Swire Shipping celebrated its 150th anniversary at the Taumeasina Island Resort on Thursday evening as its management welcomed their first in-person gathering to mark the occasion.

Suva-based Swire Shipping Regional Manager (Pacific), Alexander Patterson, told employees and guests that there were two reasons to celebrate.

He said the celebration was held to acknowledge the hard work of the company's employees, partners and associates from around the region in Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia as the global transport and logistics sector continued to be impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

"On behalf of Swire shipping, thank you all for being here tonight for the 150th anniversary,” Mr. Patterson said.

“Tonight we have two celebrations, firstly being able to gather here for the first time since COVID and the celebration of Swire shipping.”

A traditional ava ceremony was held in honour of the guests as well as to mark a milestone of the company continuing to provide services since 1872. There was live entertainment to add colour and bring a distinctly Samoan flavour to the event. 

It is understood the actual date of the 150th anniversary is 14 June 2022 with most of its modern history intertwined with its shipping liner service for the Asia-Pacific region.

Swire Shipping has been one of the leading providers of multipurpose shipping services since 1883 when the Chinese Navigation Company had established shipping liner services in Australasia. From their traditional core trading areas in the Asia-South Pacific region, its shipping service reaches over 130 ports in Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

Their fleet of multipurpose vessels, operating competitive and reliable sailing schedules, is capable of carrying a wide range of general cargoes (including heavy and bulky project lifts), bulk parcels as well as containerized cargoes (general and refrigerated).

With their Head Office in Singapore, they maintain representative offices in key locations such as Sydney, Hong Kong, Mumbai, London and Auckland.