NZ export chief tells small ports to consolidate to attract big ships
NEW Zealand's regional ports should merge to handle bigger ships and achieve connectivity between ports, says the head of container export alliance of major exporters.
Chris Greenough, CEO of Kohati, an alliance of major exporters, called on regional ports to consolidate to handle ships of 3,000 TEU, which is likely to increase to 4,000 TEU by the end of next year.
"No carrier will deploy a big ship - 6,000 TEU or more - to New Zealand without reasonable certainty it will be full most of the time," said Mr Greenough, reported New Zealand's BusinessDesk. "
What is needed is better connectivity to ports by road, rail and coastal shipping and switch between the modes, he said.
"Under 150 kilometres road is quite competitive, over 150 kilometres and within an island rail is quite competitive, and between islands coastal beats them both hands down."said Mr Greenough.
Turnover at bigger ports such as Auckland are vital to in order to see greater volume turnaround of a larger vessel of say 8,000 TEU in and out of the port within 48 hours.
Increasing investment in handling larger vessels is still at the drawing board but the hope is that there will be one port to handle 6,000-TEU vessels first, either in North Island or Auckland depending on each's strengths and ability to invest.
"We are more likely to see under investment unless we can get collaboration from freight owners," he added.
