Intermodal to Saint John

If you are asking if Saint John and Halifax could handle it. The easy answer is no. But, if it goes on for awhile, it'll jam them up so the difference will barely be noticeable.

Saint John and Halifax would have problems just looking after Montreal's strike. I think these guys all know the secret handshake, and they thought doing this at the same time would be a real attention getter.

As for who makes what in the cash department - from what I understand, the base wage is 81K, but you can make up to $200K with overtime. I would imagine that's a LOT of overtime. You probably get introduced to your offspring at their college graduation(that you likely paid for).

But the spin will be the spin, and it'll sell papers.

As for what I can see forward, there are only two ships currently destined for Saint John that are going to unload their US bound cargo there. The Puerto Limon Express, and the Caucedo Express. Last reported speeds were 13.8 and 12.9 knots, both about a third of the way across the Atlantic from Antwerp. That's not exactly pedal to the metal and they are expected on Oct. 5th and 6th. I don't know how much they normally drop in Norfolk, but it is supposedly going to be offloaded in Saint John, if all things remain as they are..

It will be interesting to see how much of the Norfolk traffic will fall into Chessie's claws.

I guess one port of entry instead of two if such traffic were routed over CP-M and through Montreal, and even if much of the Maine Central is now FRA Class 2, it still can only handle single stack Containers.

But despite this drawback, I would think Chessie would have an advantage handling the traffic that the two vessels noted by Mr. Kuband would have otherwise offloaded at Norfolk

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 4:45 pm It will be interesting to see how much of the Norfolk traffic will fall into Chessie's claws.

I guess one port of entry instead of two if such traffic were routed over CP-M and through Montreal, and even if much of the Maine Central is now FRA Class 2, it still can only handle single stack Containers.

But despite this drawback, I would think Chessie would have an advantage handling the traffic that the two vessels noted by Mr. Kuband would have otherwise offloaded at Norfolk

Hello Mr. Norman.
Nobody is giving up any secrets about the plan to disperse said traffic to points south. I agree with your summation that Chessie, all things being equal, would be the most efficient for the task. And Chessie could do all of this without committing to a regular service. I think the alternative is to send it to Montreal on the CP-M only to be forwarded on to Chessie in NY anyway. But maybe it comes down to available crews, equipment, etc. Only time will tell.

Mr. Kuband, it would sure seem to me that to have CP-M interchange to Chessie any such traffic intended to be consigned through Norfolk at Montreal "a mite bit" circuitous routing.

Two frontiers, then down the Massena line to Syracuse, thence to wherever Chessie can handle it, the strike could well be over (maybe even collectively bargained) before it ever got to destination. It would seem that the shippers of these Containers would be better off taking their chances with all Chessie routing over the Maine Central, B&M, and B&A. Lest we forget, only one frontier to X.

Now what I don't know is what kind of restrictions - timing, weight, and speed - the two passenger train agencies (MBTA and NNEPRA) that took taxpayer $$$ to have FRA Class 4 track Worcester-Portland have imposed on Chessie? Maybe none, but I doubt that.

Finally, here are the particulars on the two former Maersk vessels Mr. Kuband notes were diverted from Norfolk and are sailing directly to Saint John.

m/v Caucedo Express

m/v Puerto Limon

Not diverted... these are the same ships already hitting SJ but omitting Norfolk.

Only diverted ship so far on the schedule is MSC ANNICK but that one appears more related to Montreal than east coast ports.

Halifax has picked up a couple, but there was already a lot of traffic diverted west coast a few weeks prior, with some other vessels trying to wait it out assuming this isn't a long strike.

Update-- this doesn't appear to be a diversion but rather an entirely new call at Saint John for the Canada Med service for MSC. The new rotation goes HAL-MTR-SJB on the TAEB trip back to Italy. A few possibilities:

MSC will eventually phase out Montreal so replacing SJ as their CP connection

MSC is linking up Med Canada with Canada Gulf at SJ (so just transshipping and likely no rail)

MSC is selling slot space on the ship to another steamship lines which requires a stop over to SJ

(Least likely) CSX will route traffic to SJ for MSC

Going Halifax-Montreal-Saint John is a lot of backtracking so I believe it's MSC experimenting with making SJ the second port of call and phasing out Montreal. The more containers the better.

Neither train ran today.

Between last night's and tonight's 121s from Saint John, CPKC will only have 37 wells/75 or so containers of IM to move west in the morning from BVJ.

A lot of well car supply was held in ports or sent west to take on cargo surge. Things are going to be wonky for a while, every 1 day of the strike on average will take 1 week to recover.

Mr. CN, as I've noted at related topics, an annual take of $200K with overtime means a Longshoreman can hold out far longer than, say, a hotel worker with their, maybe, $30K.

Joe is not about to invoke the 80 day "back to work back to the table" provisions of Taft Hartley prior to the Election, but that's still 32 days away. If he then invokes, he will be out of office when the 80 days expire, making it either Kamala's or "The Donald's" problem.

But, as some here have possibly noted, I do follow Labor affairs to some extent (I was in Labor Relations for three years during my eleven year railroad career), and I'm not aware of any time that the 80 day time frame has expired without an agreement. A few historical notes I can recall is that the most recent use of the TH was when GWB(43) invoked against a West Coast dock strike. The most memorable to me was the 1959 Ike invoking against the Steelworkers who were out for 116 days. The Steelworkers took an appeal to the Supreme Court (it was rather "Lib" then) but lost. At the time, Arthur Goldberg, the Steelworkers General Counsel (and later JFK's Labor Secretary), was asked for comment. His response: "The only appeal from a Supreme Court decision is an appeal to God".

All the steamship lines have run the scenarios, 1 week, 2 weeks or 3 weeks. Union expects it to last 3, a few SSLs are betting on 1-2. Even still, recovery will range weeks to months depending on the prolonged disruption. Each day exponentially increases the backlog, just look at Marine Traffic and see the anchored ships stacking up.

Mr. CN, if Saint John is to become backlogged, I "don't think I would exactly enjoy" being around vessels anchored in the Bay of Fundy.

Also interesting that some parties, such as the steamship lines, hold the strike will be over by collective bargaining prior to the Election.

RE: MSC's service upgrade to Saint John:

LOW WATER SURCHARGE TRADE FROM WMED, ADRIATIC, ISRAEL AND NORTH EUROPE (INC. UK AND SCAN BALTIC) TO CANADA
02/10/2024

St. Lawrence River water levels are significantly reducing the tonnage deployed on the trade from West Mediterranean, Adriatic, Israel and North Europe (including UK and Scan Baltic) to Montreal.

For this reason, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company announces the implementation of a low water surcharge “Saint-Laurent low water” (SLW) for any equipment size and type moving from West Mediterranean, Adriatic, Israel and North Europe (inc. UK and Scan Baltic) to Montreal POD, effective as from 15 October 2024 until further notice.

The SLW will be charged as follows:
• USD 150 - per 20’ container
• USD 300 - per 40’ and 45’ container

https://www.msc.com/en/newsroom/custome ... -surcharge

This is why larger ships are unable to get anywhere near Montreal. I think MSC is looking for an alternative.

121 was into Greenville Jct. at 08:46 with CP 8893/CP 8799, 49 mixed freight, 6 CP side dumps, 10 wells/20 containers, KCSM 4561 (DPU), 27 wells/52 containers, 7 empty wells, 28 autoracks.

[Edited at 18:18]

120 was into Greenville Jct. at 13:47 with KCS 4804/KCSM 4678/CP 3035, 60 mixed freight (16 loaded autoracks), 19 wells/40 containers, CP 8145 (DPU), 73 wells/89 containers.

NBC News has just reported there is a tentative deal in place to settle the Longshoremen's strike.

The Journal is also reporting same.

Yes a good outcome. There could still be a few minor diversions as they sort through log jams but the sooner we get back to normal the sooner we can see organic and sustainable growth up this way.