Quake disrupts port operations in Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru

Monday 14th November 2016

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the upper South Island that killed two people and triggered tsunami warnings disrupted the port operations of at least four cities.

Port operations in Napier, Wellington and Christchurch were all hit by the quake, centred near Hamner Springs in the Hurunui district, which has also cut power across parts of the lower North Island and upper South Island, disrupted rail and ferry services across the country and shut down the capital's CBD. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management says there is still a tsunami marine and beach threat from Napier to north of Dunedin, Cook Straight coastal areas and the Chatham Islands, but has lifted its warning for other regions.

Christchurch's Lyttelton Port Co, which embarked on a long-term redevelopment plan after the 2011 earthquakes, has re-opened some operations, receiving and delivering freight and cargo including logs and cars, and hasn't found any major concerns in its inspections so far, it said in a statement on its website.

"The railway line south of Christchurch is open, as is the Rolleston to Christchurch route. However, the Christchurch to Port route remains closed and we are awaiting further updates from KiwiRail," it said.

Napier Port closed while the tsunami warning was in place, and the sole boat in port, a fishing vessel, was sent out to the harbour, a spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

"Operations resumed early this morning and we are monitoring the wave activity closely," she said. "Our engineers are undertaking a full assessment of our infrastructure, including hydrographic surveys of the inner port and shipping channel, and early indications are that the port has not sustained any damage."

State-owned rail operator KiwiRail, which runs the inter-island ferry service, says Wellington's ports have sustained damage, though council-owned operator CentrePort, which was damaged during the 2013 quakes centred in the upper South Island, has yet to comment, and Timaru's PrimePort evacuated staff in the early hours of the morning, according to a Timaru Herald report.

Dunedin's Port of Otago said it hasn't faced any disruptions from the quake or tsunami warning, while Bluff-based South Port New Zealand wasn't immediately available for comment.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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