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Maersk Line is considering axing its controversial New Zealand Coast and Pacific Island feeder shipping service, which calls at the ports of Wellington, Napier, Nelson and Tauranga.
Maersk Line managing director Tony Gibson declined to comment but the speculation in the port industry is that the service is for the chop.
The ports will still be on other Maersk services and Maersk will continue to call at nine ports in New Zealand, even if the Pacific feeder service is axed.
The service was criticised by unions and the coastal shipping lobby, which argued it was essentially a local shipping service that popped up to the Pacific to avoid operating under New Zealand law.
Its basis for operating was facing a court challenge.
Maersk is the largest container shipping line in the world and Fonterra ranks as one of its top 10 customers globally.
Maersk accounts for 65 to 70 per cent of the volume through Port Chalmers, which gives an indication of its importance to ports.
Port Chalmers has the Edendale and Clandeboye dairy plants, two of the world's three biggest plants, in its hinterland.
Port Chalmers and Auckland are increasing emerging as the two ports where Maersk's largest services and largest vessels are concentrating.
Maersk did announce today that Port of Napier loses a Maersk shipping service with the big 4100 container ships on it but gains another service.
From July, Maersk's NZ1 service, which goes to Asia, will only call at Auckland and Port Chalmers, dropping Napier. Its rotation will be Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, Singapore, Brisbane, Auckland, Port Chalmers, Tanjung Pelepas.
But Napier is being added to Maersk's OC1 service to North America, which will call at more ports in North America. The change means Maersk will no longer bring large 4100 ships, capable of carrying 4100 containers, to Napier. They are the largest vessels calling in New Zealand.
Freight from the Napier region to Asia will now change ships in Auckland, while freight to North America that previously changed ships at Port Chalmers will now go directly to North America.
Port of Napier did not expect any changes to the volume of freight through it as a result of today's change.
Commercial manager Chris Bain said the port was pleased to have picked up a weekly direct service to North America.
The new OC1 service rotation, effective from July, is Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, New Plymouth, Timaru, Port Chalmers, Napier, Auckland, Balboa, Miami, Philadelphia, Newark, Norfolk, Savannah, Balboa, Auckland.
"The changes to the OC1 service will offer New Zealand customers greater coverage of North American markets with new direct calls to Newark and Miami, in addition to the current port calls to Philadelphia, Norfolk and Savannah," said Mr Gibson.
He said the service upgrade reflects Maersk's continual focus on improving its level of service to customers both in terms of port coverage and transit times.
Changes to the NZ1 service to Asia include integration of that service with the new OC1 service to North America.
- NZPA
