TASMANIAN exporters have their eyes fixed on the high seas this week as an international shipper returns to the state’s waters. The Mediterranean Shipping Company will on Thursday call on Bell Bay for the first time, linking the Northern port with several interstate ports, Noumea and New Zealand. MSC is set to offer Tasmanian clients fortnightly international export and import services. The company’s 10,000-tonne container ship, the Hohenbank Voyager, was expected to arrive in Northern Tasmania today but has been delayed by cyclone activity. It is understood at least six Tasmanian organisations and several private exporters have so far signed on to the international link. MSC has remained extremely low key about the new venture since first announcing its plans six weeks ago, and could not be contacted for comment yesterday. But industry insiders say MSC has been buoyed by take-up numbers and is considering increasing its Tasmanian offering to a weekly service within months. Tasmanian Logistics Committee chairman Steve Henty said the industry would be watching closely. ‘‘You’ve got to allow time for the service to be established and for customers to look seriously at utilising the service so we don’t want to make snap judgments,’’ Mr Henty said. ‘‘But if some exporters are able to use the service and are getting competitive pricing, it obviously makes their operations here in Tasmania more viable,’’ he said. Mr Henty said his primary focus was the fate of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, with a decision on Bass Strait subsidies expected within eight weeks. Tasmanian Exporters Group chairman Bob Gozzi said he would also be observing MSC’s venture with interest. However, Mr Gozzi said he was focused on discussions between the Tasmanian government and Singapore-based Swire Shipping, which is investigating introducing a direct shipping link between Tasmania and Asian ports. ‘‘Hopefully that will add another, significant dimension to what’s offered to Tasmanian customers,’’ he said. ‘‘Ultimately international freight custom will head in the direction of who can offer the best, most competitive service.’’
TASMANIAN exporters have their eyes fixed on the high seas this week as an international shipper returns to the state’s waters.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company will on Thursday call on Bell Bay for the first time, linking the Northern port with several interstate ports, Noumea and New Zealand.
MSC is set to offer Tasmanian clients fortnightly international export and import services.
The company’s 10,000-tonne container ship, the Hohenbank Voyager, was expected to arrive in Northern Tasmania today but has been delayed by cyclone activity.
It is understood at least six Tasmanian organisations and several private exporters have so far signed on to the international link.
MSC has remained extremely low key about the new venture since first announcing its plans six weeks ago, and could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
But industry insiders say MSC has been buoyed by take-up numbers and is considering increasing its Tasmanian offering to a weekly service within months.
Tasmanian Logistics Committee chairman Steve Henty said the industry would be watching closely.
‘‘You’ve got to allow time for the service to be established and for customers to look seriously at utilising the service so we don’t want to make snap judgments,’’ Mr Henty said.
‘‘But if some exporters are able to use the service and are getting competitive pricing, it obviously makes their operations here in Tasmania more viable,’’ he said.
Mr Henty said his primary focus was the fate of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, with a decision on Bass Strait subsidies expected within eight weeks.
Tasmanian Exporters Group chairman Bob Gozzi said he would also be observing MSC’s venture with interest.
However, Mr Gozzi said he was focused on discussions between the Tasmanian government and Singapore-based Swire Shipping, which is investigating introducing a direct shipping link between Tasmania and Asian ports.
‘‘Hopefully that will add another, significant dimension to what’s offered to Tasmanian customers,’’ he said.
‘‘Ultimately international freight custom will head in the direction of who can offer the best, most competitive service.’’
