After a hiatus of seven years, the world's largest integrated logistics company, Maersk, is making a significant return to operating their own vessels into Fiji by committing two relatively large feeder vessels to service Suva and Lautoka.

Represented in Fiji by Shipping Services (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Maersk will operate two 2500 twenty-foot container capacity vessels between Suva, Lautoka and Auckland, Tauranga, Nelson, Timaru and Lyttleton in New Zealand.

The service, named the Sirius Star Service is named after the twin stars Sirius, which passes over the Fiji group each evening.
The first of the two vessels, the Seaspan Hannover made her inaugural call of the service into Suva on Wednesday.

Fiji Ports chief executive Hasthika Dela said that it is prestigious to have Maersk back calling at Fiji ports and being the largest shipping line in the world, it is hoped that Maersk will not only ship more cargo to and from Fiji but also increase competition in the market.

The second vessel in the service has been re-named the Maersk Nadi and is due to call Fiji next week.

Shipping Services (Fiji) Pte Ltd chief executive Jeffrey Lin said that the introduction of this service is significant at this time due to the congestive issues in world trade as a result of COVID-19, that have been exacerbated by the recent blockage of the Suez Canal.

Lin said that against this backdrop, Maersk has reacted to the call of customers for regularity in the shipping schedules and more capacity which will enable Fiji exporters and importers to better plan and execute their shipping requirements.

By Reginald Chandar