Extra-large newbuild reefer Baltic Spirit makes maiden voyage

New Zealand’s Port of Tauranga recently received the maiden voyage of the 188.6-metre and 17,174GT newbuild Baltic Spirit, arriving to uplift a consignment of Zespri kiwifruit bound for ports in Japan and South Korea.

The 26-metre-beam reefer vessel was loaded with 5,703 pallets of kiwifruit under deck plus 51 40-foot reefer containers on deck.

Fresh Carriers Co sub-chartered the 2018-built Baltic Spirit from long-term charterer Baltic Shipping to complete one round voyage to Asia, with Ocean Navigation acting as local agents.

Understood to be one of the largest reefer vessels in operation in the world, the ice-class Baltic Spirit is able to accommodate over 5,700 pallets within its 18,500-cubic-metre capacity as well as 280 reefer containers.