Maersk increases calls at Auckland

Maersk’s new South East Asia service will call at Auckland on a weekly basis, as well as at Napier and Port Chalmers. The Oceania US East Coast service, connecting with Europe, will call at Auckland on a weekly basis both east- and westbound (previously it was only westbound), as well as New Plymouth, Timaru and Port Chalmers.

Pacific Island and feeder services for exporters and importers will call at Auckland on a weekly basis, as well as at Lyttelton, Nelson, Wellington and Tauranga, and fortnightly to the Pacific Islands.

Geoff Vazey, managing director of the Ports of Auckland, commented: “This decision by Maersk underscores the importance for New Zealand of port rationalisation. A merger between the Port of Tauranga and Ports of Auckland would ensure further port and supply chain efficiencies by curtailing the practice of over-investment in under-utilised port plant and infrastructure.”