Austral Asia Line (AAL) has recently extended its North Asia/Australia East Coast liner schedule to include monthly calls at the New Zealand ports of Tauranga and Napier.
Entailing a full rotation of Xingang (China)-Pusan (South Korea)-Shanghai (China)-Kaohsiung (Taiwan)-Brisbane-Newcastle-Melbourne-Tauranga-Napier, the service is being plied by three of AAL's ten newbuild 31,000DWT multi-purpose heavy-lift and project cargo vessels.
AAL managing director Christophe Grammare says the intention is to offer New Zealand importers and exporters a new alternative for breakbulk, project and general cargoes.
"Regularity, commitment and relationship still go a long way in the co-operation between the carrier and shippers/receivers," he said.
"AAL thrives on a constructive relationship with its clients. We have been operating in the Asia/Australia niche sector for many years now and we believe the New Zealand market would welcome a newcomer which could bring such qualities, offering a liner service alternative to the steel, breakbulk and project markets.
"With this development AAL is enhancing the service coverage and capability of its established regional liner service with the experience and know-how of a highly-qualified team of experts in breakbulk and project cargo transportation."
New Auckland-based agency company, Cargo Concepts, has been specially created by former Tasman Orient lines chief executive Elizabeth Bentley to facilitate AAL's entry into the market.
Iain MacIntyre