Pacifica

After the demise of the Union Company ferry service in the 1970's the long awaited cargo ferry service between Wellington and Lyttelton became a reality on 1st June 1983 when SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE arrived in Wellington after an overnight passage from Lyttelton on her inaugral voyage.
During the first half of 1982, R. Brooke McKenzie, a Christchurch businessman, announced plans to commence a new service between the two ports with a roll on, roll off cargo ship.  A new company, Pacifica Shipping Co. Ltd., was formed on 26th February 1982 to operate her.  Half the shares in the new company were held by Norwegian shipowner Andresen Finne & Co., and the ship was chartered from her owners, Balmoral Shipping Ltd. of Panama, for four years.
The Union Company became involved on 16th June 1983 through a subsidiary – South Sea Shipping ;Ltd., Auckland, registered on 6th May 1983 – with a 24.9 per cent holding of the capital of Pacifica. This was increased to 57.4 per cent by 21st August 1984. In 1985 the Union Company decided to sell its interest due to the perilous financial state of the company and Skeggs Foods Ltd. of Dunedin (whose principal, C.G. Skeggs, was a director of the Union Company) acquired those assets it required to continue the business. Skeggs interests assumed control from 7th November 1985 and registered a new company, Pacifica Shipping (1985) Ltd., in Dunedin on 10th February 1986.
SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE was built as SEALORD CONTENDER when she was launched on 29th January 1968 from the yard of At. De Ch. Du Havre in France. She was built as second of two sisters for Sealord Shipping Ltd. of London.
She was of 1,204 gross, capable of carrying 70 cars, 55 10-metre trailers and 250 tons of general cargo. (Vol.34, No.1).  Length overall was 301 ft., and beam 59ft., and deadweight capacity was 1,555 tons. In Wellington she used the Queens No.4 as a regular berth.
Laid up at Miramar Wharf, Wellington on 4th November 1985. She was not part of the assets taken over by Clifford Skeggs when he acquired a majority holding in the Pacifica Company in November 1985.
Sold to SOFE Shipping Enterprises Ltd., Suva (Wong’s Shipping Co. Ltd., Suva, Mgrs) 1986-1995, same name. Ownership transferred to Consort Shipping Co. Ltd., Suva, 1995 and renamed Sofe (Fiji) 1995. 
When Skeggs Foods Ltd. formed the  new company Pacifica Shipping (1985) Ltd they used a newer ship SPIRIT OF COMPETITION .

Pacifica have operated a total of eight vessels on various coastal services around New Zealand..