OOCL is expanding its trans-Atlantic West Mediterranean service with a new call at the Port of Halifax — the carrier’s first direct call to the Canadian East Coast gateway. This strategic shift comes at a time when Canada is actively diversifying trade away from the US and mitigating the impact of exceptionally low water levels along the St. Lawrence Seaway.
For logistics decision-makers, this move strengthens Eastern Canada’s routing options, provides a new access point for Montreal-and Toronto-bound cargo, and reflects broader trade realignments underway across North America.
A La Niña weather cycle has caused historically low water levels on parts of the St. Lawrence River, with some Montreal harbor sections reaching depths of only 17 feet — one of the lowest levels on record.
As a result, carriers must now offload containers in Halifax or Saint John before continuing upriver, turning Halifax into an operational relief hub for Montreal-bound cargo.
Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled in early 2025 that Canada’s long dependency on the US export market is “over,” partially due to US-imposed tariffs. The government’s 2025 budget includes C$5billion for new trade and infrastructure development, accelerating the country’s push toward diversified global markets.
OOCL’s Halifax call fits this national strategy by widening direct access to European and Mediterranean markets.
Although the port has not returned to its 2022 peak, its first-half 2025 results are strong:
Front-loaded cargo — driven by tariffs and trade uncertainty —boosted volumes on both sides of the border.
OOCL announced that Halifax will now serve as the first North American call on the West Mediterranean America service from Italy and Spain, providing:
This positions Halifax as a preferred gateway for time-sensitive cargo moving into Central Canada.
OOCL joins three other carriers already linking the Mediterranean to Halifax, signaling that the port is becoming a core Atlantic hub rather than an overflow alternative.
For supply chain planners, this means:
OOCL Canada noted that after heavy frontloading earlier in the year, Canadian ports will likely see a Q4 slowdown in line with the US. Factors include:
Still, the expanded port coverage will help stabilize service even as demand softens.
Whether due to La Niña, droughts, or climate instability, water-level restrictions are increasingly disrupting inland waterways worldwide — including Panama, the Mississippi River, and now the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Canada’s shift aligns with global supply chain rebalancing trends:
With disruptions on the West Coast and inland constraints through the Seaway, Mediterranean–North America trade is increasingly favoring Atlantic routes — a shift beneficial to ports like Halifax, Saint John, Savannah, and New York/New Jersey.
With multimodal expertise across air freight, sea freight, and storage, plus our Verified Service Provider(VSP) Database, Worldtop & Meta helps businesses navigate fast-changing port conditions and route alternatives across North America.
Whether you’re shifting cargo from Montreal, evaluating Mediterranean sourcing, or assessing tariff impacts, our team provides data-driven, proactive solutions to keep your supply chain resilient.
Source:https://www.joc.com/article/oocl-adds-halifax-call-to-trans-atlantic-med-service-6119026
