Swire Shipping, Lodestar Team Up on New Zealand-Asia Service

Singapore-based Swire Shipping and Lodestar, the logistics and shipping division of Oji Fibre Solutions, have teamed up on a joint breakbulk shipping service between New Zealand and North Asia.

Image Courtesy: Saiki Heavy Industries

The new service would offer a monthly frequency carrying pulp, timber and forest product related cargo from New Zealand’s ports of Napier and Tauranga to Asia ports of Incheon, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Onsan, Tomakomai and Kaohsiung.

A total of three Saiki class 38,000 dwt bulk vessels would be deployed in the service, namely MV Glorious Saiki, MV Furness Portland, and MV Furness Southern Cross.

The service remains subject to regulatory approval, according to Swire Shipping, the liner shipping division of The China Navigation Company.

“Our partnership with Lodestar reinforces our focus on delivering quality and sustainable shipping services for our customers. The service will be the foundation for future innovative solutions, to service New Zealand import and export cargoes,” Chris Blake, General Manager, Projects, Swire Shipping said.

“It also underpins our commitment to growing the shipping industry in New Zealand through strategic tie-ups with like-minded partners, offering bigger ships, as well as providing a comprehensive range of shipping solutions that our customers want and need.”