Primeport culls staff base

PrimePort Timaru recently made 24 workers redundant and re-employed them on part-time contracts in response to major shipper Fonterras port-use revamp reducing its annual container throughput from 61,000 to 37,000 teu.

Of that number, 20 workers are being guaranteed 32 hours per week and four are being guaranteed 24 hours.

Port management has also let go of a transit shed supervisor, services supervisor and rope store foreman, and was expected to also drop two further positions in the planner and logistics supervisor areas.

PrimePort is expected to be left with 22 management, administrative and marine staff in full-time positions.