zoomImage Courtesy: Swire Shipping

Singapore-based Swire Shipping is to launch a new twice-monthly direct service from Australia to New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Fiji and upgrade its multipurpose liner network to markets in Asia Pacific.

The Pacific Islands service provides connections to Tarawa (Kiribati), Majuro (Marshall Islands), Apia (Samoa), Pago Pago (American Samoa) and Nuku’alofa (Tonga) and further improves Swire Shipping’s Fiji to Vanuatu connection with three sailings per month, according to the company.

Swire Shipping said it will deploy two Miho-Class vessels which are purpose built for the South Pacific trades to service this route.

Port rotation will include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Noumea, Prony Bay, Suva, Port Vila, Santo, Prony Bay and Melbourne.

In addition, the company plans to enhance its existing network coverage related to liner services to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Pacific Islands markets.

The company’s Australia to PNG service will offer an eight-day frequency from Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sidney) to PNG (Port Moresby and Lae). Additionally, the Australia to the Solomon Islands service frequency will be improved to 16 days.

Moreover, the connection from New Zealand and Fiji to PNG is to be boosted with the addition of a Port Moresby call on every sailing, with the service frequency improved to 16 days.

Finally, Swire Shipping will enhance port rotation from Asia to the Pacific, offering monthly frequency to Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. Each month, there will be up to five direct calls from PNG to Asia and two direct services from Fiji (Lautoka and Suva) to PNG (Port Moresby and Lae).

Port rotation will encompass Qingdao, Busan, Yokohama, Majuro, Tarawa, Lautoka, Suva, Pago Pago, Apia, Nuku’alofa, Santo, Tarawa and Majuro.