Northport has upped its container handling creds with new infrastructure investments. Photo / File
Northport has upped its container handling creds with new infrastructure investments. Photo / File
Northport is gearing up with new investments to support growing container trade - for the "here and now", not the possibility Auckland port cargo may come its way.
The port company has bought its second harbour mobile crane, a $250,000 crane simulator for driver training and two new terminal tractors.
The new crane, with its maximum lifting capacity of 125 tonnes, extends Northport's flexibility to handle general and heavy cargo, said the company, jointly and equally owned by listed Port of Tauranga and Marsden Maritime Holdings.
Chief executive Jon Moore said the new equipment was needed "here and now" to meet container requirements and was not dependent on any future expansion of the port at Marsden Point, south of Whangarei.
A Government-commissioned working group last year recommended the Ports of Auckland be closed to all but cruise ships and its operations transferred to Northport.
Crane training simulator at Northport built by CM Labs. Photo / Supplied
The group, asked to look at the future of upper North Island freight logistics and options, concluded Auckland port was not economically or environmentally viable for the future.
Coalition government partner NZ First is keen for Auckland's cargo operations to shift to Northland.
Moore said the investment in container handling capability demonstrated the growth of the business.
"It's a visual reminder that we're doing everything we said we would when we acquired our first crane in 2015."
The company wouldn't share the cost of the second crane, which will arrive next month and should begin operating in late March or early April.
Moore said Northland region businesses were starting to realise the economic and environmental benefits of Northport's container-handling capability.
Last year local businesses shipped 13,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent containers) through Northport, with exports ranging from fruit and timber to bulk cement.
The previous year it handled 7500 TEUs and the year before 800.
Northport, at the mouth of the Whangarei Harbour, currently services Swire Shipping's North Asia, South-East Asia and Trans-Tasman services, as well as a direct coastal service to and from Lyttelton and a call by global shipping company MSC for kiwifruit exports.
Moore said the new investments would assist its focus on new shipping options.
The port could easily accommodate container ships carrying about 5000 TEUs. The second crane would enable it to service these more effectively.
The world's most modern and largest container ships have more than 20,000 TEU capacity, but don't visit New Zealand or Australia, Northport said.
The biggest currently calling at New Zealand carry about 10,000 TEUs. Only the Port of Tauranga could accommodate them.
New Kalmar terminal tractors add heft to Northport's container handling capabilities. Photo / Supplied
The chairman of the working group recommending Auckland port operations move to Northport predicted much of New Zealand's future primary product export growth would come from Northland.
Wayne Brown cited the kiwifruit and dairy industries as major future export players in the region.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri said currently the region contributed about 3.5 per cent of the country's total kiwifruit exports. Northland hosted 463 hectares of kiwifruit and about 153 orchards, Zespri said.
The region received $78m in direct grower payments in the 2018-2019 season and fruit was now shipped directly from Northport to export markets.
Imports are also an important part of Northport's business and include fertiliser, gypsum and coal.
