New Ships for Hamburg Sud

PrimePort Timaru recently welcomed the largest ever container ship to visit the port, the “Cap Beatrice” measuring 222 metres long is capable of carrying 2800 containers. The brand new vessel was on her maiden voyage having entered service in Sydney before sailing to Melbourne and then Timaru.

With Hamburg Suds Trident service less than a year old the German shipping company are introducing 4 larger vessels to the service to handle the strong demand from shippers. Prior to Christmas the 2500-TEU Cap Melville arrived on the New Zealand coast to match the capacity of the Cap Saray and Cap Flinders.

“Later this year will see the deployment of 2 more new sister vessels to the “Cap Beatrice” with larger reefer and dry capacity, increasing our commitment to the reefer trade and in general”, said Hamburg Sud New Zealand commercial manager Simon Edwards. “The extra speed of the vessels will also allow us to combat congestion and potential delays caused by the vagaries of the European winter.”

Hamburg Sud operate a fortnightly direct service from Timaru to Central & South America, East Coast USA and Europe. Timaru is the only South Island port call on the Trident service which also calls at Auckland, Tauranga and Napier in the North Island.

The Trident service makes a total of 15 port calls on its 84 day round trip as follows: Timaru - Napier - Tauranga - Cartagena - Savannah - Philadelphia - Tilbury - Bremerhaven - Antwerp - Philadelphia - Savanah - Cartegena - Auckland - Sydney - Melbourne - Timaru.

The Cap Beatrice makes her maiden visit to PrimePort Timaru

Extension of container wharf

PrimePort Timaru has lodged a consent application to extend the North Mole container wharf and plans to increase the length of the wharf from an existing 460m length to 650m. The 190m extension will be located on the western end of the North Mole and involves construction of a sheetpile wall, with land filled in behind and capped in a solid concrete deck. This will extend the container terminal, breakbulk and bulk handling facilities. The project also incorporates removal of the existing No 3 wharf progressively to make room for the new wharf and increased dredging in front of the wharf to ensure larger ships can be worked through a full tidal range.

PrimePort Timaru Chief Executive, Jeremy Boys commented that the consent application is a reflection of the ongoing growth in cargo trade that PrimePort has experienced in recent years and the forecasts for further trade expected. It is also a recognition that the physical size of international vessels using the port is increasing.

The application is to gain a resource consent for the entire project allowing the wharf extension to be constructed in stages.

The project will be publicly notified, but consultation to date had indicated a favourable level of support recognising the value of port growth to the whole community. Independent consultants have been engaged and verified that no more than a minor environment impact should result, especially as construction will only occur well within the inner harbour.

Providing that the application is supported PrimePort will be in a position to commence the project later this year, although a construction presence on site would not be expected until completion of a tender process and the delivery of building materials from overseas.

New tug for PrimePort

Captain Paul McNeil aboard the PrimePort tug “Te Maru”

PrimePort Timaru has recently announced it is to purchase a new harbour tug. Marine Manager Captain Paul McNeil explained, “with the larger vessels that are now using the port being over 200 metres in length we need to match that with an increase in our mobile towage capacity.” The new tug will be in addition to the existing vessel “Te Maru” which has been in service at the port for 23 years. “This will enable us to operate 2 tugs when berthing the larger ships that visit the port and improve the overall safety margins,” said Captain McNeil speaking from Singapore where he was negotiating the purchase of the new tug.

Along with the new tug PrimePort will also be increasing its staffing levels in the Marine team including the appointment of an additional harbour pilot.

Strong trade for first 6 months

Jeremy Boys

PrimePort Timaru has reported strong trading conditions in the first 6 months of its financial year. “In particular we have seen solid volumes of logs and containers moving across the wharves” said Chief Executive Jeremy Boys. “We are forecasting to reach a record volume of around 70,000 containers through the port this year.

Full year results will be reported at the company's AGM to be held in September.

Oil search off coast

The Pacific Wrangler preparing to
unload pipe at the rig

The search for oil off the coast of South Canterbury and North Otago began late last year with the drilling of the Cutter 1 well located approx 22km off the coast from Oamaru. This was the first time in over 30 years that commercial oil exploration activities have occurred in the region.

A consortium of Australian oil companies - Tap Oil, Beach Petroleum and Australia Worldwide Exploration were backing the exploration venture. Initial seismic surveys indicated the Cutter 1 well could contain 80 million barrels of oil equivalent.

PrimePort Timaru provided the onshore logistics base and support services during the 6 week long drilling programme. The coordination of all the shore based operations was managed by local company Portside Logistics. This role involved being on 24 hour standby in case of any urgent requests from the rig for parts, equipment or supplies which were being warehoused at the port.

Ocean Patriot rig working off the coast of Oamaru

The Ocean Patriot semi submersible rig that was used in the drilling campaign was towed to New Zealand from Australia by two specialised 70m anchor handling supply vessels, “Far Grip” and “Pacific Wrangler”, in a trip that took 12 days. Tap Oil New Zealand Asset Manager Mr Clyde Bennett said “the Ocean Patriot was average size for a semi-sub rig, but it is an intimidating structure up close.”

The rig was serviced every few days by the supply vessels making return trips to PrimePort for drill pipe, casings and general stores for the 90 staff employed on the rig. Daily helicopter flights to and from the rig were used to exchange staff and ferry any urgent supplies.

The Ocean Patriot rig was working in a depth of 64m of water and when drilling, the rig is secured to the sea bed with eight anchor chains which are taken out by the anchor handling vessels. The Ocean Patriot can drill to a depth of up to 9km, but during the Cutter 1 well it drilled to approx 3000m.

Drill pipe being loaded aboard
the supply vessel “Pacific Wrangler”

After 6 weeks of exploration only pockets of gas were found and the well was considered not to be of economic value. However Tap Oil holds a permit for another prospect area called “Barque.” This field is 30km offshore and nearer to Timaru but in deeper water and is considered to be more promising for future exploration.

Timaru Star makes farewell voyage

The PANZ operated vessel “Timaru Star” made its final visit to PrimePort Timaru at the end of January. The Timaru Star along with her sister ships “Cook Strait' and “Mount Cook” will be replaced in the PANZ service by Clarkson Shipping who have entered into a new joint arrangement with PCL (Shipping) Pte Ltd Singapore, part of the Pacific Carriers Ltd Group. PCL will deploy three sister vessels in the PANZ service: IVS Nightingale (built 2005); IVS Nightjar (built 2005) and; IVS Hunter (built 2001). Hence PANZ will be able to guarantee customers a regular scheduled monthly service.

The Timaru Star loading timber on her farewell voyage

All three new vessels are 32,000 DWT modern handy size loggers with 30 tonne cranes, box shaped holds, and a 14 knot service speed. The IVS Nightingale will commence the new service with effect mid March 2007. These vessels will be directly employed in the PANZ service until early 2009 when PCL intends to replace them with 4-5 36,000 DWT modern handy size loggers from their current new building programme. “These vessels will be suitably modified to meet the specific requirements to meet the growing needs of our regular customers, said PANZ Line Manager Gavin McIntyre.

Clarkson New Zealand will continue to manage the PANZ service and represent PCL in the Australian and New Zealand market.

Container volumes grow

Maersk Plymouth and Josephine Maersk working through the night at PrimePort Timaru

PrimePort Timaru's container volumes have steadily grown in the past 6 years and that trend looks set to continue on the back of strong economic performance in the region. “The agricultural sector in particular is underpinning this growth, and we are clearly seeing the benefits of diligent water management and irrigation development paying dividends for the community,” says Bruce McDougall, general manager - marketing.

Container volumes grow

Trevor Cloughley of Hilton Haulage
Transport delivers another reefer
container to PrimePort Timaru

Expansion at Fonterras Clandeboye site along with increases in production at the McCain and Talleys vegetable processing plants have been made possible through irrigation development and have contributed to increased volume for the port.

In 2000 PrimePort handled 10,000 containers through the North Mole Terminal, this year the port is on track to handle 7 times that number. It is this expansion in trade that has prompted planning to expand the North Mole Container wharf and the development already underway on the North Mole to create more container storage space.

North Mole development

Operations in full swing on the North Mole

Due to the increasing volumes of container traffic on the North Mole a new area of container storage has been developed over the past 12 months. This has involved the relocation of the SGS grain handling facilities off the North Mole to the existing port silos and bulk handling facility adjacent to number 2 wharf.

The new site on the North mole has been completely leveled and filled with a hard shingle base to give 7500m2 of additional pad area, enough to store another 1000 containers. The area will remain unsealed for 12 months to allow compaction and consolidation before a hard surface seal is applied. “Once fully completed we will be able to reconfigure our entrance and gatehouse location,” says Terminal Manager Mark Babbington. This will give us the ability to place longer rakes of rail wagons on the terminal and will also create a better flow of trucks through the gate.

New depot complete

The development work of the Southbeach empty container depot adjacent to the PrimePort Dairy Store is now completed with the commissioning of a new workshop facility late last year. The Southbeach depot works in tandem with the depot operations on the North Mole Terminal with only quick turnaround short stay containers remaining on the North Mole and those requiring larger repair work moving to Southbeach.

The empty depot operations are run by Specialised Container services who receive the empty containers from importers via road and rail, or vessel discharge. All empty containers are subjected to structural survey and washing. Refrigerated containers are required to pass stringent tests to ensure safe transit of their next load, and refrigerated containers held in storage ashore are monitored to ensure temperature control is maintained at the appropriate level.

Container terminal facilities

The PrimePort Timaru North Mole Container Terminal features a range of modern equipment and systems to ensure the fastest and most efficient service delivery to customers including:

PrimePorts Liebherr cranes are
twinlift capable

• 10 hectares secure container storage
• Navis Sparcs container planning computer systems
• 725 reefer container power points
• 2 Leibherr LHM500 mobile harbour cranes
• 1 Leibherr LHM1200 mobile harbour crane
• 8 Omega heavy container handlers
• 3 Omega high lift container stackers
• 24/7 operations

Tasman Orient upgrade NZ services

The Tasman Voyager
on her maiden visit to PrimePort

Niche breakbulk and container operator Tasman Orient Line have further upgraded their New Zealand operations to provide a more efficient & seamless service to customers. From January onwards Tasman Orient Line will directly employ the sales and marketing team a function that was previously managed by Quadrant Pacific Agencies. QP will still manage a number of roles on behalf of TOL including bookings and other administrative functions. Tasman Orient Line National Sales Manager Kathy Guard explained, “it is important that the Line has a direct interface with it's customers to enable us to efficiently service their needs in the future.”

Tasman Orient has also embarked on a major tonnage upgrade programme over the last year on its North Asian service, the Tasman Voyager a sister ship to the Tasman Explorer joined the service in October. “These two vessels (30,396 dwt, 1350 teu and 19 knots) combined with the existing Tasman Independence and Tasman Resolution (23,853 dwt, 953 teu and 17.5 knots) now provides the North Asia service with significantly increased capacity and service speed to meet current and forward market demands,” said Tasman Orient Line Chief Executive Elizabeth Bentley.

Containers loading aboard
the Tasman Provider

PrimePort Timaru receives 4 calls per month by Tasman Orient Line effectively giving local shippers a weekly service. Timaru receives direct calls by the vessels operating on the North Asia and East Asia services, with connections to South East Asia via transshipment options.

The North Asia vessels service the Philippines, Northern China, Korea and Japan region including direct calls to the ports of Subic Bay, Shanghai, Qingdao, Busan, Yokohama and Osaka. While the East Asia vessels service Taiwan, Southern China, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore including port calls at Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Mawan, Ho Chi Minh, Sri Racha and Singapore

Maersk begin year with new service

The Cap Saray will soon be joined
by 3 new vessels on Hamburg Suds
Trident service

Following Maersk Lines review of their services and calling schedules both globally and here in New Zealand, PrimePort Timaru has maintained its weekly call by the Danish shipping company. Timaru now forms part of a new USA East Coast service utilising nine approx 2500 TEU vessels on a weekly string, which calls, Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, New Plymouth, Timaru, Port Chalmers, Balboa, Kingston, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Savannah, Balboa, Auckland.

Timaru cargo destined for Asian, European and other global ports is serviced via transshipment from the US East Coast vessels onto the Asia service at Port Chalmers. The Maersk Asia service, which hubs through Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia employs four, 4100 TEU vessels also on a weekly string, and calls at Auckland, Napier and Port Chalmers. Maersk New Zealand Managing Director Tony Gibson said, “we're pleased with the outcome in terms of the greater connectivity it gives all our ports, as well as the operational control exporters gain through transhipment occurring in New Zealand.

PrimePort Timaru Chief Executive Jeremy Boys explained that he was always confident Timaru would be among the 5 main ports selected to service Maersks key international schedules given the continued strong cargo growth occouring in the Central South Island and his ports reputation for efficient cargo transfer and vessel turnaround. “Our container volumes have built steadily in the past 6 years on the back of a vibrant local economy,” said Mr Boys.

The arrival of the vessel “Ariake” in early January signalled the beginning of the new service which calls weekly to Timaru every Sunday.

Portside Logistics service port community

Portside Logistics operate specialized forklifts for the loading of milk powder containers

Local warehousing and distribution company Portside Logistics, was formed in 2003 to coordinate logistical support services and facilities at PrimePort Timaru. “Our original focus was on looking after stores for Korean and Japanese fishing vessels operating out of PrimePort Timaru, along with the storage of meat and bonemeal for the local freezing works, plus holding seed potatoes pre-coolstorage, says stores manager Barry Flowers.

Portside Logistics then moved with the technology offered by bulk bin carriers servicing the port. Bulk shipments of palm kernel are stored and then dispatched to farming communities throughout Canterbury and North Otago, and fishmeal is blended for Independent Fisheries and Sanfords.

“Our strength is in the flexibility of our 14 staff, and in our accreditation which allows us to operate a seamless service,” says Mr Flowers. “We are licensed as a customs approved bond store, and as a MAF licensed dairy and food-grade facility, as well as being a licensed by-products store, and licensed transitional facility.

Portside Logistics have forklifts and labour available for general hire which is used extensively in the port area. They assist with the discharge of fishing vessels, and also receive and collate the stores ordered for the boats.

Portside is also the point at which all freight for the Chatham Islands is collected prior to each sailing of Black Robin Freighters vessel the “Rangitira”.

Some of the more recent and unusual projects that Portside Logistics have undertaken, include the importation, storage & distribution of over 50,000 wheely bins to South Canterbury homes as part of the Timaru District Councils new waste management scheme. Portside Logistics also managed the coordination of all the onshore supply base activities for Tap Oil’s recent exploration programme off the coast of Oamaru.

Day to day management of all Fonterras dry milk powder storage and handling at PrimePort remains one of Portsides key activities with more than 113,00 tonnes handled per season, this includes the packing of up to 80 containers per day ready for export.

Computer scanning assists routing and delivery of every item to its final destination and with 10 forklifts on site, inwards or outgoing stock movement is quick, thorough, and professional.

Portside Logistics also operate engineering warehousing and distribution facilities and through their satellite warehousing and distribution centre in Nelson, and their association with Hilton Haulage Transport, offer South Island distribution services without compare. Portside Logistics has a very simple motto: “Tell us your problem and we'll solve it for you!”

Barry Flowers & Steve Butler supervising container packing at the Southbeach Dairy Store

Portside appoint new General Manager

Due to recent business growth Portside Logistics has created a new position of General Manager. This role has been undertaken by Steve Butler who will be well known to many in the shipping industry in the South Island. Steve was formerly based in Christchurch as South Island Sales Manager for Quadrant Pacific Agencies, before heading to Fiji for 3 years as Manager of Pacific Agencies in Suva

Michael (Lizzard) Lang and Paul Johnston coordinating
the unloading of deepsea trawlers at PrimePort Timaru

Steve has relished the opportunity to move back to the South Island with his family and renew old acquaintances with the shippers in the region. Based in Timaru Steves new role involves coordinating warehousing, distribution and logistical support for import and export customers in the Timaru and wider South Island areas.

Earthrace visits PrimePort

In its bid to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat using only renewable fuels, New Zealand's revolutionary designed “Earthrace” encountered unexpected hostilities as they transited Colombian waters. Two unmarked boats approached Earthrace and demanded to be allowed aboard. After a short standoff two carbine shots were fired at Earthrace and the crew hove to, to ascertain the boarding party was indeed sailors from the Colombian Navy intent only upon ensuring neither drugs nor guns were being transported.

A welcome nothing like that awaited Earthrace during it's time at PrimePort Timaru last year. As part of its pre-global dash, Earthrace gave South Cantabrians a close-up view of its features before departing Auckland for the 18 month tour that will see it call at 60 cities worldwide.

Earthrace is the highest-profile powerboat in the world, as well as one of the greenest. It is a showcase of environmentally friendly technologies such as low-emission engines, non-toxic anti-foul and efficient hull design. It is also one of the coolest looking boats ever imagined.

The hull is constructed using carbon fiber and kevlar and is coated in a natural non-toxic anti-fouling wax. Two standard Cummins Mercruiser Diesel engines using only 100% biodiesel fuel power the boat.

The current world record is 75 days but Earthrace is on target to complete the challenge in less than 65 days.

PrimePort hosts Homeshow

The Timaru Herald's Home and Lifestyle Show held in the South Beach Dairy Store was, according to the advertising and marketing manager Kelvin Ayson, better than any previous show. “The store provided twice as much display space as we have previously enjoyed, and we were able to combine the Home and Lifestyle Show to include a Tourism Expo and Car Expo,” he says.

Busy trade stalls at the home show

With more than 20,000 members of the public attending this three-day premier event, Mr Ayson says the Beach Store has been proven to be the best event facility in the region. “Participants reported good business and seek to be involved in future events of this nature. We, along with the exhibitors, are particularly grateful for the support of PrimePort Timaru in making these facilities available.”

PrimePort sponsors business awards

Jeremy Boys presents the PrimePort
Timaru export award to Craig Mc’Issac
of Clough Agriculture

PrimePort Timaru continued its support of the South Canterbury Business Excellence Awards by again sponsoring the Export Sector Award, which this year was taken out by Washdyke machinery manufacturer Clough Agriculture. The business excellence awards are held every two years in recognition of the significant contribution that local businesses provide to the regions economy.

The awards ceremony was held at the Theatre Royal and featured 10 different award categories, which then contested the supreme business award. The section winners were:

The evening concluded with a light hearted but seriously contested celebrity debate. With the local team of Jim Hopkins (conceived in Waimate & born in Temuka); Jo Goodhew (MP for Aoraki) and Bruce McDougall (GM Marketing PrimePort Timaru) successfully defending the notion “That the South does the business,” against a team of “out of towners” from the North. The Northern team consisted of Lianne Dalziel (Minister of Commerce); Roger Wigglesworth (Ministry of Ecconomic Development) and Michael Barnett (NZ Chamber of Commerce) Chairman for the evening Richie Smith had little hesitation in awarding the debate to the local team much to the delight of the 650 strong parochial crowd who turned out for the event.

“The Locals”

Through rain, hail & snow...

Spare a thought for the PrimePort staff who awoke on Monday the 12th June to find a foot of snow at their doorsteps. The unexpected early winter snowfall blanketed Timau and South Canterbury with the heaviest dumping of snow seen in more than 60 years. Snow fell right to sea level and was an unusual sight coating the PrimePort wharves and the numerous fishing vessels that were berthed in the port.

There was only one larger vessel working in the port at the time, the “Golden Yuki” was berthed on number one extension discharging molasses. The snow presented no major disruptions to operations as the molasses is pumped ashore through a heated pipeline.

A number of staff were stranded in their homes and were unable to get to work, but those that did make it set about clearing snow from wharves and roadways so as to minimize disruption to normal services. PrimePort’s mobile genset was put into action ironically to supply power to reefer containers on the North Mole as much of the city was without power for a day. By Wednesday sufficient snow had been cleared off the North Mole to allow the normal working of the Nele Maersk on its scheduled weekly call.

The prize for the staff member who went without power for the longest went to Bruce McDougall, who spent 12 days cooking on his barbecue in the garage. Bruce’s comment was “harden up you lot, it's just like camping except its 30 degrees cooler!!!”

New faces

Kristy Swain

Kristy started at the Gatehouse as a temp in June 2006 and was made a permanent staff member in August. Kristy moved back to Timaru in March after living in Australia with her Fiancée Cameron for the last 16 months. Kristy enjoys relaxing when she's not at work, is learning how to be an avid gardener and she is kept busy with her 2 new kittens Zoe & Toby.

Christine Evans

Christine Started as a temp in May 2006 to cover the reception/admin role vacated by Joanne Wright who is now in the accounts receivable role, and took on the role permanently in June. Christine has come from an admin and banking background. When not at work Christine enjoys motorcycle touring with her husband Robin, and is a part-time cosmetic salesperson doing personal makeup for weddings and special occasions. She also enjoys having her family around and her son & daughter-in-law recently returned to Timaru from the UK.

Peter Brown

Peter well remembers the day he arrived in Timaru to take up his role as a pilot with the Marine team, as it was the 11th June 2006 the day before the big snow in South Canterbury. Peter and his family could well be forgiven that they were still back in Aberdeen, Scotland where he worked as a pilot. Peter started his career in 1980 as a navigation cadet for Common Brothers in Newcastle, he spent 14 years at sea before coming ashore to be a pilot at the Port of Blythe, also the River Humber and finally to Aberdeen. In his free time Peter is keen to participate in clay pigeon shooting, sailing and surprise, surprise snow skiing!

Thejs Pedersen

Thejs arrived at PrimePort in February 2007 to join the marine team as the 4th pilot. Thejs was based in Christchurch with Maritime New Zealand for the past year, and the previous 3 years he has spent working on super yachts based in the Mediterranean. Thejs started his career just over 20 years ago in the Merchant Marines. In his spare time he heads up to Kaipoi to relax at his holiday home and also enjoys scuba diving and tramping.

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