Containers moving at CentrePort

News 28 Nov 2016 by WCN Editorial

After an earthquake left CentrePort Wellington’s gantry cranes stranded, an MSC geared vessel allows the port to handle some containers.

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The 7.8 magnitude earthquake quake that struck central New Zealand earlier this month damaged much of the infrastructure at CentrePort Wellington, and its container terminal is still not operational. The port will, however, handle some containers this week when MSC calls with a geared vessel on its Capricorn service linking NZ ports with Tanjung Pelepas.

The ports container berths and crane rails suffered extensive damage, but the port has been able to make arrangements for the Penelope to berth in a different area.

MSC had earlier off-loaded imports bound for Wellington from two previous Capricorn sailings at the Port of Lyttelton in the South Island, which will now be re-load and delivered on the Penelope, which will also load export containers.

The call is not, however, a medium term solution. “MSC will continue to work and liaise closely with CentrePort in respect of possible subsequent calls at Wellington but there are no further calls scheduled currently. As such no export bookings will be accepted until further notice, awaiting Container Berth re-opening or return of the Penelope’s next voyage,” MSC said in a statement.

The extent of the damage means CentrePort will not be able to resume normal container operations quickly, and it is looking for another solution. Chief Executive Derek Nind said these include bringing in mobile cranes, and possibly building a “bespoke platform” to support the existing gantry cranes. “We are currently assessing the options, while also talking to our customers everyday so they know what’s happening,” Nind added.

The earthquake could derail CentrePort’s resurgence as a container port. After many years where container throughput stagnated, CentrePort grew significantly 2015 and 2016, with throughput up 23% to 132,000 TEU in the year to the end of June 2016.

While CentrePort gets back on its feet, shippers are using other North Island ports. Ports of Auckland Ports of and rail operator KiwiRail announced a new daily service linking Auckland with an inland port in the Manawatu region, near Wellington, while other cargo is being diverted to Napier.