Jet fuel tankers from Port of Tauranga to travel through Hamilton for Auckland Airport supply

Road tankers will supply jet fuel to Auckland Airport from the Port of Tauranga via Hamilton "as soon as possible". Photo / 123RF

The Port of Tauranga is set to be a supplier of jet fuel to beleaguered Auckland Airport as further contingencies are put in place.

The Herald has learned that the New Zealand Transport Agency plans to truck fuel from the Port of Tauranga along State Highway 29 over the Kaimais and through the Waikato up State Highway 1.

It's the latest idea in a rapidly evolving situation which has seen the Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins call on help from the Defence Force to help with shipping and trucking fuel and the viability of synchronising traffic lights at Wynyard Quarter to quickly transport the fuel to the airport.

Hamilton City Council transport manager Jason Harrison confirmed the council was notified yesterday that additional fuel tanker trips will be made through Hamilton as part of the response plan to supply the airport with fuel.

"The trucks will be coming from the Port of Tauranga and passing through Hamilton on State Highway 1. We understand the additional vehicle movements will not be of a volume to be noticeable to motorists and are not expected to have any significant impact on traffic flows."

Hamilton City councillor Dave Macpherson said although he had no problems with the trucking of fuel, he was surprised the vehicles would travel through Hamilton and not the shorter, quicker route of SH26.

This map shows the route trucks will take along State Highway 1 as they transport jet fuel between the Port of Tauranga and Auckland Airport.

"I'm a bit surprised they're coming through the city. They could have taken SH26 that goes up through the middle of the Waikato and you can avoid all the towns that way. But apart from that I don't see any major issues."

He hoped the fuel trucks wouldn't be travelling in convoy due to safety concerns if one was involved in a crash.

Collins confirmed the plan to the Herald this afternoon and said it would begin "as soon as possible".

"Industry are actively considering using the fuel terminal at Wynyard Wharf but they have to work out if it is viable and safe. They will update me as soon as they are able.

"MBIE are working with Auckland Council and the fuel companies to organise fuel being trucked from Tauranga and the Marsden Refinery into and around Auckland."

Collins said she did not expect there to be convoys of trucks travelling around Auckland, as it took time to offload fuel.

"For example, it takes up to an hour for trucks to offload jet fuel at Auckland Airport, so the timing of trucks arriving will be carefully scheduled."

However, planning was under way and the trucking will begin as soon as possible, she said.

As for the safe transportation of fuel, trucks and the drivers carrying jet fuel had to be appropriately certified, she said.

"Once at Auckland Airport the fuel also has to be certified before it can be used in aircraft."

Andrew McNaught, representing the customers of the refinery, this afternoon said the industry was still deciding whether or not it will convert existing chemical tanks to store jet fuel.

"We are considering this decision very carefully as these tanks are not designed for jet fuel and we need the highest level of assurance that using them for jet fuel will not in any way impact on the quality of the product."

As of today some petrol companies were filling trucks to higher than usual weight limits.

The deliveries were also occuring outside typically permitted times, including the middle of the night, he said.

"While doing so might be a slight inconvenience to neighbours of some sites we ask in advance for their understanding and patience."

The industry would also today test a new jet fuelling facility in Whangarei.

The refinery is continuing to produce fuel and two dedicated coasting shipping vessels are continuing to distribute the product around the country's ports, including Tauranga, Lyttleton, Dunedin, Bluff and Wellington.

Meanwhile, Refining NZ has this morning confirmed it is making "good progress" on repairs and has now isolated the south side of the pipe leak.

"The team is preparing to isolate the north side of the leak today. These are the necessary steps before we can cut the pipe."

If it meets its repair targets today crews will move into the next phase which involves cutting out the damaged section of pipe.

"Importantly, the refinery remains on track to meet the Wiri delivery window [midday Sunday 24/9 and midday Tuesday 26/9]."

Thirty-six flights have today been affected by the shortage. Of those, 23 were domestic and 13 were international.

MPs have also been grounded and advised to work in their electorates instead of flying to meetings and visits around the country.