Sea Swift ships key supplies to cyclone-hit Cairns

SEA SWIFT cargo ship Newcastle Bay is en route to Cairns from Brisbane with food supplies for communities affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji in Far North Queensland.

The journey was made possible via a partnership with supermarket giant Coles and the Queensland government.

The ship left Brisbane on Thursday 8 January.

Executive chair Chris Pearce said Sea Swift was proud to provide an alternative route for essential freight following extreme weather events.

“With major road and rail corridors – including parts of the Bruce Highway – cut by flooding after ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, Sea Swift has sent a vessel to Brisbane to collect essential freight for Coles and transport it back to Cairns,” he said.

“This is exactly the kind of situation where sea freight proves its value.”

Mr Pearce said while road and rail networks were vulnerable to flood damage, the sea remains a reliable and resilient transport option that can continue operating when other options are disrupted.

“Shipping is an efficient, scalable and dependable way to move large volumes of freight,” he said.

“It also helps take significant heavy vehicle traffic off the Bruce Highway, easing congestion and reducing pressure on damaged infrastructure during recovery periods.

“By planning ahead and working together, we can ensure supply chains remain resilient, even in the face of increasingly frequent and severe weather events.”

Mr Pearce said early planning for the sea route was a key factor.

“The timing is not significantly different from road or rail – and in disruption scenarios like this, it can actually be the most reliable and efficient solution,” he said.

“Our focus is always on keeping communities supplied where it is safe to do so, supporting our customers, and ensuring freight continues to move as reliably as possible under challenging conditions.”