NZ ports mull post merger reshuffle

P&O Nedlloyd’s major exposure to NZ trade lanes means a serious repositioning of alliances, VSAs and service routings, each of which has ramifications for ports.

For example, the newlystructured Maersk Line’s expected entry into an eastbound pendulum service from NZ and Australia to ECNA (East Coast North America) and Europe, with 11 vessels, includes Tauranga as an export call.

Tauranga was not previously on the prior equivalent, the “Eastabout” service, so this is an important gain. However, that is tempered by the knowledge that the port will not replace its big rival Auckland for the import cargoes.

Instead, Auckland’s importance is confirmed for import calls, as is Port Chalmers as the South Island hub.

Napier, currently on the Eastabout schedule, misses out – but in the jostle for position with other services, is picked in Hamburg Sud’s plans for its own, rival eastbound service from NZ to ECNA and Europe. This “Trident” service will call Timaru, Napier and Tauranga.

With CP Ships/Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and Marfret cooperating in westbound and eastbound VSAs, and MISC, MOL, NYK, OOCL and PIL offering two loops to South East Asia, competition is increasing markedly.

Most of the ship operators say their port calls are subject to confirmation, so one can assume the final negotiations will be delicate.