The call for more regular services from New Zealand and Fiji has prompted shipping partners to provide a weekly service between the two nations.

Starting from mid November, Neptune Pacific Line, together with what it coins as its Southpac Consortium partners, is offering this service.

This Southpac consortium comprises of Pacific Direct Line (PDL), Pacific Forum Line (PFL) and Sofrana Unilines, all under a vessel sharing agreement.

Neptune Pacific managing director, Rolf Rasmussen, said the New Zealand shuttle upgrade would allow the Fijian market premier service to improve local and international connectivity via Auckland and Tauranga ports.

This significant investment by Neptune Pacific reinforces the line’s commitment to providing comprehensive service coverage in the region, he said.

The decision followed service reviews and customer feedback coming to the agency’s attention and from its partners.

Capitaine Wallis will be upgraded to a weekly one with help of a second vessel, the MV Capitaine Cook.

Mr Rasmussen said: “I am pleased that regional lines and international main line operators can collaborate to build and improve on existing services.

“In recent announcements to the market, Neptune had emphasised that building strong sustainable service networks require common sense solutions between carriers and other stakeholders in the Pacific Islands.

“The market is the beneficiary of operational cooperation like this, and we are pleased to be able to bring the first fixed-day-of-the-week service to the Fiji Market.”

Mr Rasmussen said the schedule will be done in the coming weeks after ‘terminal windows are concluded’.

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