Dutch reefer operator Seatrade enhances it[ds_preview]s service portfolio in the South Pacific. Between Europe and New Zealand the 2,200 TEU newbuildings will be deployed.
From Monday on Seatrade upgrades its New Zealand liner service to the Meridian liner service, »after almost two decades of successful Fast, Direct and Dedicated (FDD) services between Europe, the South Pacific Islands and New Zealand«, it was announced. The new FDD liner service will continue linking Europe to the South Pacific on its southbound leg and New Zealand to Europe on its northbound leg but will add Peru and USEC on the latter. Seatrade emphasizes that it will run the service »free of any alliance commitments« with other carriers.
According to the announcement, the fully containerised Meridian service will be performed by 8 modern container vessels including Seatrade’s 2,200 TEUs Colour Class newbuildings, with ultra-high reefer capacity intake of more than 700 plugs per vessel. »With the brand-new high performance / low CO2 emission reefer equipment Seatrade ordered mid-2016 and the brand-new high tech vessels, the service will not only continue offering first class service to Seatrade’s existing customer base but will reach out and offer space to all cargoes Seatrade could not carry earlier because of space limitations«, the carrier added.
During last years »HANSA Forum Shipping | Financing«, Seatrades Manging Director Philip Gray had already shown the 2,200 TEU class vessels as an example, that even in these very challenging times for the whole maritime industry, it may make sense to order newbuildings. The order was placed with a strong focus on a specific niche, where there is too much over capacity and modern tonnage is needed.
Besides refer cargoes, it is planned to transport as well others like general, marine, project cargoes and cars. The 10-day frequency has the rotation: Rotterdam, Dunkirk, Radicatel, Papeete, Noumea, Nelson, Napier, Tauranga, Callao, Paita, Philadelphia, Zeebrugge, Tilbury and Rotterdam. »With transit times of 23 days from EU to Tahiti, 30 days EU to New Caledonia, 30 days NZL to EU, 21 days NZL to USEC, 16 days Peru to EU and 8 days from Peru to USEC, the Meridian FDD service will be the fastest service on these routes«, it was announced.
