Log ships back but no shore leave for crew

ON HER WAY: The first log boat to load cargo at Eastland Port since the lockdown started sailed this morning. The Albany Sound sailed with about 21,000 tonnes of logs on board, bound for China. The Ministry of Transport granted the port dispensation to begin log exports again during Alert Level 4, subject to strict staff safety precautions, and no shore leave for the crews of visiting ships. The dispensation allows the port to export logs already in the port storage areas to clear the way for cart-in work to resume when the forestry industry returns to work on Tuesday. Three other log ships will dock in the next six days — Happy Hiro on Saturday, Port Botany on Sunday and Erradale next Wednesday. Picture by Paul Rickard

The log ship Albany Sound began loading around 21,000 tonnes of logs for China yesterday, the first shipment of logs from the port in three weeks.

The ship sailed this morning. Three more are due in the next six days. Eastland Port was given dispensation to load logs again under Level 4 lockdown.

“As part of that there will be some movement of logs from our storage yard in Dunstan Road,” a port official said.

“This is helping us clear the supply chain to make storage space, so the forestry industry can return to work next week without any delays.” All cargo goes straight to the ship.

“We are taking every precaution to ensure that everyone working at the port can do so safely.

“All of the active operations at the port are helping us to clear the supply chain. In doing so, we are making space so that the forestry industry can return to work, under Level 3, without any delays.

“This is a closed-loop operation. There are no interactions between people (truck and loader drivers) as the logs have already been processed. All cargo will come straight into the port for shipment.

“Under Level 4, there will be no new logs coming to the port, only the export of logs already with us.

“This news means that we can clear space on our log yards, and prepare for the forestry industry to start up again under Level 3 without any delays.

“We would not consider starting up any port operations unless we were 100 percent confident we can do so safely.

“We have worked closely with health protection staff and the Ministry of Health to implement strict health and safety guidelines to keep everyone safe.

“Vessels travel for around 20 days to reach Gisborne, which means that all incoming crew will have been in a quarantine state for over 14 days.”

Strict health and safety protocols in place mean there will be no shore leave for the ship's crew and personal protective equipment will be mandatory for any staff interacting with the ship.