LPC welcomes the much-anticipated addition of ZIM line’s first call to the South Island.

The first vessel in the service, CONTSHIP ONO arrived on Wednesday morning, before departing to Napier that afternoon.

Lyttelton will be one of five stops for the line, with the route also including Auckland and Napier in New Zealand, and Australia’s Sydney and Melbourne Ports.

With transhipment available in Sydney, to Ports in China and Southeast Asia, it gives Canterbury exporters a streamlined option to get their goods to global markets.

LPC’s General Manager Container Operations Simon Munt says as the busiest South Island container Port, the ZIM service will only enhance LPC’s offering.

“Combined with our ongoing infrastructure investment, LPC continues to support freight growth in the region.”

The ZIM service, arriving in Lyttelton every three weeks, will provide flexibility and reliability to Canterbury and the wider South Island market, especially as the effects of COVID-19 continue to impact global supply chains.

ISS McKay General Manager David Mitchell says they are happy to be here in Lyttelton, wanting to support the Christchurch market and grow with them.

“Going forward, we are planning to make our visits more regular. I think a lot of people just think we are here for the short term gain, but we’re here to stay. We’re going great and if we had more vessels then we would put them into Lyttelton.

“We are agile, we are people-focused and that resonates with the New Zealand market,” says David.

The new line, which will service both dry and refrigerated containers, demonstrates the power of Canterbury’s growing economy and we look forward to what the future holds for ZIM in the South Island.