Ports MD Jens Madsen

3 November 2009

A suggestion that Port of Tauranga may have more handling capacity than Ports of Auckland is firmly denied by Ports of Auckland managing director Jens Madsen.

The claim made in the New Zealand Herald by Morningstar Investment research unit AspectHuntley was based on a figure reportedly given by previous POAL md Geoff Vazey when he retired just over two years ago.

Vazey then said dredging Auckland's shipping channel another 2 metres will cost $200m-plus and require resource consents (Stuff.co.nz, 2007).

According to Madsen’s October 2009 letter to POAL shareholders, recent analysis with the NZ Navy simulator indicates the channel can already accommodate vessels up to 13.9m draft “with no further dredging required”. The depth is “likely to be more than sufficient” for 6,000 TEU [standard 20ft container equivalents] calling at Auckland as the tidal windows involved ”are comparable” to those used by a number of other international ports. Resource consents for work to deepen a berth pocket and strengthen the Fergusson terminal at a cost of under $50m have already been obtained.

The maximum-size container ship that POAL currently services is 4,200 TEU.

Cranes and straddles

In the statement prompted by the AspectHuntley report, Madsen also explains how he views Ports of Auckland’s capacity to handle longterm sea freight growth with existing cranes and straddles. Their three largest cranes could service 6,000 TEU vessels now and a further two among the eight would require little modification. 

He says the Auckland straddle fleet is New Zealand’s “largest and most sophisticated” while the issue of storage for containers in Auckland is addressed with the Wiri “inland port” due to open in January 2010. The 15 hectare site should reduce pressure on importers and exporters.

Road relief

The spinoff from the Wiri development should be fewer Auckland motorway jams. Moving containers to and from Wiri by rail will take trucks off the road in the centre of Auckland.

Catherine Etheredge, senior manager of communications for Ports of Auckland says POAL expects the opening of the Wiri inland port to save 100,000 truck trips in a year when it reaches capacity.

She says the Wiri site delivers the goods closer to principal importers while exporters get more time because of increased storage capacity.

The Port of Tauranga should note that POAL is targeting Waikato exporters with the Wiri opening.

© Eastwood Tyres 2009