CHATHAM ISLANDS SHIPPING DEVELOPMENTS
BY R LEA CLOUGH T
he Chatham Islands community has, for the first time, acquired ownership of its own shipping service. The Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust has set up a company, Chatham Islands Shipping Co Ltd, of which it owns 51 percent, with the other 49 percent being owned by 44 South Shipping Company. CIS has bought out the business and assets of 44 South, except for the vessel MV Baldur, of which the Enterprise Trust has complete ownership though a separate company. The former owner of 44 South and master of Baldur, Mr Dennis Nisbet, has been engaged to manage the line, along with his crew and shore staff who have been retained.
The background to these developments is that the Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust was formed in 1991 under government moves to rationalise the Chatham Islands economic base, by cutting out subsidies to shipping of well over $1 million per year, air service, and the meat works. Facilities were upgraded and the CIET was handed ownership of the power station, airport, port facilities, a portfolio of fish quotas, and a cash advance. Now elected by residents, the CIET Board runs these and a
forestry project through a set of subsidiary companies. This latest development is a continuation of that function. In 2010, the Enterprise Trust sought public support and began to investigate the possibilities of involvement in a locally-owned shipping service. The decision was made to go ahead with investment and, if possible, to work closely with 44 South Shipping Ltd. The Trust tried, unsuccessfully, to purchase the assets of Black Robin Freighters which was in receivership. Eventually, the deal to buy 44 South Shipping and Baldur was struck. The Trust has been motivated by the need to establish secure, reliable shipping services, responsive to Chatham Islands needs, over which it has some control. It cited uncertainty and inefficiency of earlier carriers, owned off the islands. The intention is to use Baldur solely for the Chathams trade, serving Waitangi, Pitt Island, Napier and Timaru, with a sailing schedule set for a year in advance. Her limited heavy load lifting capacity is being addressed.
In the long term, the line is looking to a new freighter, purpose- built for the Chathams trade, capable of carrying 2500 stock units.
VIP.S85 18 Professional Skipper September/October 2012
VIP.S85
