PACIFICA Shipping has expanded its coastal service between the NZ ports of Auckland and Lyttelton with a new twice-weekly schedule.

The coastal shipping operator said the service would double the frequency of sailings between the two ports.

The containership Takutai Chief is due to start calling Auckland on a fixed-day weekly rotation beginning on 1 April 2024.

The vessel would operate in tandem with Moana Chief for a combined frequency of two sailings per week.

Pacifica said the service enhancements coincide with an increase in calls at Marsden Point (Northport) to a weekly frequency.

Pacifica Shipping line manager Jan-Hendrik Hintz said the company is committed to New Zealand’s supply chain.

“We prioritise safe, reliable, and efficient delivery solutions to bolster the resilience of this vital network,’ he said.

“We aim to promote the Blue Highway by positioning coastal shipping, New Zealand’s most sustainable transport solution, as the primary inter-island transport solution for heavy cargo.

“This will reduce the dependence on land transport for long-distance movement of heavy freight and offer businesses enhanced efficiency while actively contributing to a more sustainable future for New Zealand’s supply chain network.”

Pacifica is an operating division of Swire Shipping.