Over the next decade the agreements will see Kotahi provide up to 1.8m teu of export cargo to the Port of Tauranga and “significant” volume to its subsidiary, the Timaru Container Terminal, as well as 2.5m teu to Maersk.
Maersk is to consequently introduce a new 4,500 teu service to Malaysia from this October and progress to the 6,500 teu vessels once the Port of Tauranga has undertaken a required infrastructure upgrade, expected to be completed over the next few years.
Kotahi chief executive Chris Greenough says securing the next-generation of containerships will deliver significant efficiencies to exporters and importers alike.
“These ships will ensure New Zealand does not become a spoke to the larger hubs across the Tasman, which would add 7-10 days to export transit times,” he said.
“We can help level the playing field for New Zealand in international markets. Increased collaboration will smooth out the peaks and troughs of our agriculture-driven export sector and drive a step change in efficiency for the Kiwi export supply chain.”
