ZIM gets bigger

ZIM is now sending larger ships to Halifax (last week's Zim Antwerp crashed through the 10,000 TEU mark) but they are also sending former post-Panamax ships through the new Panama Canal from on their Pacific service.

At this time last year Hamburg Bay was too large to use the old Panam Canal, but now it can get through with ease. The 71,786 grt, 72,982 dwt ship has a capacity of 6350 TEU, including 500 reefers. It was built in 2009 by Koyo Dockyard in Mihara, Japan to a standarad design called Imabari 6350. It started out on a charter to APL as APL Tokyo  and in 2014 became ZIM Hamburg. When that name was needed for a new ZIM ship it was renamed Hamburg Bay in 2016 by owners based in Lodon and associated with Zodiac Marine.

The tug Spitfire III has assisted the ship in turning and will swing around to the port quarter to bring it alongside. Note the open frmae type containers with standard containers on top. Thes large transpacific ships usually carry empties on the after deck.

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