NEPTUNE PACIFIC Direct Line is working on ways to alleviate service congestion at the Fijian port of Suva, which is a major transhipment hub for the line and other carriers.
NPDL says it is “actively engaged” in minimising any delays and working with port management “to optimise our connections and minimise dwell times for our transhipment cargo after an extended period of restricted operations in the port.
“To help please strictly manage your export bookings from New Zealand, by referring to our sailing schedules and ensuring you ship on the nominated pre-carriage voyage from New Zealand only. This policy applies to all cargo including reefer, dry general and special equipment bookings. Our customer service team remains at your service to assist in managing this priority. Bookings will not be accepted on non-priority sailings,” NPDL said.
To improve schedule reliability, NPDL has announced changes to the NZPAC service from November 2024, when the weekly scheduled berth windows in Tauranga and Auckland will move to Tuesdays and Wednesdays and in Suva and Lautoka to Mondays and Tuesdays.
This change removes a clash at Fiji ports between NZPAC and the weekly service from Asia, NPDL says. The new windows in New Zealand will also reduce berth waiting time providing an additional buffer in the schedule: “Together these changes will improve schedule reliability for customers in all ports – especially Apia, Pago Pago and Nuku’alofa. These improvements will be phased in throughout November commencing in Auckland around mid-November and in Tauranga around the end of November.
In other NPDL news, the Fijian congestion has obliged the line to truncate Capitaine Magellan’s V52 which will now only call Suva rather than then proceed to Apia and Nuku’alofa. Instead the vessel will return to Auckland to commence an ad hoc voyage of Auckland – Suva – Funafuti – Suva with containerised and breakbulk cargo. Meanwhile Capitaine Tasman V099Swill convey Caitaine Magellan’s Apia/Nuku’alofa import export cargo.
