New Zealand will welcome the largest boxship ever to visit the Land of the Long White Cloud later this year. A Maersk 9,500 teu ship, some 348 m in length, will call at the Port of Tauranga in September, around 4,000 teu larger than any other boxship to have called in New Zealand to date.
Maersk Line is working with local logistics firm Kotahi to develop the new ship rotation.
Kotahi chief executive David Ross said of the impending ship call: “This is a real step change. The arrival of larger ships to our waters is a key milestone for New Zealand on its journey to become a more efficient export nation.”
The Port of Tauranga is finishing dredging works next month in anticipation of larger ship calls.
“The enhanced Triple Star service shows Maersk Line’s commitment to New Zealand and to providing our customer base with unmatched access to global markets. It is predominantly the export volumes from South America to Asia that enables this opportunity for New Zealand exporters to participate in a large, efficient network that introduces the North-Asia direct connection on the Triple Star service,” said Maersk Line Oceania managing director Gerard Morrison.
