Tasmanian based Bell Bay Aluminium has announced it has struck an agreement with Swire Shipping for the provision of direct international ocean freight shipping between Asian ports and Bell Bay Port.

Under the agreement, Swire Shipping will provide Bell Bay Aluminium with multi-purpose vessels on a monthly basis to move product from Bell Bay Port to various locations through Asia, including Singapore.

“Since the withdrawal of the international container service in May 2011, Bell Bay Aluminium’s containers have been routed via Melbourne before being shipped internationally. The double-handling and additional costs have impacted on Bell Bay Aluminium‘s viability,” Bell Bay Aluminium’s General Manager Ray Mostogl said.

“Over the last 12 months it has become clear to us that an immediate solution needed to be put in place to address our current freight transport situation whilst, allowing time for a longer‐term solution for all Tasmanian exporters to be developed.”

The first vessel in the monthly service will call into Bell Bay Port late March 2013.  Bell Bay will be included as an additional port on Swire Shipping’s existing Asia Pacific Australasia service. In addition, during 2013 the service will be retonnaged with brand new state of the art S Class vessels.