Nova Marine Carriers is strengthening its international presence with a new initiative in Oceania. Through a 50-50 joint venture with New Zealand-based McCallum Bros, the Lugano-headquartered shipowner has been entrusted with ensuring the maritime link between New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, one of the most remote locations on the planet from Europe.
The new company, Mbl JV, has won the tender launched by New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport to replace the Southern Tiare, which has been operating for over forty years and is now unable to guarantee the continuity of supplies to the archipelago. The contract includes the construction of a new multipurpose vessel, designed by Nova Marine’s technical offices in Lugano in collaboration with Rina, scheduled to enter service in 2027.
The vessel will be capable of transporting construction materials, fuel, trucks and livestock, serving as a versatile solution for the logistical needs of local communities. Based on the minimum number of contracted voyages, it is estimated that the ship could handle up to 61,600 sheep and 10,500 cattle annually. According to the plan presented by Mbl JV, the new vessel and its operational model will provide a reliable and sustainable service for the next twenty years, offering what New Zealand authorities have described as an excellent cost-benefit balance.
As CEO Vincenzo Romeo emphasised, the presence in the South Pacific marks a strategic evolution for Nova Marine Carriers. The company, which already operates a cement carrier in New Zealand waters, sees the joint venture with McCallum Bros as a natural step in diversifying its activities and markets while strengthening its global brand position.
