New Zealand logistics company looks to methanol

Earlier this year, MOVE successfully secured $10 million in co-investment funds from transport agency Waka Kotahi to support coastal shipping initiatives that improve the competitiveness of domestic coastal shipping, reduce freight sector greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience.

Waka Kotahi has endorsed the proposal by MOVE for its methanol-ready RORO vessel design that includes a methanol tank and pipework installation during construction.

The RORO will be able to berth wheeled cargo into at least 13 New Zealand ports, without the need for any new port infrastructure to be built. The vessel will initially operate three sailings a week between Nelson and New Plymouth and provide an additional sea bridge between the North and South Islands.

In addition to major operational benefits, the new service will also dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of the freight movements concerned. The shift of existing loads from road to shipping will deliver significant carbon emission reductions (estimated 2,000 tonnes per annum), improve road safety via fewer truck movements and enhance New Zealand’s domestic freight services.

Executive Director of MOVE, Chris Dunphy, says: “MOVE is committed to decarbonisation of freight and logistics activities. Our decision to invest alongside Waka Kotahi demonstrates the very real nature of how a former trucking company can become truly multi-modal and offer resilience to our clients via coastal shipping.”

Atlas Wind acquisition 

Earlier this year, MOVE announced plans for its first trans-Tasman sailing, scheduled for Q4 2022. The company has entered an agreement to acquire a vessel, the Atlas Wind, out of Europe. It is expected that the acquisition will be settled in October 2022.

The Atlas Wind can carry 350 containers, or the equivalent of 5,000 tonnes of bulk cargo. With two cranes on board, the vessel has the ability to call into ports that historically may not have been able to accept containerised and bulk cargoes.

The maiden journey will be the first of a regular monthly voyage that will see goods shipped between regional New Zealand ports including Nelson, Timaru, New Plymouth and Bluff, across the Tasman to Tasmania and other east coast ports in Australia.