Ports of Auckland mulls micro-ports

By Graeme Kennedy

Friday 22nd February 2002

Ports of Auckland is surveying sites for up to four more micro-ports in the city's southern and eastern manufacturing areas following the official opening of its first inland container terminal this week.

CEO Geoff Vazey said the move was strategically important and would enable the port to expand capacity to meet shippers' demands more economically than building a single large facility.

"These micro-ports are leased and will give us capacity at a cost much lower than using land by the sea," Mr Vazey said. They extend the port and provide a facility just down the road from our importers and exporters.

"We are doing studies on areas which generate exports and consume imports and our plan is to achieve a balance between the two."

Fisher & Paykel is Ports of Auckland's foundation client with a facility on 3ha of the manufacturer's East Tamaki land where NZL Transport will manage the terminal and provide container shuttle services.

Meanwhile, the port this week announced a December first half after-tax profit of $22.7 million, up 9% on the previous period, on revenues up 4% at $78.1 million.

Container numbers passed 300,000 for the first time to reach 301,333 while ship calls increased 2% to 1097.

Mr Vazey said the export season was expected to be positive for the company, although a global economic downturn and overcapacity in shipping were putting pressure on the port business throughout the world. "The good news, however, is that Australasia continues to perform strongly in the container trade despite these global woes and the outlook is good. Our long-term strategy remains to focus on our core skills of cargo handling and marine services."

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