NEPTUNE Pacific Direct Line is launching a new shipping service to Australia and New Zealand.
NPDL said the new service aims to help restore supply chains and address congestion and operational challenges at ports in New Zealand and Fiji.
The so-called Australia New Zealand Pacific (ANZPAC) service will launch in late April with three 1700-TEU ships on the service.
Capitaine Tasman, Capitaine Dampier and Capitaine Tupaia will sail directly from the east coast of Australia to New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
“The service will provide enhanced trade opportunities between Australia and New Zealand and serve as a platform for Pacific Island exports,” NPDL said in a notice.
“The service has significant built-in buffer time, which is designed to improve supply chain reliability across the Pacific and between Australia and New Zealand.”
NPDL said the ANZPAC service rotation will start with Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Suva, Lautoka, Apia, Nukualofa and Tauranga, but will include a Brisbane call once disruption eases in New Zealand.
It also anticipates several other changes to its South Pacific service network as ANZPAC begins, such as a dedicated service for the New Zealand to Samoa and American Samoa trades.
And the New Zealand to Fiji trade is to be serviced by a dedicated vessel, Capitaine Baret, in synchronisation with the ANZPAC service, providing weekly connections between New Zealand and Fiji.
“These network changes build on NPDL’s commitment to invest in providing more frequent, reliable shipping and supply chain services to the South Pacific,” NPDL said.
