WASHINGTON: A strategic alliance signed off between Ports of Auckland and the Napier port is not likely to cause any impact on the operation of Eastland Port, says general manager Andrew Gaddum. The alliance has been arrived at to increase business and lower costs to customers using the Auckland and Napier ports.
“That alliance has been set up around container movement, not bulk cargo which is obviously Eastland Port’s primary export,” Mr Gaddum said. “So we do not forsee any impact on our operation at all.” Napier Port chief executive Garth Cowie said Auckland was a net importer and Napier a net exporter.
“Working together would deliver lower costs and it will help Napier compete against everybody,” Mr Cowie told Hawke’s Bay Today. Proposed changes could not be announced because they were “commercially sensitive”.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson said both council-owned ports were gateways to two of the largest North Island provincial economies “with significant growth and demands on infrastructure.” “There is a natural fit between Ports of Auckland and Napier Port.” Mr Cowie said Napier Port’s vision was to be central New Zealand’s leading provider of port and logistics solutions.
Napier Port had another record year of container volumes for the 2016 harvest season. “Log volumes are forecast to increase from 1.1 million tonnes to 2.4 million tonnes by 2025,” Mr Cowie said. A new wharf planned at Napier will be its biggest single investment since it was established in 1886.
