Auckland congestion pressures other ports

Auckland has been experiencing volume problems for several weeks but has been working with shipping lines to change the schedule of incoming vessels and relieve berth pressure by only committing a maximum of three cranes during the day and two cranes during night time operations, diverting any remaining resource to the road, rail and yard operations to enable a more consistent flow of containers through the terminal.

Ports of Auckland (POAL) said: “There is not a lot of redundant capacity available to cater for sustained events such as we have seen, and the ripple effects of the peaking volume, delayed vessel schedules including diversions and re-routing of cargo will now start to impact further up and down the supply chain and create congestion in other areas such as other Ports and hubs, Empty depots and distribution centres.”

Compounding other issues

Affected ports include Tauranga, Centreport Wellington and Lyttelton Port of Christchurch, with the latter experiencing long truck queues according to a report from stuff.

Lyttelton Port Company marketing manager, Simon Munt confirmed that the port’s “terminal yard has been under pressure due to vessel delays relating to weather, and issues and delays experienced at Auckland Port,” reported stuff.

Mr Munt added: “Bad weather in Asia affected several vessels on their journey to New Zealand, while issues in Auckland involving the upgrading of their automation process, has meant that part of their terminal is out of action.

“The flow-on effect of ongoing disruption to vessel schedules has seen vessel arrivals clustered together with larger volumes of cargo discharged than loaded, including cargo destined for other ports.”

Capacity expansion

POAL said that pressure would be eased by its automation and capacity project, part of its 30-year Master Plan, which provides for future capacity at the port, however, it warned it will “not have the yard capacity to manage any dramatic change to the peaking demand” in the next 12-18 months.

Four vessels from Auckland have departed from the Port of Lyttelton from 30 September, according to the Lyttelton Port Company shipping schedule, but the port does not have any vessels from Auckland berthed currently and the Seasmile is due to arrive from Auckland on 4 October where it has been processed as scheduled.

On 2 October, a reachstacker caught fire in the rail exchange area at the Port of Auckland, injuring the driver and resulting in the termination of rail activities for the day, but not affecting any other port and terminal operations.