The mixed vessels, which were built in Japan by Kitanihon Shipbuilding Co, can load 4,880 pallets below deck and 100 x 40ft reefers on deck. One 40ft high cube reefer holds around 200 pallets of kiwifruit. NZ kiwifruit exporter Zespri is providing cargo guarantees to underwrite the vessels and secure a transport option for the next 20 to 25 years.

MV KOWHAI made its maiden call at the Port of Tauranga on 29 October to load 4,219t of kiwifruit for the Japanese market.

In November, MV KOWHAI made its maiden call at Auckland, where it discharged tropical fruit from the Philippines and autos from Japan. The ability to carry cars from Japan to NZ and to  eave with kiwifruit means the vessels are well suited to the nature of trade between the two countries.

Even when all three vessels are completed and in service, Zespri will still be a big shipper in the reefer container market. For the 2020 export season just completed, Zespri used 49  chartered reefer vessels and 17,829 reefer containers to get 157M trays (600,000t) of product to more than 50 countries. Both the number of charter vessels and reefer containers used increased from the previous season.

When New Zealand went into lockdown due to the pandemic in March, there were concerns that its exports would be affected, but kiwifruit exports actually increased.

“The wider supply chain, including frontline staff at the Port of Tauranga, has worked incredibly hard to ship our record-breaking harvest this season, and embrace the enhanced safety measures put in place to keep our people and communities safe during New Zealand’s response to COVID-19,” said Alastair Hulbert, Zespri’s chief global supply officer.

“Their support and dedication during such a disrupted season meant we could continue to get our fruit to consumers around the world, where demand was incredibly high”.

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This complete item is approximately 340 words in length, and appeared in the November 2020 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 14. To access this issue download the PDF here