# Contship Containerlines

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 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) 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 1000 TEU 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 4100 TEU 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 Classica | ? | ? | ? | 9143246 | ? | ? | |
| 1981 | Contship Champion | 5,938 GT | 584 TEU | Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany | 8104474 | ? | ? | Sailed for Contship from 1987 to 1988. |
| 1982 | Contship Success | 31,570 GT | 1700 TEU | Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Tamano Works | 8103406 | ZCBF3 | Bermuda | Canmar Success 1997–1999, Contship Success 1999–2000, Cast Power 2000–2003, CP Power 2005–2006, Power 2006- |
| 1982 | Contship Lugano | 5,404 GT | 445 TEU | J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germany | 8121032 | ? | ? | Sailed for Contship from 1985 to 1988. |
| 1983 | Contship Endeavour | 32,152 GT | 1950 TEU | Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Yokosuka | 8204626 | ZCBE7 | Bermuda | later names: Cast Performance, Canmar Endurance, CP Endurance, Endurance, Still in service |
| 1983 | Contship Spain | 13,474 GT | 1044 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 8209755 | ? | ? | |
| 1984 | Contship Germany | 12,691 GT | 1128 TEU | Flender Werft AG, Lübeck, Germany | 8324608 | V2WU | Antigua & Barbuda | Sailed for Contship from 1991 to 1992. |
| 1985 | Contship Australia | 10,287 GT | 1021 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8513778 | V2OB6 | Antigua & Barbuda | Sailed for Contship from 1990 to 1992. |
| 1985 | Contship America | 22,667 GT | 1800 TEU | Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea | 8509387 | V7BZ3 | Marshall Islands | |
| 1985 | Contship America | 10,256 GT | 1021 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8513766 | V2AJ5 | Antigua & Barbuda | Sailed for Contship from Aug. 1993 to Nov. 1993. |
| 1985 | Contship America | 22,667 GT | 1552 TEU | Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea | 8408856 | 3EIP3 | Panama | Sailed for Contship in 1995 and 1996 for a short time. |
| 1985 | Contship Brave | 10,282 GT | 1228 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8415641 | VSUV4 | United Kingdom | Sailed for Contship from 1988 to 1994 |
| 1985 | Contship Canada | 9,367 GT | 1002 TEU | Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany | 8417558 | V2CA1 | Antigua & Barbuda | |
| 1985 | Contship England | 10,282 GT | 1022 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8415615 | DPEW | Germany | |
| 1985 | Contship Europe | 10,282 GT | 1022 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8415639 | ? | Germany | Former Eagle Container Lines Bold Eagle. Sailed for Contship from 1989 to 1993. |
| 1985 | Contship Italy | 12,569 GT | 1150 TEU | Flender Werft AG, Lübeck, Germany | 8411205 | H8TJ | Panama | Sailed for Contship from 1989 to 1990. |
| 1986 | Contship Egypt | 13,335 GT | 896 TEU | VEB Schiffswerft Neptun, Rostock, Germany | 8520379 | P3GF8 | Cyprus | Sailed for Contship from 1991 to 1993. |
| 1986 | Contship Success | 16,250 GT | 1597 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8513780 | ? | ? | Sailed for Contship from Dec. 1992 to 1994 |
| 1987 | Contship Asia | 10,811 GT | 1022 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8614194 | DPGD | Germany | Sailed for Contship from 1988 to 1991 |
| 1988 | Contship Asia | 13,315 GT | 928 TEU | VEB Schiffswerft Neptun, Rostock, Germany | 8609589 | P3CA8 | Cyprus | |
| 1988 | Contship Houston | 31,430 GT | 2073 TEU | Chantiers du Nord et Mediterrane, France | 8420907 | ELUA5 | Liberia | Sailed for Contship in 1997. Further name: TMM Oaxaca. Ran aground in the mouth of Mississippi River in Dec. 1999, but re-floated. |
| 1989 | Contship America | 31,430 GT | 2073 TEU | Chantiers du Nord et Mediterrane, France | 8509387 | H3QJ | Panama | |
| 1989 | Contship Nouméa | 18,000 GT | 1743 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 8902125 | ELTY3 | Liberia | |
| 1990 | Contship Argentina | 18,037 GT | 1799 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | ? | ? | ? | 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. |
| 1990 | Contship Ipswich | 16,236 GT | 1597 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 8908167 | A8JV6 | Liberia | |
| 1990 | Contship Jork | 16,236 GT | 1597 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 8908181 | DEJA | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service |
| 1990 | Contship La Spezia | 16,236 GT | 1597 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 8908179 | ? | Germany | |
| 1991 | Contship Australia | 16,236 GT | 1597 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9008524 | ELVJ9 | Liberia | |
| 1991 | Contship Barcelona | 16,236 GT | 1599 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 9008536 | DQEX | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service |
| 1992 | Contship Germany | 16,236 GT | 1600 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 9051222 | DLCX | Germany | Contship Eagle/Ocean Star Service - painted fully in pink! |
| 1992 | Contship Mexico | 30,567 GT | 1933 TEU | Stocznia Gdanska SA, Poland | 9039250 | P3ZH4 | Cyprus | Sailed for Contship from 1998 to 1999. |
| 1993 | Contship Asia | 16,236 GT | 1597 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9053244 | DDQI | Germany | Contship Eurasia, Proline, Levant Service |
| 1993 | Contship Atlantic | 23,130 GT | 1684 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9070022 | DEAL | Germany | Contship Eurasia Service / Sailed for Contship from 1993 to 1997 |
| 1993 | Contship France | 16,236 GT | 1597 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9053232 | DLDB | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service |
| 1993 | Contship Le Havre | 14,865 GT | 1452 TEU | Kvaerner Warnow Werft GmbH, Germany | 9004255 | V2OA3 | Antigua & Barbuda | |
| 1993 | Contship New York | 16,233 GT | 1667 TEU | J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germany | 9056272 | A8AG5 | Liberia | |
| 1993 | Contship Pacific | 16,236 GT | 1684 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9070010 | V2OZ5 | Antigua | Contship Eurasia/Eagle Service |
| 1993 | Contship Rotterdam | 16,233 GT | 1667 TEU | J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germany | 9056284 | A8KJ4 | Liberia | |
| 1994 | Contship Champion | 35,595 GT | 3538 TEU | Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea | 9064865 | DGRF | Germany | 2003 CP / 2005: CP Champion / In service |
| 1994 | Contship Egypt | 16,927 GT | 1641 TEU | Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd., South Korea | 9060273 | V2OM | Antigua | Sailed for Contship from 1994 to 1995 |
| 1994 | Contship Europe | 16,269 GT | 1687 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9106144 | DEFA | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service |
| 1994 | Contship Innovator | 35,595 GT | 3538 TEU | Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea | 9064877 | DNFA | Germany | 2003 CP / 2005: CP Innovator / In service |
| 1994 | Contship Inspiration | 30,971 GT | 2394 TEU | Astilleros Españoles, S.A., Spain | 9051492 | H8MU | Panama | Sailed for Contship from 2001 to 2003. Former name: TMM Yucatan (2000) |
| 1994 | Contship Italy | 16,270 GT | 1684 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 9109029 | DDMM / DEEU | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service - painted fully in blue |
| 1994 | Contship New Zealand | 16,282 GT | 1684 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9070034 | DEBH | Germany | Contship Eurasia Service |
| 1994 | Contship Singapore | 16,236 GT | 1687 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9070046 | DEBO | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service - painted fully in yellow |
| 1994 | Contship Tahiti | 4,619 GT | 1334 TEU | Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., Poland | 9057135 | P3TN5 | Cyprus | later names: TMM Tuxpan |
| 1994 | Contship Sydney | 23,540 GT | 2078 TEU | Stocznia Gdanska SA, Poland | 9062984 | VSXC4 | United Kingdom | Further names: Canmar Dynasty / 2005: CP Dynasty / 2006: Sydney Express / In service |
| 1995 | Contship Auckland | 23,691 GT | 2063 TEU | Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., Poland | 9064334 | ELVL8 | Liberia | Sailed for Contship from 1995 to 1997. |
| 1995 | Contship Lavagna | 16,270 GT | 1684 TEU | Bremer Vulkan AG - Schiffbau, Germany | 9109017 | DEFI | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service |
| 1995 | Contship Melbourne | 23,540 GT | 2078 TEU | Stocznia Gdanska SA, Poland | 9062996 | VSXC7 | United Kingdom | 1997 CP / 2005: CP Voyager / 2006: Fremantle Express / In service |
| 1995 | Contship Nobility | 31,730 GT | 2758 TEU | Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9128192 | DGKV | Germany | 1997 CP / 2003 sold |
| 1995 | Contship Ticino | 16,269 GT | 1684 TEU | A.G. Weser Seebeckwerft, Germany | 9111565 | DEJL | Germany | Contship Ocean Star Service |
| 1996 | Contship Action | 31,730 GT | 2890 TEU | Kvarner Warnow Werft Gmbh, Rostock, Germany | 9122215 | P3JA9 | Germany | 2003:Tegesos 2004:Norasia Tegesos 2009:Tegesos 2012:Tag 81 2012 Demolition At Alang. |
| 1996 | Contship Ambition | 31,730 GT | 2890 TEU | Kvarner Warnow Werft Gmbh, Rostock, Germany | 9122203 | P3GU7 | Cyprus | 2002:Telanon 2004:Norasia Telanon 2007:Nautic 2010:Pisti 2015:Isti' 2015 Demolished At Alang. |
| 1996 | Contship Brasil | 15,859 GT | 1512 TEU | Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH, Germany | 9081019 | DIGF | Germany | Contship Proline Service |
| 1996 | Contship Vision | 31,730 GT | 2758 TEU | Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9128180 | DGGV | Germany | 1997 CP / 2003 sold |
| 1997 | Contship Champion | 31,207 GT | 2890 TEU | Kvaerner Warnow Werft GmbH, Rostock, Germany | 9137909 | V7GU3 | Marshall Islands | 1997: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 | 31,730 GT | 3538 TEU | Hyundai Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9064865 | DGRF | Germany | 1994:Ville De Vela 2004:Indamex New York 2005:Northern Reliance 2010:Kalani 2012:Northern Reliance 2013 Scrapped At Alang. |
| 1997 | Contship Harmony | 31,207 GT | 2890 TEU | Kvaerner Warnow Werft GmbH, Rostock, Germany | 9137894 | P3JM9 | Germany | 2003:Conti Harmony 2010:San Pedro Bay Dragon 2011:Conti Harmony 2014 Scrapped At Alang. |
| 1997 | Contship London | 26,131 GT | 2124 TEU | China SB Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 9152739 | ELVX4 | Liberia | 2005: CP London / 2006: London / In service |
| 1997 | Contship Optimism | 31,730 GT | 2758 TEU | Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9128207 | DGOL | Germany | 1997 CP / 2003 sold |
| 1997 | Contship Romance | 31,730 GT | 2758 TEU | Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9128207 | DLCT | Germany | 1997 CP / 2003 sold |
| 1997 | Contship Spirit | 31,730 GT | 2758 TEU | Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9153381 | DDJI | Germany | 1997 CP / 2003 sold, 2004: Micheala S, 2007: MSC Crisobal, 2009: Maersk Nantes |
| 1997 | Contship Washington | 26,131 GT | 2124 TEU | China SB Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 9152741 | ELVZ5 | Liberia | 2002: Direct Tui / 2005: CP Tui / 2006: Honolulu Express / In service |
| 1998 | Contship Auckland | 26,131 GT | 2124 TEU | China SB Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 9160396 | ELWA2 | Liberia | 2005: CP Auckland, 2006: CMA CGM Buenos Aires, In service |
| 1998 | Contship Rangitoto | 25,359 GT | 2500 TEU | Volkswerft Stralsund GmbH, Germany | 9153408 | DGZO | Germany | former Italia Line vessel Cielo di San Francisco, 2005: CP Rangitoto, 2006: Rangitoto, Ute Oltmann |
| 1998 | Contship Rome | 26,131 GT | 2124 TEU | China SB Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 9152753 | ELVZ6 | Liberia | 2005: CP Rome, 2006: Rome, Aenne Rickmers, In service |
| 1998 | Contship Wellington | 26,131 GT | 2124 TEU | China SB Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 9152765 | ELVZ7 | Liberia | 2002: Direct Kea, 2005: CP Kea, CMA CGM Cezanne, Alice Rickmers, In service |
| 1999 | Contship Mexico | 28,118 GT | 1644 TEU | Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., Poland | 9131278 | ELXL6 | Liberia | CCNI Antofagasta, CCNI Aviles, Sophie, In service |
| 2001 | Contship Dragon | 39,812 GT | 4132 TEU | Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., South Korea | 9232890 | C6SG5 | Bahamas | CMA CGM Vega, MSC England, 2007–present |
| 2002 | Contship Aurora | 46,009 GT | 4115 TEU | Daewoo SB & Marine Eng. Co. Ltd., Okpo, South Korea | 9232565 | ZIZP9 | United Kingdom | 2005: CP Aurora, Maersk Dexter, Liverpool Express, In service |
| 2002 | Contship Australis | 46,009 GT | 4115 TEU | Daewoo SB & Marine Eng. Co. Ltd., Okpo, South Korea | 9232577 | VQEN3 | United Kingdom | 2005: CP Australis, Maersk Dale, Dublin Express, In service |
| 2002 | Contship Borealis | 46,009 GT | 4115 TEU | Daewoo SB & Marine Eng. Co. Ltd., Okpo, South Korea | 9232589 | VQEN2 | United Kingdom | 2005: CP Borealis, Maersk Dayton, Glasgow Express, In service |
| 2002 | Contship Tenacity | 40,146 GT | 3237 TEU | China SB Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 9243174 | WDD6127 | USA | other names: TMM Colima, CP Shenandoah, Yorktown Express, In service |
| 2003 | Contship Indigo | 39,941 GT | 4311 TEU | Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9238753 | VQJW4 | United Kingdom | 2005: CP Indigo / 2006: Bavaria Express / In service |
| 2003 | Contship Tamarind | 39,941 GT | 4311 TEU | Samsung SB & Heavy Ind. Co. Ltd., South Korea | 9238765 | VQMM2 | United Kingdom | 2005: CP Tamarind / 2006: Thuringia Express / In service |
* GRT = Gross Register Tonnage / BRT (old unit of measurement)
* GT = Gross Tonnage / BRZ (introduced 18 July 1994)
* TEU = Twenty-foot equivalent units
Contship often re-used vessel names, see the IMO Number.