BHP withdraws

BHP has announced it is exiting the Tasman trade, due to continued loss of earnings in liner shipping service. Its Transport Group general manager Bruce McGowan, said the decision had not been taken lightly.

“The bottom line is that we are losing millions of dollars and it?s in no-one?s interests to continue,” he commented. Two ships, the strengthened 17,373 dwt general cargo ship, Iron Flinders, and the 844 TEU container ship, Tasman Chief, will be withdrawn from the service and their charters terminated in early March.