Montreal reports increase in traffic

Montreal reports increase in traffic    Cargo traffic handled at the Port of Montreal in the first half of 2006 closed within 12 million tons, up about 1 percent compared with the same period in 2005. It was the strongest half-year results since the early 1980s, the port said.
   Containerized cargo traffic, which accounts for nearly half the port’s tonnage, totaled 639,213 TEUs, up 4.5 percent from 611,770 TEUs in the first six months of 2005.
   Dominic J. Taddeo, president and chief executive officer of the Montreal Port Authority, said results reflect “the positive effects of new maritime services between Canada and North Europe, chiefly introduced in the last three months.”
   These include weekly container services introduced in March by Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co., and a service in April from Mitsui OSK Line that operates using space chartered from Maersk.