Pacifica fleet gains new container ship

By Chris Hutching

Friday 22nd September 2000

Increased growth in weekly trade along the east coast has prompted Pacifica Shipping to replace one of its ships with a faster, dedicated new container ship to be named the Spirit of Enterprise.

The new ship would significantly improve delivery times between Auckland, Tauranga, Lyttelton and Dunedin, Pacifica chief executive Rod Grout said.

Weekend consignments from the greater Auckland and Bay of Plenty regions would be able to reach South Island markets by Tuesday.

Northbound cargoes depart from Dunedin on Wednesday and from Lyttelton on Thursday for connecting with international vessels at North Island ports and for domestic goods entering North Island markets.

Mr Grout said it was the first time Pacifica had been able to provide a timely service both ways.

The near-new ship was built in Turkey and has been operating for a year on the Atlantic Ocean western seaboard. It will replace Pacifica's roll on-roll off Spirit of Freedom, which has worked coastal routes since 1987 and has been sold to overseas interests.

The growth in cargo trade along the east coast had warranted a dedicated container
-carrying vessel, Mr Grout said. The self-loading, 5844-tonne Spirit of Enterprise began full service this week, with weekly calls at Auckland, Tauranga, Dunedin and twice a week at Lyttelton.

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