Höegh Autoliners has started a regular direct service from the port of Gothenburg in Sweden to Auckland in New Zealand, taking in South Africa and other locations in the Oceanic region on route.
The service departs from Gothenburg every other week and calls at the following ports: Durban, Port Elizabeth (South Africa), Maputo (Mozambique), Port Louis (Mauritius) – Tamatave (Madagascar), Fremantle, Port Kembla, Brisbane, Melbourne (Australia) and Auckland (New Zealand).
Shipments from Gothenburg are expected to include cars, heavy vehicles, construction equipment and large project loads. Höegh operates some of the world’s largest pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), with capacity for 8,500 car equivalent units.
From Auckland, the vessels will return to Gothenburg, taking in ports throughout East Asia, including those in Japan, Korea and China (see box).
East Asia to Japan loading ports
Incheon, Masan (South Korea), Hitachinaka, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Omaezaki, Yokkaichi, Nagoya, Kobe, Hiroshima, Kanda (Japan), Shanghai*, Tiajin Xingang*, Lianyuangang (China), Singapore and Leam Chabang (Thailand).
*By feeder vessel
Gothenburg Port Authority said the new service would provide opportunities for import customers in Sweden to bring in goods for the domestic market and wider Scandinavia, as well as linking up other global markets on route.
“We are working closely with our customers to offer them sustainable transport options and we are pleased to be starting up a service in Gothenburg that will meet freight flow requirements to and from Sweden for the automotive and the high-and-heavy sectors,” said Oskar Orstadius, chief sales officer at Höegh Autoliners.
Höegh vessels will call at the Port of Gothenburg vehicle and ro-ro terminal and the freight will be handled by the terminal operator Logent Ports and Terminals.
“This direct service is a vital addition for industry, and it will certainly open up new opportunities,” said Claes Sundmark, vice-president of sales and marketing at Gothenburg Port Authority. “Oceania and South Africa are key markets for the automotive industry, as well as the Swedish engineering and construction sectors. This service will give the port of Gothenburg an extra edge in its industry offering.”
Read more about developments at Europe’s finished vehicle handling ports in the forthcoming ALFVL Spring edition, which will be published at the beginning of April.
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