Transport Briefs

• The China Navigation Co is running a monthly cargo service from New Zealand to Lae with ships returning to Japan. The ships, Poyang, Baynunah and Shansi, sail from Japan to New Zealand.

After unloading in NZ, they pick up cargo for Lae. At Lae, after unloading NZ cargo, they pick up cargo for Japan and NZ. • A 40ft passenger launch, the Ngaluta’ane, has been added to Tonga’s merchant fleet. She will run between Nukualofa and Eua, carrying up to 50 passengers a trip. The launch was built in Brisbane and given to Tonga under the Australian aid programme. • Sofrana-Unilines will have another ship on its Pacific cargo routes in October or November. It recently bought the Bourgogne, 2,500 tonnes, in Norway. The ship has been renamed Capitaine Ker madec, after another cargo ship which sail ed under the Sofrana-Unilines flag a few years ago. The line expects soon to allocate routes for the Capitaine Kermadec. • The Papua New Guinea Government has given Indonesia landing rights at Port Moresby. This will allow Garuda, the national airline of Indonesia, to operate a Biak-Port Moresby return service. In return, Indonesia has agreed that in a year Air Niugini will be given the right to operate between Port Moresby and Jakar ta, Air Niugini now operates between Port Moresby and Jayapura in Irian Jaya.