Pacifica Shipping has confirmed plans to phase out its New Zealand coastal freighter Takutai Chief while the Moana Chief will operate on a new fixed-day weekly rotation covering major ports.
The announcement followed earlier reports from the Maritime Union that the company, a division of Singapore-based Swire Shipping, was looking to cancel the service which would also see 12 job losses.
Pacifica says the Takutai Chief service (which currently calls at Auckland, Lyttelton, Tauranga, and Marsden Point) will end on August 26.
Meanwhile, the Moana Chief will shift to a new fixed-day weekly rotation covering the ports of Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point and Tauranga from August 25 for the voyage departing Lyttelton.
Pacifica will no longer make direct port calls to the port of Timaru, with the final voyage being the Takutai Chief departing August 24. To support customers in Timaru, Pacifica says it can offer options for landside routing to connect with the vessel at Lyttelton, with weekly connections to Auckland, Marsden Point and Tauranga.
The company says the changes present opportunities to increase the number of weekly sailings offered on its front haul between Auckland and Christchurch, via Moana Chief and supported by alternative services.
“While the current operating environment presents challenges, Pacifica remains committed to building a resilient coastal shipping network in New Zealand, connecting key North and South Island regions as we have done for nearly 40 years,” Swire Shipping NZ country manager Alistair Skingley says.
“We will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and our partners to support New Zealand’s domestic transport infrastructure and ensure our customers continue to enjoy reliable access to coastal space and dedicated year-round capacity.”
*More details on the changes and schedules can be found on Pacifica’s website here.
