en.Wedoany.com Reported - Swire Shipping will close its Pacifica coastal container service at the end of July 2026, ending the operation of the last New Zealand-flagged container ship in the country's domestic trade.
According to Jan-Hendrik Hintz, Swire Shipping's New Zealand Regional Manager, the service will cease operations at the end of July 2026 after consultations with crew and shore staff.
The 1,740 TEU vessel "Moana Chief" is scheduled to depart Auckland on July 23 and arrive in Lyttelton on July 26. The Port of Auckland schedule shows the vessel's final departure time as 3:30 a.m. on July 24, indicating possible adjustments to specific operational timings. The ship will end its nearly seven-year coastal trading career.
The New Zealand-flagged vessel will then sail to Asia for mandatory planned dry dock maintenance, as no suitable facilities are available in New Zealand.
Swire Shipping stated that due to limited vessel availability and high charter rates, the company has been unable to secure replacement tonnage. Weak domestic demand, port constraints, and an uneven regulatory environment have also placed ongoing pressure on the service.
Swire Shipping is still in negotiations with potential buyers for the Pacifica service, but Hintz said no firm offers have been received. The company warned that these discussions may not result in a formal bid. The service closure will not affect Swire Shipping's international operations connecting New Zealand with Asia and the Pacific Islands. The group will continue to be active in New Zealand's domestic freight market through Cubic Transport Services.
Pacifica Shipping began operations in New Zealand in 1985. The Auckland-based coastal shipping business was acquired by The China Navigation Company in 2014 and currently operates as a division of Swire Shipping (New Zealand) Limited. The 2011-built "Moana Chief" was constructed at Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China. The vessel measures 175.4 meters in length, with a capacity of 1,740 TEUs and 300 reefer containers, and is crewed by 16 personnel. Singapore-based Swire Shipping is the deep-sea vessel ownership and operations arm of the Swire group, providing liner, logistics, and specialized shipping services.
