Port Otago says news South Port has secured a new weekly shipping service through Bluff will not have a significant impact on its business.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's second largest mover of containers, will from May add a weekly visit to South Port in addition to its existing weekly Port Chalmers visit, collecting some cargo from Bluff currently handled by Port Otago.
Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket said the impact would "not be significant''.
Bluff will be the first New Zealand port of call for MSC's Capricorn line once vessels leave Sydney.
MSC New Zealand manager Mark Godfrey said under the new rotation, ships would then call at Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wellington, Napier and Tauranga, en route to Brisbane, Singapore and Jakarta.
"With this new, more economical rotation, the transit times ex-North Island load ports of Tauranga and Napier to strategic hub ports of Brisbane and Singapore, will be reduced by up to six days.''
He said the move was timely and would provide freight opportunities for Southland industries, as well as "upcoming business ventures within the Southland region''.
South Port chief executive Mark O'Connor said it would open up trade opportunities for the region.
"MSC is the second largest container mover in the world and being able to access its shipping services every seven days will create a whole range of new options for regional importers and exporters'' he said.
The service is to start from late May and Mr O'Connor said it would also support South Port's investment in handling containerised cargo.
