Kiwis rebound from quakes

CentrePort Wellington and Port Marlborough appear to be the only ports affected – with damage to the latter seeing the Interislander ferry Kaiarahi initially stranded with passengers onboard for about 11 hours.

However, following work at both ports, the vital Cook Strait ferry link was progressively restored as from Monday night — albeit both the Interislander and Strait Shipping a vessel down while awaiting what could be lengthy repairs to a necessary linkspan in Wellington.

With reports of damage to buildings, wharves and roadways – including liquefaction and differential settlement in places – it was feared that CentrePort would otherwise remain closed for business for some time.

But late on Wednesday port chief executive Derek Nind advised the Seaview oil terminal had been cleared for business and a rail line had been reopened “so we can begin moving freight off the port to waiting customers”.

“Tomorrow, we expect to refuel and resupply HMNZS Endeavour and an international naval ship involved in the relief effort for quake-affected Kaikoura [which has lost road and rail access],” he says.

However, the port is having to wait on detailed engineering assessments before it can advise a potential return to full cargo operations, with affected vessels having to omit CentrePort from their schedules.