn registered vessel UCCL Alara heading here and she doesn't show up on an AIS search. Anyone hear any scuttlebut?

[seadog]

thats where the railways have it over water transportation on the seaway they operate year round not nine months a year the venture that mckeil was involved in a few years ago was the slow boat to china and it didnt last but one season

[asz]

if UCCL has bought up to 4 vessels this would appear to be quite a commitment to the lakes trade in containers. is there really such demand out there given how efficient the railways are?
and I'm guessing CN won't take it lying down.

[William Lafferty]

judging by her stats this would make her about 5000dwt and container intake perhaps 300-350 TEU.

If the vessel is the Jin Man Hai, she is 4900 tons deadweight with a capacity of 366 TEU. She and Jin Man He were sold Canadian for $2 million apiece last fall. I share the concern over her efficacy for this trade, but we'll see.

[jacques]

judging by her stats this would make her about 5000dwt and container intake perhaps 300-350 TEU. can she be competitive
and more importantly will the business be there? I cant see her
being a player in the traditional trades at this size?

[Quebec]

http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/4/v ... pid=836420

UCCL Alara (O.N. 836420)
Vessel
Official Number836420
Vessel Name UCCL Alara
Former Vessel Name-
IMO Number-
Hull Number-
Year Built1996
Year Rebuilt-
Port of Registry Hamilton
Registry Date2012-04-02
Certificate Expires2015-04-30

General Statistics
Vessel Type Cargo
Gross Tonnage2900 t
Net Tonnage1313 t
Construction Type Carvel/flush
Construction Material Steel
Vessel Length92.17 m
Vessel Breadth16.90 m
Vessel Depth7.55 m

Engine
Engine Description-
Number of Engines-
Propulsion Type Self-Propelled
Speed-
Propulsion Method Single Screw
Propulsion Power2940
Unit of PowerKilowatts

Builder
NameKroegerwerft Rendsburg Gmbh
AddressKroegerwerft Rendsburg
CountryGermany, Federal Republic (West)
Postal Code-

Owner
Sequence #1. Number of Shares: 64
NameUpper Canada Container Line Inc.
Address651 Burlington St E
Hamilton
Provinceontario
Countrycanada
Postal CodeL8L 4J5

Authorized Representative
NameUpper Canada Container Line Inc.
Address651 Burlington St E
Hamilton
Provinceontario
Countrycanada
Postal CodeL8L 4J5

[Mac Mackay]

This would be one of the four Chinese ships, two of which were reported by Bruno Boissoneault to be sold to Canada. Jin Man Hai is the likely one. The other three are Jin Man He, Jin Man Hu and Jin Man Jiang.

[Guest]

What's the UCCL Alara's former name? I can't find her anywhere.

[jacques]

wonder where that leaves the dutch runner? this one should be a better carrier

[asz]

a vessel has been registered Canadian today by Upper Canada Container Line inc. of hamilton. the UCCL Alara. It appears this is the Menpas Shipping vessel and from the operator name seems containers are to be the cargo.

[schipper]

From the Industry Canada website.
Company Description
Logistics,Forwarding, Marine Transportion
Country of Ownership:
Canada
Exporting: Yes
Primary Industry (NAICS):
488519 - Other Freight Transportation Arrangement
Primary Business Activity:
Services
Top
Product / Service / Licensing
Service Name: logistics,forwarding,marine transportation and chartering
international container,project cargo and breakbulk cargo shipments,door to door

[mn brett]

What is the Company's name from the Canadian Wheat board that was buying two new ships,and than chartering them to Upper lakes?

[jacques]

Menpas main line of business seems to be trading dried fruit and nuts where the shipping part comes in isnt explained.

[Asz]

The company behind this would appear to be Menpas Shipping and Trading which has roots in Turkish shipping. I am told they have opened an office in the Port of Hamilton next to the Seamans mission. This could mean they intend to resurrect the Hamilton-Montreal container service. What Canadian flag carrier would they use?

[Randy M]

All I can find is that the head office for it is a Lawyers office in downtown Toronto, but nothing else.