KUWAIT's global logistics provider, Agility, has announced it will commence operating an Australian domestic shipping service between Melbourne across the Bass Strait to Bell Bay in Tasmania in early August.

The service will be operated by Agility Shipping Pty Ltd, a joint venture between Agility Logistics Pty Ltd. and Transworld Marine Express Pty Ltd. The joint venture agreement between the two parties was signed in Melbourne on July 23.

The thrice weekly service will be served by Australian-flagged and Australian crewed vessels, with the first being 516-TEU MV Tassie Bridge a second vessel added later in the year depending on demand for frequency of service.

An agreement in principle between Agility and Tas Rail has been reached to launch an intermodal service from Bell Bay to the Tasmanian capital of Hobart in the last quarter of 2010.

"This is a major step for Agility in Australia to meet growing demand from our customers for a reliable scheduled service across the Bass Strait connecting Melbourne and Bell Bay, Tasmania. We are also very proud that we will be supporting the national maritime sector as the vessels will be flying the Australian flag, with an all Australian crew," said Mick Turnbull, CEO, Australasia and North Asia.

"The partnership with Agility means that we can leverage their international expertise in freight and logistics. When combined with Transworld's strong maritime industry credentials, we will be able to deliver a world-class service to Australian customers across the Bass Strait," said Transworld Marine Express managing director Ivan Colaco.

Agility Shipping will operate from offices in Prohasky Street, Port Melbourne, headed up by Paull Van Oost, formerly Agility projects manager and Glen Colaco, to be joined by other industry-experienced professionals in the near future.

Agility Shipping's vessels will operate on fixed berthing windows at Webb Dock 4 in the Port of Melbourne and Bell Bay in Tasmania. Stevedoring and container depot operations will be conducted by Patrick Stevedores in Melbourne and by ANS Stevedores in Bell Bay, both under long-term agreements.