Vessel that will get replaced in 2009 or on a maiden voyage into Auckland

[Stephen Chester]

Maersk is to start a new container service from Auckland to Papeete using the Schelde Trader. She is ex Mekong Chaiyo, IMO 9264752.

[Brent]

Evening

Hamburg-Sud are re-organising their Asian and West Coast North American fleets from New Zealand presumably in anticipation of merging their independant Asian service with the joint North Asia service by COSCO and/or MOL/NYK. An announcement is expected any time on the new format, but already Hamburg-Sud are making changes to their services, with Cap Capricorn, Cap Maleas and Cap Andreas crossing over to the Asian service. They are swapping with Cap Palmerston, which on 16 June will switch at Tauranga to the PNW service to North America, and she will be followed two weeks later by the Cap Palliser. Initial portcalls are at Tauranga which is the usual portcall on the Asian service, but when the vessels return later in the year they will make for Auckland, the New Zealand terminal for the PNW service. An opportunity for Hamburg-Sud to team up with the long-serving members has apparently arisen due to Maersk withdrawing from direct service to Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in favour of their relay service over Tanjung Pelepas and Singapore. As the Maersk move may lead to the withdrawl of their contribution Thekla Schulte, it is thought the Cap Capricorn is going to be a possible replacement for the Maersk contribution Thekla Schulte in the new mix. The Maersk withdrawl will end over 50 years of direct service to Japan, originally started by ancestor company Crusader Line, in which P&O was a shareholder.

[Stephen Chester]

The new schedule and vessels for the NZ-Japan/China service has been announced. The port rotation for Australia/NZ is Brisbane, Auckland, New Plymouth, Nelson/Wellington(alternate voyages), Napier, Tauranga then to Tokyo. The vessels are JPO Leo, ACX Diamond, Cap Manuel, Cap Capricorn, Cosco Yingkou and Cosco Fuzhou. The Dunedin port call has been dropped and Auckland will only get one call instead of two .Maersk are withdrawing the Thekla Schulte but will continue to take slots on the new service. Tasman Orient are also withdrawing the Tasman Crusader and will not partake in this service but will concentrate on their own North Asia service.

[Stephen Chester]

Cap Manuel has broken down in Singapore and is undergoing repairs that may take some time. She is to be replaced on the Asia run by Santa Cristina, which has been withdrawn from her regular run to South Africa.

[Stephen Chester]

MSC Rugby is to be replaced on the transtasman run by MSC Jemima. This will take place at the end of August.

[Stephen Chester]

Maersk Dominica is to be replaced by MSC Marbella, (ex Maersk Denton, P&O Nedlloyd Mairangi), on the run from NZ  to Tanjung Pelepas.

[Aaron Fox]

The Forum Avarua will now be calling Auckland directly then Nuku

[Tony des Landes]

I understand MSC Marbella will be renamed. Initially she was to be renamed before calling at New Zealand but because of time contraints this will not happen until after she completes her voyage.

It will be interesting to see if she reverts to Maersk Denton or if she receives a brand new name.

Tony d

[Aaron Fox]

Ports of Auckland will welcome a new shipping service.

Auckland will be the only New Zealand port of call for the new roll-on / roll-off NAPA (North America Pacific) service, operated by Partner Shipping AS and co-managed by Praxis Logistics.

The route is designed to cater for the import of cars, machinery and heavy vehicles from North America to South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, as well as exports from Australia and New Zealand back to North America.

The Napa service travels from Los Angeles to Grays Harbor, Singapore, Fremantle, Melbourne, Port Kembla, Brisbane, Auckland and Los Angeles

A fleet of  two brand new ,state-of-the-art PCTC (Pure Car Truck Carriers) vessels, each with capacity of approximately 3,900 units, will make a monthly call to Auckland.

The service will commence tonight, with maiden caller Silverstone Express berthing at Jellicoe Wharf at 1900 (NZDT).

The Positive Passion is the other vessel due into Auckland on the 24 August 2009.

Info on there vessel is on this site: http://www.partnershipping.no/

[Robbie]

According to the Centreport schedule the Santa Cristina is going to be a regular caller, making 1 call a month. She is due back here on the 6/9/09 on the same day as the Cap Manuel.

Rgds Robbie

[Tony des Landes]

MOL Miracle is to be replaced by the Posen on the joint PIL/NYK/MOL/OOCL service to South East Asia.

Regarding Santa Cristina,. other schedules suggest she is only doing one voyage but anything can happen.

Tony

[Stephen Chester]

Why was Maersk Dominica replaced? I know on her last voyage into Auckland she could only do 10 knots from Brisbane, because she had taken on dirty fuel somewhere. After her container movements at Fergusson she was shifted to Jellicoe wharf where her fuel was totally replaced.

[Stephen Chester]

The Forum Avarua had an "incident" at sea. No one was hurt an only minimal damage to ship and cargo. She was towed to Suva where owners and charterers representatives are assessing the damage and likely repair options. Pacific Forum Line are endeavoring to locate a replacement vessel to undertake one or two voyages.

[Tony des Landes]

I understand that the Maersk Dominica was replaced because she was so far behind her schedule and bringing in the MSC Marbella was an option to maintain it.

Interesting to note that Maersk Decatur is no longer an option on Maersk's website. Although she was no longer calling at New Zealand it will be interesting to see if she has been transferred elsewhere

[Stephen Chester]

According to ship tracking the Maersk Decatur is anchored off Hong Kong awaiting orders. She has been there since 12th July. I guess Maersk Dominica will anchor off Singapore when she finishes discharge today, 2nd August.