FPS expands LCL services to Pacific Islands
Having formed a joint venture with Royal International Couriers earlier this year, Famous Pacific Shipping in New Zealand continues to invest in its service portfolio to help maintain its position as a strong regional specialist. The Asia-based NVOCC and freight services supplier is expanding its intra-Pacific Islands freight connections with the launch of a new regular direct ocean freight consolidation service to a range of Micronesian destinations, as well as Guam and the Marshall Islands. According to FPS (NZ) managing director Marcus Goldsworthy, one of the main factors in the expansion has been the lack of direct shipping services from any New Zealand port to Micronesian destinations. He said that FPS is working with Reef Shipping, which operates scheduled services from New Zealand and Australia to the majority of the Pacific Island nations and is the sole service provider to some key ports, including Niue, Aitutaki and Vavau. Reef also offers an FCL transhipment service from Asia into the Pacific Islands. "The great benefit that Reef Shipping has offered us is direct transit: previously our cargo had to transit over South Korea, Hong Kong or Singapore, adding weeks to a very long and inconsistent supply chain," said Goldsworthy. All LCL cargo will be consolidated at FPS’s facility in Auckland, and the new service will operate every eighteen days from Auckland with a three-week transit time to Majuro, Micronesia, and four weeks to Guam. Guam is the biggest market in the islands, largely due to an expanding presence and demand from US military forces based there. Destinations in the Federated States of Micronesia include Saipan, Palau, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. FPS NZ launched its Pacific Islands services in 2001, and these now include a weekly container service providing a direct link between Auckland and Fiji, with onward connections to other islands including Kiribati, Wallis Island and Funafuti. With a four-day transit time to Suva, FPS can handle FCL and LCL shipments, as well as breakbulk cargo and heavy loads Quelle: eyefortransport |