Heavy Cargo Service Defies Market Slump

Baltic Dry Index,Baltic Dry Indices,Ship Chartering,Shipchartering,Voyage Fixtures,Time Charter Fixtures,Panamax,Capesize,Handymax,Handysize,Supramax,Dry Cargo Fixtures,Bulk Cargo Fixtures,Baltic Exchange, RORO Shipping, Car Carrier, Truck Carrier, Vroom, Heavy Lift Cargo, Freight Review,Maritime Baltic Index,TNT Freight Review

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

Norway's Partner Shipping AS and Praxis Logistics of Australia will launch a triangular auto and heavy cargo service linking the West Coast of North America, Asia and Australia/Zealand. The companies signed an agreement with Vroom, a Dutch ship-owner, to charter two pure car and truck carriers nearing completion at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry shipyard in Japan to operate the service. The vessels each have capacity for 3,930 cars. The NAPA [North America PAcific] service will operate from the U.S. West Coast via Singapore to Australia and New Zealand and then return directly to North America. The inaugural voyage will leave Long Beach, Calif., on June 10, 2009. Partner Shipping said the service will focus on import cargoes from North America to Asia and Australia and New Zealand and exports from Australasia to North America. It will target autos and high and heavy cargoes. "The service is responding to demand in existing and emerging markets where current servicing has been inadequate, namely North America and Asia," the Grimstad-based carrier said. Partner said its aim is to deliver an "uncomplicated, cost effective, flexible and reliable" service. As the service is being introduced during a global economic recession "it will be able to deliver a paradigm shift in what the market expects from its ocean shipping service and what can be delivered particularly in terms of value for money," Partner claimed. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, one of the world's biggest ocean car carriers, in March said it expects to idle up to 20 percent of its fleet this year in response to the 30-40 percent decline in seaborne auto shipments. Partner Shipping and Praxis Logistics were established in 2008 by shipping executives with experience in the automotive, roll-on, roll-off and break bulk sectors. Source: JOC