Inter-island freight service established

Press, 5 August 1983, Page 11

Inter-island freight service established

By

JEFF HAMPTON

Pacifica Shipping, Ltd, struck back at its critics when the roll-on vessel, Spirit of Free Enterprise, started its inter-island freight run on May 31. The 1204-ton vessel has now established a schedule of three return sailings a week between Lyttelton and Wellington, a run left vacant since 1977. Pacifica’s head, a Christchurch businessman, Mr Brooke McKenzie, said recently the company was

“very appreciative” of the support it had received. Support for the service was building up all the time. Pacifica ran the gauntlet of criticism when its plans for the new service were announced: Why had not established shipping companies stayed on the run if money was to be made? The general manager of the Railways, Mr T. M. Hayward, said before the service started that he was not terribly concerned about

it and gave it “no show.” The Railways’ Cook Strait ferries are Pacifica’s main competitor. Mr McKenzie, however, said that the company had done its homework and was confident the service would work. Starting the service when the industry was hit by a recession was like “buying into property when the market is weak.” Support for the service also came from a Norwegian shipping firm, Andresen, Finne and Company, Ltd. Mr McKenzie is a

50 per cent shareholder in Pacifica with Andresen. The 1204-ton vessel was arranged on a lease-pur-chase scheme. It can hold 95 cars and 37 12.2 m trailers, and also has accommodation for nine drivers. Many critics thought the planned service would stumble during negotiations with the maritime unions, which are traditionally hard bargainers. Apart from some minor problems, the way was cleared for the May 31 start.

Now, the orange and white colours of the Spirit of Free Enterprise are a regular sight at port. Many of the former sceptics are saying the new service is a “good thing.” The service is regular, although it has found itself caught up in maritime disputes not of its own making. Rolling stoppages in protest at the wage-price freeze have forced it to miss some of its sailings. Pacifica however, says the service is here to stay.