Pacifica Shipping’s history with LPC stretches all the way back to the 1980’s when the shipping line was first founded out of Lyttelton. Fast-forward four decades and Pacifica is still a regular weekly visitor to Port.
Now owned by global organisation Swire Group, Pacifica provides comprehensive coastal shipping coverage for New Zealand, with ships calling into Auckland, Lyttelton, Nelson, Wellington, Tauranga, Timaru and Marsden. Lyttelton vessels include the Moana Chief every Saturday night and the Takutai Chief every Monday night.
Pacifica Shipping Line ManagerJan-Hendrik Hintz says the longterm relationship between Pacifica and LPC is characterised by support and honesty – both of which he appreciates.
“Lyttelton is a very productive Port,” Jan says. “We have good relationships across all layers of the business, from the executives to the coal face.”
“Another strength of LPC is that they are prompt and upfront when there are problems. They don’t beat around the bush. That’s unique to Lyttelton Port
and something I enjoy about working with them,” he adds.
As well as providing a gateway to the South Island for Pacifica’s customers, LPC also provides a home for the company’s ships during their annual maintenance layups. These layups were shifted to Lyttelton from Auckland several years ago due to LPC’s berthavailability and the ability to access engineering expertise within the port.
Looking ahead, the focus for Pacifica Shipping is on growing its core domestic business as well as their international pre- and post-carriage service. Jan says that rising demand for domestic cargo and increasing international vessel size both bode well for the business.
“We believe that coastal shipping has a bright future in New Zealand,” Jan says.
“More and more corporate customers are recognising the environmental advantages of coastal shipping, versus trucking or railing.
Shipping already offers lower carbon emissions on a per container basis for interisland transport, and I expect to see exciting progress in the next decade around greener shipping options too.”
“There are a lot of things to be optimistic about,” he says.