Joint venture to expand inland port

By PAM GRAHAM

Tranz Rail and Port of Tauranga have formed a joint venture to buy and develop the rail operator's container storage and repair business at Southdown.

The deal, which will not affect the bid for Tranz Rail by Toll Holdings, creates efficiencies at Metroport, Port of Tauranga's freight handling site in South Auckland.

The venture, to be called MetroBox, will invest $3 million on developing container storage on the southern side of Metroport.

This will improve turnaround and reduce stacking heights. New hoists are part of the plan.

Metroport, the so-called inland port, is a distribution centre mainly for the imports brought by rail from Tauranga.

"These changes are all about developing Metroport to its strategic potential as a gateway that gives our customers efficient access to the Auckland market," said Port of Tauranga chief executive Jon Mayson.

MetroBox will have its own management and Sean McElroy has been seconded from Tranz Rail to lead the business, which cleans, stores and repairs containers.