Interview with
Mr. James Dawson
National Manager
For starters, James, can you tell our readers a bit about the history of Seaway Agencies? I understand that your scope is mainly to represent shipping lines and related tasks? Where do you have offices at the moment?
Seaway is a privately-held Australian group of companies headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1999, Seaway is now a diverse group with activities encompassing Shipping Agencies, Seafreight, Airfreight, Projects and more. In New Zealand we have offices in Auckland and Tauranga while in Australia the group has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Seaway also has an office in Shanghai, China.
I understand as well that you represent the well-known global RoRo carrier Höegh lines? Can you tell us about their services to and from New Zealand? (geographical coverage, destinations, etc…)
Yes, Seaway are Höegh Autoliners’ full liner agents in both NZ and Australia. Both countries are serviced as part of Höegh’s EUAF service which has two distinct strings – all EUAF voyages begin with calls in the EU and UK. Then the “Panama” rotation calls the US East Coast, Panama Canal, New Zealand then Australia, while the “Cape” rotation proceeds to South Africa, Australia, then New Zealand. Noumea in New Caledonia is also offered on the EUAF service every two months. Höegh offers Auckland as its main New Zealand port call, while Melbourne, Port Kembla, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle are available as Australian destinations. All vessels proceed to North Asia after their Oceania port calls. While largely an import trade from the Northern Hemisphere, Höegh does also offer TransTasman export space in both directions for shipments between New Zealand and Australia, and a range of export destinations for shipments from New Zealand and Australia to the EU, UK, East Coast USA, Caribbean, South Africa and North Asia.
Do you also accept high and heavy cargoes besides RoRo on these routes? Also, what would be the normal ramp capacity and width/height for the vessels of Höegh currently calling New Zealand?
Yes, Höegh accepts a huge range of high and heavy cargoes – mining, earthmoving, construction & agricultural equipment; helicopters; large boats; locomotives, passenger rail carriages & trams; tanks & silos; static machinery and much more. Cargo that is not self-propelled or towable can be accepted when stowed on one of Höegh’s wide range of mafi trailers which are available in lengths from 20’ right up to 80’. In terms of door height, Höegh’s older vessels have a 5.0m stern door height and their newer “New Horizon” and “Aurora” class vessels have a 6.5m stern door height. Maximum stern ramp weight limits range from 150T for the older vessels to 375T for New Horizon vessels. However, landside infrastructure/wharf axle limits must also be taken into account for extremely heavy cargoes – just because a particular vessel may be able to accept a very heavy item, it’s also necessary to check carefully that the terminals at load and discharge ports are also able to handle them. Stern door widths range from 6m to 12m depending on the class/age of vessel.
Will Höegh also accept SOC containers?
Yes, provided they are in good structural condition with a minimum of four lashing points. Containers heavier than 10MT in weight or greater than 20’ in length must be stowed on Höegh mafi trailers. 20’ containers weighing less than 10MT can be accepted as static cargo.
Can you as Höegh shipping agents also arrange for inland transport if required by the customer or do you mainly conduct port to port shipments?
While Seaway’s Agencies teams concentrate on port-to-port shipments, Seaway has Projects teams in both New Zealand and Australia that can assist with customs clearance and inland transport if required.
Does Seaway represent other lines currently?
Seaway represents the Marfret and TS Lines container services in Australia as full liner agents. In New Zealand, we also offer vessel husbandry services to a range of vessels including tankers, bulkers and project cargo vessels.
Whom should our readers approach for in and outbound quotes on Höegh lines, and how is it best to get in touch with you generally?
For shipments to or from New Zealand, I am the first point of contact. I am available on akl@seaway.co.nz. My Australian colleagues can be reached on hoegh.quotes@seaway.com.au