Neptune Pacific speeds up service changes

THE EARLY introduction of newly chartered vessel ICS Silver Lining has allowed Neptune Pacific to accelerate changes to its INTRAPAC and MICROPAC services.

The carrier has advised that with ICS Silver Lining now phasing into the MICROPAC service in Suva on 21 November, earlier than previously scheduled, the redeployment of Southern Pearl into the INTRAPAC service has also been brought forward.

These changes will provide additional cargo capacity for both trades, supporting peak season demand, Neptune Pacific says.

The revised phase-in and redeployment plan is as follows, with schedules further below:

• Southern Pearl will phase into INTRAPAC as voyage 2611, calling Funafuti, Apia and Wallis & Futuna. Lautoka exports to Wallis & Futuna currently on board Capitaine Wallis voyage 2611 will be transferred to Southern Pearl voyage 2611 in Apia.
• ICS Silver Lining will phase into MICROPAC as voyage 2609, loading in Suva before departing for Tarawa, Majuro and Christmas Island. All Lautoka exports on board Southern Pearl voyage 2609 will be transferred to ICS Silver Lining voyage 2611 in Suva.
• Following these voyages, Southern Pearl will resume the normal INTRAPAC rotation from voyage 2612, while ICS Silver Lining will resume the normal MICROPAC rotation from voyage 2610.

ICS Silver Lining has been chartered from INCO Ships, despite earlier indications from New Zealand start-up Aberfeldy Shipping that the vessel would have been one of two vessels inaugurating its NZ coastal service next month.

Aberfeldy has yet to announce a second ship to join the 9,731 GT Himala which, at this stage, remains in Jiangyin, China, according to AIS.