Unconventional option for Fonterra
A one-off bulk vessel charter arranged by Kotahi Logistics has ensured an under-pressure shipment of New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra's dry milk powder reached the Middle East on time.
Sourced from Oceanic Navigation, the 142.8 metre and self-geared 'Marlene Green' was loaded at Auckland and Timaru several months ago with about 6,500 tonnes of the milk powder below deck and a volume in on-deck containers.
Faced with both a surge in demand and greater-than-normal delivery window constraints due to the onset of Ramadan, Kotahi chief executive Chris Greenough says his company needed to seek "alternative solutions."
"We had to get a lot of product into market by a certain date and when we went through that with the carriers, determined we couldn't necessarily get all of the space we required on traditional container lines," he says.
"Bulk loading is a bit different from containerised loading, so there had to be a lot of co-ordination of landside activity to make it work, but it certainly delivered the date performance that we needed to satisfy customer requirements."
Understood to be the first-ever bulk vessel charter for the Fonterra co-operative, Mr Greenough says the shipping mode proved the most efficient given the issues with gaining access to a fleet of empty containers when not shipping on traditional liner services.
Charter covers 'Southern Lily 2'
Pacific Direct Line (PDL) has temporarily chartered the 5,025GT 'Pacific Guardian' to cover delays experienced on the New Zealand-Fiji-Tonga-Samoa-American Samoa schedule by the 13,497GT 'Southern Lily 2'.
For one voyage only, the 6,245GT 'Southern Cross' is also adding Pago Pago to its normal ports of call, which is where the 'Southern Lily' was recently detained by the United States Coast Guard over possible pollution violations due to an issue with its oil and water separator pump.
With parts sourced from Singapore to repair the vessel having now arrived via Auckland, the 'Southern Lily 2' was due to set sail again this Thursday and was rescheduled to arrive at Nuku'alofa on July 14-15 and next load in Auckland on July 23.
New shipping entity for Chatham Islands
44 South Shipping and the Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust have launched the joint-venture Chatham Islands Shipping (CISL) to ply the Napier-Chathams-Pitt Island-Timaru tradelane.
According to a statement by the Enterprise Trust, the business and assets of 44 South have been purchased by the new operating company, in which the stakeholding is being shared 51-49 per cent between the Enterprise Trust and 44 South respectively.
The 42 metre former stern trawler 'Baldur', which plies the freight, general cargo, livestock and passenger service on a 10-12 day frequency, is now wholly-owned by the Enterprise Trust via a separate holding company.
"Consequently, for the first time in history, the people of the Chatham Islands now own a controlling interest in our own shipping line; this is a major milestone for the Trust and for Chatham Islanders in our continuing efforts to ensure future prosperity for the Islands," said the statement.
"It is the Trust's firm belief that the two major shipping issues, capacity and cost, will be addressed with this purchase along with the longer term proposals that will be put to the community in the coming months."
44 South's Dennis Nisbet is managing the new operation, with Mr Nisbet, Enterprise Trust chairperson Phil Seymour, trustee Brent Mallinson and one other appointee to make up the CISL board.
'Rena' claimants flood in
Auckland's North South Environmental Law has engaged Holland Beckett Lawyers of Tauranga to assist with the mounting class action being prepared against the Greek-based owners of the grounded 'Rena', Daina Shipping.
Claimant numbers are understood to have now surpassed 150 and with claims ranging between NZ$20,000 (USD16,400) to NZ$250,000 (USD205,000), the lawsuit is likely to become the country's largest negligence-based environmental claim.
North South Environmental Law co-director Robert Makgill believes there is a "good chance of success" given the strength of claims.
"This is very much a public interest issue and something needed to be done … it's an action that represents the community," he reportedly said.
Holland Beckett Lawyers, who are being touted as the "face" of the claim, recently launched an advertising campaign encouraging affected businesses to register their interest on a no-obligation and cost-free basis.
It is understood proceedings will not be lodged against Daina Shipping until the legal firms are satisfied all affected parties have had an opportunity to be involved.
Iain Macintyre
