Sea Swift launches WA to Singapore shipping line
Far Northern shipping specialists Sea Swift will launch a dedicated international shipping service next month to connect the Pilbara in Western Australia to south east Asia.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FAR Northern shipping specialists Sea Swift will launch a dedicated international shipping service next month to connect the Pilbara in Western Australia to Singapore.
The shipping line’s 99m landing craft Karratha Bay will service the route between Dampier and Singapore, a 2132 nautical mile voyage that at the Karratha Bay’s service speed of 10 knots would take nine days.
Sea Swift is expected to make the trip twice per month.
MORE NEWS
CEO resigns from Cairns-based Sea Swift
Shipping firm’s evidence food cost inquiry
Sea Swift acting chief executive officer Lino Bruno said the new service would secure the company as a key remote logistics provider for the continued development of Northern Australia.
“This marks a significant milestone for Sea Swift and opens the door for increased trade and services across the region and internationally,” Mr Bruno said.
The service will be based on a regular scheduled 20-day roll-on, roll-off (RORO) freight operation model.
“Sea Swift is not only highly experienced in serving remote communities, but we are also a highly experienced RORO ship operator, and we understand clearly that in remote and regional Australia businesses and government cannot have the confidence to build or extend their services without the reliance on regular scheduled logistics supply chains,” he said.
“The RORO service is preferred because it can operate both containers and break-bulk cargo efficiently and achieve fast port turnaround times, for example in just 24 hours, which is essential for a direct international service like this.
“The RORO model for scheduled freight services has never been operated before in the Pilbara and is not only efficient but also safe, avoiding the need to lift cargo across a wharf, which is a key safety requirement for some companies.”
He said the service would be a permanent feature of Sea Swift’s network and would also allow access to global freight.
“We’re in this for the long-haul, with cost-effective containerisation direct from anywhere in the world using our freight agent GAC through Singapore to the Pilbara regularly in this manner for the first time ever,” Mr Bruno said. “The world is now at our customers’ doorstep and this marks a significant milestone for Sea Swift, opens the door for increased trade and services across Northern Australia, and positions Sea Swift as one of the key remote logistics providers for the continued development of Northern Australia.”
Earlier this year, construction on the company’s new ship, MV Newcastle Bay II, resumed after an enforced break due to coronavirus.
The vessel will replace MV Newcastle, which retired at the end of 2019.
Originally published as Sea Swift launches WA to Singapore shipping line
Police station sale sparks discussion over Gordonvale’s future
Claims a historic building was sold from under the noses of a Far North community group have been rebuffed by Labor, with calls to rejuvenate a beloved town square emerging as a key election issue.
‘Ridiculous thing’: LNP candidate dodges abortion, VAD questions
Far North voters are more concerned with crime, cost of living and housing than changes to abortion and voluntary assisted dying laws, the LNP’s candidate for Barron River Bree James says.