Contship Containerlines Explained

Contship Containerlines was a global container carrier operating from 1969 to 2005 in the India/Pakistan, Levant, Australia/New Zealand, South America and Asia trade, mainly to and from Europe. The company was founded just as containerization was beginning and continuously grew up with the growth of this market.

History

In 1968 Dr. Angelo Ravano founded Contship SA in Switzerland. The company's first sailing was undertaken by the MV Sea Maid from Fos to Casablanca in October 1969.

During 1970 an agency arm was set up in Milan and terminal operations were started at La Spezia. Some were handled in the first year. A European network with subsidiaries in Spain and the Netherlands in 1973 and 1974 was built up. The transfer of the agency representation in Milan to Genoa in 1974 was accompanied by the expansion of the service portfolio to eastern Mediterranean ports. In 1976 Ellerman City Liners appointed Contship's agency arm in Portugal.

1977 saw the formation of a UK subsidiary and the launch of the first direct container service between Europe and India. It was the first shipping line to handle containers in Bombay (now Mumbai). More experience of working partnerships was gained from 1979 through the formation of the Contship Gulf Line as a joint service agreement with Ellerman City Lines, operating a new service that linked Europe with the Near East.

The company moved its headquarters from Switzerland to Felixstowe and then Ipswich, thus becoming a part of the UK's shipping establishment. The early 80s saw Contship expanding and widening their interests. In Spain, they won the agency representation for Trans Freight Lines. In the UK, they shared in the setting up of Arrowfreight, a freight forwarding operation. Meanwhile, a group holding company was established in Curaçao.

Eagle Container Line linking North Europe and the Mediterranean with Australia commenced in 1982 as a non-conference service. With new agency companies in France and Italy, the start of the Eurasia Container Line and the introduction of vessels into the Eagle service, 1985 was a busy year. 1986 saw the formation of Ocean Star Container Line, operating a westbound round-the world service. The following year saw the commencement of the Medipas service operating between the Mediterranean and India and Pakistan. In 1987 the Contship Containerlines brand was established. It gradually took over management control of Contship's container shipping services, agency and intermodal activities. At the end of the second decade, Ocean Star was expanded to include an Australian and Far East leg and North European ports of call. With the acquisition of Costa Containerline they started a service from the Mediterranean to the US East and Gulf Coasts.

The 90s saw new vessels for the Eagle service, a revision of the Costa operation and start of the Salerno Terminal operations. 1991 was a year that saw changes to the Indian Sub-Continent service with CMB Transport joining Contship Eurasia Line through a joint service agreement. Joint service agreements have always played an important part in Contship's activities. In 1993 just such an agreement with P&O brought a restructuring of the Eagle service and an upgrade of Ocean Star with the addition of larger tonnage. Further tonnage upgrading was made to Contship's Eurasia service and the Gulf Line was reconfigured as Contship Levant Line in association with four partners in 1994. With terminal operations starting in Savona and Gioia Tauro in 1995 and with restructuring of the Eurasia/Medasia services and the establishing of a Med-US Gulf and Mexico service they made further service improvements.

In 1996 the Levant service was modified and the Mediterranean-US and Mexico service was upgraded. The company also took over the Pro Line, thereby bringing Contship Containerlines into the trade between North Europe and South America. In 1997 Contship was acquired by CP Ships, being one of the few shipping lines CP took over at a profitable level. The Ocean Star service was retonnaged and Contship entered into partnership with the CMA-CGM Group and Marfret in 1998. 1999 was a year of consolidating existing operations and building a platform for further growth. They made significant cost efficiencies, improved their profitability and entered new and complementary trade lanes including the US West Coast to the Mediterranean. The same year Contship launched its Internet site and was the first container shipping line to paint its web address on the hull of all its vessels as mobile advertising.

In 2001 a new service between China and Europe was established in co-operation with CMA-CGM, however this trade had to be withdrawn from the market in early March 2003 due to lack of profitability caused by import/export imbalances, low freight rates and high fixed slot costs.

The Australasian trade lane was restructured and retonnaged, providing new vessels with the capability to carry a high percentage of refrigerated containers in late 2002. In 2003 the headquarters moved from Ipswich to the new joint headquarters of CP Ships in Gatwick. A new Contship Logo was designed in 2004 when restructuring the brand/trade lane strategies, however it didn't achieve the public recognition the old one did. In January 2006 the Contship Containerlines brand was replaced by the CP Ships brand following CP's one brand strategy promoted by the "One brand - One team" project, being the last CP Ships brand to be retired. In late 2005 CP Ships was bought up by TUI AG and merged in mid 2006 in the Hapag-Lloyd organization.

Contship Overland

Contship Overland was a division of Contship Containerlines operating in Europe's intermodal industry. The company had offices in Felixstowe, Glasgow and Milan, and worked with partners in Spain and Greece, providing rail freight to key markets and road freight options where required by customers. Its main business consisted of intermodal container and swapbody traffic between the UK and Italy, mostly by rail via the Channel Tunnel. After approximately ten years in business, Contship Overland was sold to the Rotterdam-based intermodal transport operator Geest North Sea Line with effect of 1 October 2001.

Contship Italia Group

When Contship Containerlines was acquired by CP Ships in 1997, the terminal operations in Italy stayed an independent company, not owned by CP. Today, this company acts under the name Contship Italia Group still using the old Contship logo.

International identifiers

SCAC Code

CCXL
Operator Code: CSA
BIC Codes (Container prefixes): CSQU, HAMU, PLVU, CLGU, TLEU, PSBU, PCRU, FANU (Fantainer)

Vessels

(applies to pre-1997 vessels only)

Built Name Tonnage Capacity Shipyard IMO Number Call sign Flag Status/Comments
?Contship Classicaalign=Center ?align=Center ??align=Center 9143246align=Center ?align=Center ?
1981Contship Championalign=Center align=Center Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, Germanyalign=Center 8104474align=Center ?align=Center ?Sailed for Contship from 1987 to 1988.
1982Contship Successalign=Center align=Center Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Tamano Worksalign=Center 8103406align=Center ZCBF3align=Center BermudaCanmar Success 1997 - 1999, Contship Success 1999 - 2000, Cast Power 2000 - 2003, CP Power 2005 - 2006, Power 2006-
1982Contship Luganoalign=Center align=Center J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germanyalign=Center 8121032align=Center ?align=Center ?Sailed for Contship from 1985 to 1988.
1983Contship Endeavouralign=Center align=Center Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Yokosukaalign=Center 8204626align=Center ZCBE7align=Center Bermudalater names: Cast Performance, Canmar Endurance, CP Endurance, Endurance, Still in service
1983Contship Spainalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 8209755align=Center ?align=Center ?
1984Contship Germanyalign=Center align=Center Flender Werft AG, Lübeck, Germanyalign=Center 8324608align=Center V2WUalign=Center Antigua & BarbudaSailed for Contship from 1991 to 1992.
1985Contship Australiaalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8513778align=Center V2OB6align=Center Antigua & BarbudaSailed for Contship from 1990 to 1992.
1985Contship Americaalign=Center align=Center Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Koreaalign=Center 8509387align=Center V7BZ3align=Center Marshall Islands
1985Contship Americaalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8513766align=Center V2AJ5align=Center Antigua & BarbudaSailed for Contship from Aug. 1993 to Nov. 1993.
1985Contship Americaalign=Center align=Center Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Koreaalign=Center 8408856align=Center 3EIP3align=Center PanamaSailed for Contship in 1995 and 1996 for a short time.
1985Contship Bravealign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8415641align=Center VSUV4align=Center United KingdomSailed for Contship from 1988 to 1994
1985Contship Canadaalign=Center align=Center Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, Germanyalign=Center 8417558align=Center V2CA1align=Center Antigua & Barbuda
1985Contship Englandalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8415615align=Center DPEW align=Center Germany
1985Contship Europealign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8415639align=Center ?align=Center GermanyFormer Eagle Container Lines Bold Eagle. Sailed for Contship from 1989 to 1993.
1985Contship Italyalign=Center align=Center Flender Werft AG, Lübeck, Germanyalign=Center 8411205align=Center H8TJalign=Center PanamaSailed for Contship from 1989 to 1990.
1986Contship Egyptalign=Center align=Center VEB Schiffswerft Neptun, Rostock, Germanyalign=Center 8520379align=Center P3GF8align=Center CyprusSailed for Contship from 1991 to 1993.
1986Contship Successalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8513780align=Center ?align=Center ?Sailed for Contship from Dec. 1992 to 1994
1987Contship Asiaalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8614194align=Center DPGDalign=Center GermanySailed for Contship from 1988 to 1991
1988Contship Asiaalign=Center align=Center VEB Schiffswerft Neptun, Rostock, Germanyalign=Center 8609589align=Center P3CA8align=Center Cyprus
1988Contship Houstonalign=Center align=Center Chantiers du Nord et Mediterrane, Francealign=Center 8420907align=Center ELUA5align=Center LiberiaSailed for Contship in 1997. Further name: TMM Oaxaca. Ran aground in the mouth of Mississippi River in Dec. 1999, but re-floated.
1989Contship Americaalign=Center align=Center Chantiers du Nord et Mediterrane, Francealign=Center 8509387align=Center H3QJalign=Center Panama
1989Contship Nouméaalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 8902125align=Center ELTY3align=Center Liberia
1990Contship Argentinaalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center ?align=Center ?align=Center ?Contship Proline Service / Sailed for Contship from 1996 to 1997 / Explosion and fire in a hold on 9 November 1998. Scrapped at Tampico, arrived on 4 May 1999.
1990Contship Ipswichalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 8908167align=Center A8JV6align=Center Liberia
1990Contship Jorkalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 8908181align=Center DEJAalign=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service
1990Contship La Speziaalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 8908179align=Center ?align=Center Germany
1991Contship Australiaalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 9008524align=Center ELVJ9align=Center Liberia
1991Contship Barcelonaalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 9008536align=Center DQEXalign=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service
1992Contship Germanyalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany align=Center 9051222align=Center DLCXalign=Center GermanyContship Eagle/Ocean Star Service - painted fully in pink!
1992Contship Mexicoalign=Center align=Center Stocznia Gdanska SA, Polandalign=Center 9039250align=Center P3ZH4align=Center CyprusSailed for Contship from 1998 to 1999.
1993Contship Asiaalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 9053244align=Center DDQIalign=Center GermanyContship Eurasia, Proline, Levant Service
1993Contship Atlanticalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 9070022align=Center DEALalign=Center GermanyContship Eurasia Service / Sailed for Contship from 1993 to 1997
1993Contship Francealign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 9053232align=Center DLDB align=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service
1993Contship Le Havrealign=Center align=Center Kvaerner Warnow Werft GmbH, Germanyalign=Center 9004255align=Center V2OA3align=Center Antigua & Barbuda
1993Contship New Yorkalign=Center align=Center J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germanyalign=Center 9056272align=Center A8AG5align=Center Liberia
1993Contship Pacificalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 9070010align=Center V2OZ5align=Center AntiguaContship Eurasia/Eagle Service
1993Contship Rotterdamalign=Center align=Center J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germanyalign=Center 9056284align=Center A8KJ4align=Center Liberia
1994 Contship Champion Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea9064865 DGRF Germany 2003 CP / 2005: CP Champion / In service
1994Contship Egyptalign=Center align=Center Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd., South Koreaalign=Center 9060273align=Center V2OMalign=Center AntiguaSailed for Contship from 1994 to 1995
1994Contship Europealign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 9106144align=Center DEFA align=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service
1994 Contship Innovator Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea9064877 DNFA Germany 2003 CP / 2005: CP Innovator / In service
1994Contship Inspirationalign=Center align=Center Astilleros Españoles, S.A., Spainalign=Center 9051492align=Center H8MUalign=Center PanamaSailed for Contship from 2001 to 2003. Former name: TMM Yucatan (2000)
1994Contship Italyalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germanyalign=Center 9109029align=Center DDMM / DEEUalign=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service - painted fully in blue
1994Contship New Zealandalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany align=Center 9070034align=Center DEBH align=Center GermanyContship Eurasia Service
1994Contship Singaporealign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany align=Center 9070046align=Center DEBOalign=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service - painted fully in yellow
1994Contship Tahitialign=Center align=Center Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., Polandalign=Center 9057135align=Center P3TN5align=Center Cypruslater names: TMM Tuxpan
1994Contship Sydney Stocznia Gdanska SA, Poland9062984 VSXC4United KingdomFurther names: Canmar Dynasty / 2005: CP Dynasty / 2006: Sydney Express / In service
1995Contship Aucklandalign=Center align=Center Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., Polandalign=Center 9064334align=Center ELVL8align=Center LiberiaSailed for Contship from 1995 to 1997.
1995Contship Lavagnaalign=Center align=Center Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany align=Center 9109017align=Center DEFIalign=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service
1995 Contship Melbourne Stocznia Gdanska SA, Poland9062996 VSXC7 United Kingdom 1997 CP / 2005: CP Voyager / 2006: Fremantle Express / In service
1995Contship Nobility Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9128192 DGKV Germany 1997 CP / 2003 sold
1995Contship Ticinoalign=Center align=Center A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germanyalign=Center 9111565align=Center DEJLalign=Center GermanyContship Ocean Star Service
1996Contship Action Kvarner Warnow Werft Gmbh, Rostock, Germany9122215 P3JA9Germany 2003:Tegesos 2004:Norasia Tegesos 2009:Tegesos 2012:Tag 81 2012 Demolition At Alang.
1996 Contship Ambition Kvarner Warnow Werft Gmbh, Rostock, Germany9122203 P3GU7 Cyprus 2002:Telanon 2004:Norasia Telanon 2007:Nautic 2010:Pisti 2015:Isti' 2015 Demolished At Alang.
1996Contship Brasilalign=Center align=Center Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH, Germanyalign=Center 9081019align=Center DIGFalign=Center GermanyContship Proline Service
1996 Contship Vision Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9128180 DGGV Germany 1997 CP / 2003 sold
1997Contship Championalign=Center align=Center Kvaerner Warnow Werft GmbH, Rostock, Germanyalign=Center 9137909align=Center V7GU3align=Center Marshall Islands1997:Telendos (Launched) 2002:Champion 2003:Indamex Delaware 2004:CMA CGM Dardanelles 2008:Champion 2010:Nanjing Dragon 2012: Champion 2012:Champion 1 2012 Scrapped At Alang.
1997 Contship Champion Hyundai Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9064865 DGRF Germany 1994:Ville De Vela 2004:Indamex New York 2005:Northern Reliance 2010:Kalani 2012:Northern Reliance 2013 Scrapped At Alang.
1997Contship Harmonyalign=Center align=Center Kvaerner Warnow Werft GmbH, Rostock, Germanyalign=Center 9137894align=Center P3JM9align=Center Germany2003:Conti Harmony 2010:San Pedro Bay Dragon 2011:Conti Harmony 2014 Scrapped At Alang.
1997 Contship London 9152739 ELVX4 Liberia 2005: CP London / 2006: London / In service
1997 Contship Optimism Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9128207 DGOL Germany 1997 CP / 2003 sold
1997Contship Romance Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9128207 DLCT Germany 1997 CP / 2003 sold
1997 Contship Spirit Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9153381 DDJI Germany 1997 CP / 2003 sold, 2004: Micheala S, 2007: MSC Crisobal, 2009: Maersk Nantes
1997 Contship Washington 9152741 ELVZ5 Liberia 2002: Direct Tui / 2005: CP Tui / 2006: Honolulu Express / In service
1998 Contship Auckland 9160396 ELWA2 Liberia 2005: CP Auckland, 2006: CMA CGM Buenos Aires, In service
1998Contship Rangitotoalign=Center align=Center Volkswerft Stralsund GmbH, Germanyalign=Center 9153408align=Center DGZOalign=Center Germanyformer Italia Line vessel Cielo di San Francisco, 2005: CP Rangitoto, 2006: Rangitoto, Ute Oltmann
1998 Contship Rome 9152753 ELVZ6 Liberia 2005: CP Rome, 2006: Rome, Aenne Rickmers, In service
1998 Contship Wellington 9152765ELVZ7Liberia2002: Direct Kea, 2005: CP Kea, CMA CGM Cezanne, Alice Rickmers, In service
1999Contship Mexicoalign=Center align=Center Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., Polandalign=Center 9131278align=Center ELXL6align=Center LiberiaCCNI Antofagasta, CCNI Aviles, Sophie, In service
2001Contship Dragonalign=Center align=Center Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Koreaalign=Center 9232890align=Center C6SG5align=Center BahamasCMA CGM Vega, MSC England, 2007–present
2002 Contship Aurora Daewoo SB & Marine Eng. Co. Ltd., Okpo, South Korea9232565 ZIZP9 United Kingdom 2005: CP Aurora, Maersk Dexter, Liverpool Express, In service
2002 Contship Australis Daewoo SB & Marine Eng. Co. Ltd., Okpo, South Korea9232577 VQEN3 United Kingdom 2005: CP Australis, Maersk Dale, Dublin Express, In service
2002 Contship Borealis Daewoo SB & Marine Eng. Co. Ltd., Okpo, South Korea9232589 VQEN2 United Kingdom 2005: CP Borealis, Maersk Dayton, Glasgow Express, In service
2002 Contship Tenacity 9243174 WDD6127 USAother names: TMM Colima, CP Shenandoah, Yorktown Express, In service
2003 Contship Indigo Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9238753 VQJW4 United Kingdom 2005: CP Indigo / 2006: Bavaria Express / In service
2003 Contship Tamarind Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea9238765 VQMM2 United Kingdom 2005: CP Tamarind / 2006: Thuringia Express / In service

Contship often re-used vessel names, see the IMO Number.

See also

References

External links

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