A steady-as-she-goes February at the port

Log boat Daiwan Glory is berthed at Wharf 8 at Eastland Port as a tender boat makes its way out of the port and to the cruise ship Silver Shadow at anchor in Turanganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay. The cruise season ends near the end of March while the port is all set for the kiwifruit export season. Picture supplied

Eastland Port had a “steady” February shipping-wise.

Eight log ships took over 178,000 tonnes of logs out of the region and it was another good cruise ship month with five vessels visiting.

Hundreds of passengers and crews explored the region in the peak of the warm weather.

“We are nearing the end of the cruise season with five remaining vessels due to visit over the next four weeks,” an Eastland Port spokeswoman said.

“The Noordam will be the lucky last to visit on March 25, which will be a great way to finish the season as she carries over 1900 passengers.

“We are very excited about the kick-off of the kiwifruit season and we will have the first of nine refrigerated vessels arriving on March 9,” she said.

“All kiwifruit vessels will be loaded up on the new Wharf 7, so it will be exciting to see all berths occupied for a number of days in the coming months.”