Norfolk Island is facing a serious food and supply crisis.

A cut to shipping services has led to a food shortage, with supermarket shelves bare and no food for livestock for almost two months.

Increased difficulties offloading stock mean the territory is no longer receiving its fortnightly deliveries.

Residents say the problem stems from a decision two years ago to upgrade just one of the island's two piers.

With only one pier available for offloading in often rough seas, vessels can be left waiting for weeks to come to shore.

Shipping companies lose money every day they are forced to wait, and many have decided it is not worth the cost.

Five air freight flights have been organised to arrive this month, but locals say it would take 70 planes to bring the equivalent of one 1,000 tonne ship.

They are calling on the Government, specifically the Air Force, to help.

Local administrator Eric Hutchinson said authorities are looking for a long-term solution.

“Do we have some challenges in respect of a reliable, regular and cost-effective sea freight service to Norfolk Island? Yes we do,” he said.

“That's where the attention and focus of my office, the regional council, importers and shipping companies is focused upon.”

The administrator said an appropriate solution is possible.

“It does present challenges. There is no safe anchorage on Norfolk. Ships have to anchor offshore and then goods are offloaded from those ships,” he said.

“There is a shipping schedule for the year but it won't meet all the needs of the island. In the meantime, the Commonwealth provides subsidised air freight services.

“There are certain items that are uneconomical or logistically impossible to bring in via air.

“But to suggest there's not an availability of food on the island is a misrepresentation.”