In connection with ongoing disruptions across the New Zealand supply chain we have undertaken a thorough review of our ocean network, and we are pleased to share the details with you here.

We are introducing certain network adjustments to support our strong commitment in aiming to continuously meet the requirements of our New Zealand importers and exporters. Maersk strives to provide a flexible and stable service offering that enables our New Zealand customers to manage their end-to-end supply chains and grow their businesses.

The Polaris service will be upgraded to a weekly service, effective from April. The Polaris service connects New Zealand with Australia and the service upgrade will provide an improved Trans-Tasman connection and increased product flexibility by enabling New Zealand cargo routings over Australia, as well as Lyttelton on our extensive Oceania network.

As part of this network change, the Maersk Coastal Connect service will be phased out, during month of April. Alternative coverage of Nelson and Timaru will be offered weekly on the Polaris service.

The Polaris – Our Dedicated Trans-Tasman Service

Starting from TRIESTE TRADER calling Nelson on 20 March 2023, this dedicated service between Australia and New Zealand will be increased to a weekly frequency, offering our customers improved cargo connections within Oceania. We will be replacing the Sydney call in Australia with Melbourne, strengthening our Trans-Tasman coverage to/from Melbourne while enabling transshipment opportunities for New Zealand export cargo in Melbourne.

PORT ROTATION: MELBOURNE > AUCKLAND* > NELSON > TIMARU > LYTTELTON > MELBOURNE
*Port o Auckland will be served on a fortnightly basis

Full schedule of the 3 ships that will be deployed on the Polaris service will be as follows.

Trieste trader

Port Location Estimated Time of Arrival
Port Location
TAURANGA
Estimated Time of Arrival
17.03.2023
Port Location
NELSON
Estimated Time of Arrival
20.03.2023
Port Location
TIMARU
Estimated Time of Arrival
22.03.2023
Port Location
LYTTELTON
Estimated Time of Arrival
27.03.2023
Port Location
SYDNEY
Estimated Time of Arrival
01.04.2023
Port Location
AUCKLAND
Estimated Time of Arrival
05.04.2023
Port Location
MELBOURNE
Estimated Time of Arrival
18.04.2023
Port Location
NELSON
Estimated Time of Arrival
30.04.2023
Port Location
TIMARU
Estimated Time of Arrival
02.05.2023
Port Location
LYTTELTON
Estimated Time of Arrival
04.05.2023

B trader

Port Location Estimated Time of Arrival
Port Location
NELSON
Estimated Time of Arrival
07.05.2023
Port Location
TIMARU
Estimated Time of Arrival
09.05.2023
Port Location
LYTTELTON
Estimated Time of Arrival
11.05.2023
Port Location
MELBOURNE
Estimated Time of Arrival
16.05.2023

Nicolai Maersk

Port Location Estimated Time of Arrival
Port Location
MELBOURNE
Estimated Time of Arrival
11.04.2023
Port Location
AUCKLAND
Estimated Time of Arrival
19.04.2023
Port Location
NELSON
Estimated Time of Arrival
23.04.2023
Port Location
TIMARU
Estimated Time of Arrival
25.04.2023
Port Location
LYTTELTON
Estimated Time of Arrival
27.04.2023
Port Location
MELBOURNE
Estimated Time of Arrival
02.05.2023
While the enhanced Polaris service is phasing into its full rotation, we have also made the following contingency schedule to ensure coverage of Nelson and Timaru ports

Timaru ports

ETA Vessel name
ETA
18.03.2023
Vessel name
BBC DENMARK
ETA
22.03.2023
Vessel name
Trieste Trader
ETA
27.03.2023
Vessel name
Maersk Nadi
ETA
04.04.2023
Vessel name
Maersk Nansha
ETA
14.04.2023
Vessel name
Maersk Nadi
ETA
18.04.2023
Vessel name
Maersk Inverness
ETA
25.04.2023
Vessel name
Nicolai Maersk
ETA
02.05.2023
Vessel name
Trieste Trader
ETA
09.05.2023
Vessel name
B Trader
ETA
16.05.2023
Vessel name
Nicolai Maersk

Nelson ports

ETA Vessel name
ETA
20.03.2023
Vessel name
Trieste Trader
ETA
30.03.2023
Vessel name
BBC Denmark
ETA
02.04.2023
Vessel name
Maersk Nansha
ETA
16.04.2023
Vessel name
Maersk Inverness
ETA
23.04.2023
Vessel name
Nicolai Maersk
ETA
30.04.2023
Vessel name
Trieste Trader
ETA
07.05.2023
Vessel name
B Trader
ETA
14.05.2023
Vessel name
Nicolai Maersk

We will continue to keep you updated on any further adjustments to the Oceania service schedules, as we continue to operate a flexible network to enable the New Zealand supply chain.

Should you have any questions on how these changes will impact your cargo please reach out to your customer experience representative via our Live Chat.

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