Wellington's CentrePort has suspended operations until further notice as it deals with damage to its buildings and liquefaction from last night's 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
The capital's port authority is among those facing disruptions after the quake, centred near Hanmer Springs in the Hurunui district, with port companies in Napier, Timaru and Christchurch also dealing with the fallout of the natural disaster that disrupted rail and ferry services across the country and shut down the capital's CBD. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has narrowed its tsunami marine and beach threat to between Wellington to Banks Peninsula.
"We have sustained damage to buildings and the port and also some liquefaction and differential settlement in places," CentrePort chief executive Derek Nind said in a statement. CentrePort was working through a process with tenants to ensure all buildings were safe before they were re-occupied, which would happen over the coming days, he said.
Christchurch's Lyttelton Port Co, which embarked on a long-term redevelopment plan after the 2011 earthquakes, has re-opened some operations, receiving and delivering freight and cargo including logs and cars, and hasn't found any major concerns in its inspections so far, it said in a statement on its website.
"The railway line south of Christchurch is open, as is the Rolleston to Christchurch route. However, the Christchurch to Port route remains closed and we are awaiting further updates from KiwiRail," it said.
