Primeport Timaru Leads the World With New Container Cranes

The commissioning of two brand new mobile harbour cranes at PrimePort Timaru has elevated the Central South Island Port to world class status.

The new cranes were officially launched by Timaru Mayor Wynne Raymond at an opening function held to mark the completion of the $23 million upgrade of the Port.

PrimePort Timaru's new cranes busy
loading containers on the Nora Maersk

The LHM 500 cranes are the most technologically advanced of a new generation of mobile harbour cranes being produced by German manufacturer Liebherr.

PrimePort Timaru is the first Port Company in the world to purchase and install two of these state of the art machines into its cargo handling fleet.

"The upgrading to the new cranes will enable us to increase productivity in our container handling operations and achieve faster ship turnaround times and continually improve our level of customer service" said PrimePort Timaru Chief Executive, Jeremy Boys. "The new cranes are capable of lifting two standard twenty foot containers at once with a maximum reach of 16 rows wide and six high on the larger container vessels currently visiting New Zealand waters" said Mr Boys. The new cranes were shipped to Timaru prior to Christmas in large parts and have been meticulously assembled by the PrimePort staff under the guidance of two Liebherr engineers in a process resembling the building of a giant lego set.

Late February saw the new machines pressed into frontline duty for the first time when they serviced the Nora Maersk on her weekly call to Timaru. Since then a period of trialing and staff training has been undertaken on the new machines, "they are living up to all our performance expectations," explained PrimePort Timaru Operations Manager, Keith Michel.

Late last year PrimePort Timaru set a New Zealand and possibly a world record of an average 47 container movements per hour over a full ship visit, which they improved again in January to 49 per hour using the Port's two existing Liebherr cranes.

"We are targeting rates of over 50 per hour in good conditions once our operators are fully conversant with the new machines" said Mr Michel.

"Twinlift" PrimePort Timaru's new
Liebherr cranes are capable of lifting
two 20' containers at once.

Weighing in at a massive 455 tonnes each with a total of 24 sets of axles and a capacity to lift 42 tonnes at maximum reach of 51 metres is an impressive sight. "Despite their size they are very mobile and are able to move up and down the length of the wharf depending upon where the ships are berthed," said Mr Michel

The purchase of the new cranes is part of a spectacular $23 million development programme nearing completion at the Port. "This expansion is in response to increasing volumes of trade occurring in the South Island being driven by a buoyant regional economy and strong growth in the export sector", said Mr Boys.
"The agricultural industries in the South Island are contributing significantly to this growth with dairy products, meat and vegetables making up a large proportion of PrimePort's containerised cargoes. These growing volumes of cargo have enabled us to secure the regular services of two shipping lines to Timaru".
Tasman Orient Line are a specialist breakbulk and container carrier to the Asian region and Maersk Sealand, the world's largest container line have chosen Timaru as their primary South Island Port.

"We are expecting to handle close to 40,000 TEU (twenty foot container equivalents) this financial year which is almost double last years volume," said Mr Boys.

The strong economic conditions prevailing in the South Island regions are having a positive spin off in regional centres like Timaru with near full employment and business confidence high among local communities.

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Tasman Orient Line Upgrades Services to Asia

Tasman Orient Line has recently - introduced a further expansion and enhancement of its liner services between New Zealand and Asia.

PrimePort Timaru now becomes the single South Island hub port for the North Asia service, this will create improvements in overall schedule integrity including reducing the transit time from Asia to Timaru. The Yokohama to Timaru transit time has been reduced from 23 to 19 days.

The new North Asian service will also include a monthly visit at Dalian in Northern China. With the improved schedule integrity comes the ability to align the Timaru North Asian service with Tasman Orient Lines other two services to East Asia and South East Asia by relay through Tauranga. Effectively what this means for Timaru exporters is that the North Asian vessels calling at Timaru will collect cargo destined for East Asian or South East Asian destinations and will transfer the cargo to the East Asian and South East Asian vessels when all three services call at Tauranga prior to departing for their respective Asian destinations.

The Tasman Mariner heading for PrimePort
Timaru on the upgraded North Asian Service

Tasman Orient Line have replaced two of their current ships in the East Asia Service with faster and newer vessels, and an additional ship has been introduced to the South East Asia Service. The result is a major improvement of the schedule and port coverage framework.

In line with Tasman Orient's multi- purpose shipping concept, all vessels continue to offer quality shipping space and adequate handling gear for the safe carriage of breakbulk and container cargoes, including an adequate number of plugs for reefer cargoes. In addition the Line is upgrading its reefer container fleet by phasing in new equipment featuring the latest refrigeration technology.

"Clearly, the upgrade is a reflection of the great support we have received from our customers over the past year" said Vivek Rao General Manager of Operations, "this support has encouraged us to embark on this further development."

"At Tasman Orient, we continuously strive to adjust and enhance our services to match the changing requirements of the export and import markets. The initiatives we have taken will dramatically improve the service product we are offering our customers," said Mr Rao.

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$23 Million Port Development Completed

The commissioning of PrimePort Timaru's new Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes signals the completion of a two year and $23 million upgrade of facilities at the Port. PrimePort Timaru now has plant and facilities which are of world class standard and can offer the premium container service of any regional Port in New Zealand.

A large proportion of the development programme has focused on improving the standard of facilities available at the North Mole container terminal.

The container terminal upgrade is in response to the increased frequency of shipping visits to Timaru being driven by a buoyant rural economy and the realisation of Timaru's prime location in the centre of the South Island as a "one stop shop" for shipping lines. Last financial year PrimePort Timaru handled 23,500 20 foot container equivalents (TEU's). This years figure is expected to reach 40,000 TEU's.

In summary PrimePort Timaru has invested in the following new facilities at the Port:

Facilities upgraded

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Recent Primeport Shipping

PrimePort Timaru's Tug "Te Maru" leads the Nora Maersk into Port on her weekly Timaru call	The Mermaid Express heads for open sea after discharging a load of fuel at PrimePort Timaru.
The self discharging vessel "Ikuna" unloading fertilizer at No.1 Wharf	One of the three straddle carriers recently discharged off the Tasman Endeavour

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PrimePort Annual Golf Tournament

The PrimePortAnnual GolfTournament held on Sunday 2nd March 2003 at Gleniti Golf Course was enjoyed by approximately 65 golfers and non golfers in superb weather conditions. PrimePort would like to acknowledge the generosity of the following sponsors ensuring the success of this annual event:

Congratulations to winners:

Geoff Wilson, PrimePort Senior Nett
Robbie O'Neill, PrimePort Junior Nett
Neville Twaddell, D C Turnbull, Senior Stableford
John Cannell, PrimePort, Junior Stableford
Peter Hunter, PrimePort, Non-golfer
Brian Tonks, PrimePort, Best Gross

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Launch of Primeport's New Cranes

The PrimePort Timaru operations staff admire one of their new Liebherr Cranes	PrimePort Chairman Alistair Betts, Leibherr Cranes Asian Pacific General Manager Armin Spenninger and PrimePort Timaru Chief Executive Jeremy Boys celebrate the commissioning of the new cranes
Invited guests at the crane launch are treated to a container handling display	PrimePort Crane Supervisor Tony Hancock puts the new LHM500 through its paces
PrimePorts new cranes during assembly on the North Mole wharf

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Primeport Timaru Servicing the South Island Fishing Industry

PrimePort Timaru has firmly established itself as New Zealand's second largest fishing Port and the base for the central and southern South Island fishing fleet. PrimePort caters for both the deep water factory vessels as well as the inshore fishing fleet. The extensive range of services available at PrimePort Timaru ensure that the entire needs of the fishing fleet are catered for in a single port call. Location and easy access to a large capacity of cold storage on the port is a real plus for fishing vessels visiting Timaru. Specialist fishing coolstore San Won Ltd, along with Polarcold and Coolpak can offer up to 100,000 tonnes of cold storage at PrimePort Timaru.

Fishing supplies company KTC Marine Services provides a full range of commercial fishing equipment in stock and should vessels require engineering or maintenance work while in port, Wallace and Cooper and Parr and Co marine engineering firms are located within the port ensuring that repairs can be carried out swiftly and efficiently.

Talleys Expand Timaru Site

Talleys Fisheries have recently expanded their cool storage facilities at PrimePort Timaru. "The increased capacity in cold storage within close proximity to the container wharf is seen as a huge advantage" says General Manager, Stephen Tarrant. "With approximately 95% of our product, landed locally from the inshore vessels, our ability to maximize returns is greater now we have extended the cold storage facility". The 800 tonne storage premises will now enable more product to be shipped through the port. With further expansion planned in the future, Talleys see their location on the port as an integral component in meeting their customer needs efficiently.

New Branch Manager for Sanford Timaru Ltd

Brent Keelty the new Branch Manager of shore based activities at Sanford Ltd is enjoying his move south. Brent and his wife and family of three children moved from Tauranga five months ago and have settled into life in Timaru. He is impressed with the friendliness of the people, and the safe and healthy environment for children. Brent says "that the climate is also a pleasant surprise!"

Timaru is the largest Sanfords operation in New Zealand. The proximity to fishing grounds, location and accessibility to the container terminal are key factors for basing the Sanford Deep Water Fleet in Timaru. Five deep sea vessels fish into the port along with three ice vessels. Approximately 95% of Sanfords production is for the export market. With the closure of the Sanford Plant in Nelson, more production is being carried out in Timaru. The location of the San Won joint venture cold store adjacent to the ocean trawler berths in Timaru reduces time and handling of product from the deep water vessels. This has enhanced PrimePort Timaru's reputation for servicing the fishing industry.

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New Pet Food Plant Producing Value Added Products at Primeport

Oceania Meat Processors is a new business located at PrimePort Timaru producing mechanically de-boned meat for the pet food industry. "We take a low value by-product in the form of crushed bones from the meat industry and through our mechanical deboning process are able to separate the meat from the bone and produce a high value 100% natural end product" says General Manager of Oceania Meat Processors, Peter Cowan. Being close to export-licenced major meat plants provides us with fresh, daily deliveries of raw material. Our processing plant is technologically advanced being computer controlled so each process point is regulated to ensure a labour efficient, premium product.

The highly automated system operates with only three staff controlling the entire processing, freezing and packing operation which is capable of processing high yields at a high capacity. Oceania Meat Processors can proudly state that their product is 100% natural premium New Zealand meat. In comparison overseas pet food producers have fewer regulations, allowing for a much lower grade raw material being used for the production of petfood.

Being in its infancy the company is poised to take every advantage of the lucrative top end of the export market particularly in the United States and Asia. Development of finished products are well under way along with a unique industry new "Liquid Meat Technology". This will allow scope to pet food companies to reformulate existing products as well as develop innovative new recipes and specialty nutritional lines. "Our location at PrimePort ensures us with prompt logistical support to export our product to our overseas markets" Peter says.

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Serl Born & Bred In Timaru

Locally owned and operated fishing company South East Resources (2001) Ltd land 18,000 tonnes of processed fish annually in Timaru. General Manager, Murray Williamson says their three deep sea vessels the Sur Este 700, 707 and 709 each make 13 port entries per year, with each vessel spending up to 4 weeks at sea before unloading their processed catch over the wharf. South East Resources operate a time charter with crewed vessels from Korea. South East Resources are currently fishing for squid off the South Islands east coast but also fish for the traditional species such as Hoki, Barracouta, Ling and Hake. The bulk of their catch is destined for export, with a small proportion sold on the local market. Murray said the company is looking positively to the future operating out of PrimePort Timaru, "with the availability of extensive cold storage and the range of services available to the fishing industry in Timaru, this is a good place to do business."

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Primeport Timaru Staff Profiles

The Receival and Delivery Team on the North Mole Container Terminal

Pictured above some of the team of heavy
forklift operators (L-R): Alan Cranston,
Mark Reardon, John Herd, Trevor Davis,
Roy Hislock, Josh Myer, Gordon Beeby
absent Ned Kelly, Kevin Lyons

Working at the forefront of the North Mole container terminal operations are the Receivals and Delivery team who ensure the smooth flow of container traffic through the Port to and from the import and export customers via road and rail transport.

The PrimePort R & D operators are highly skilled, and require heavy wheels and rollers licences to operate the 100 tonne container handlers. The 3 PrimePort Omega 54D series dedicated container handlers can stack 5 containers high up to 40 tonne per lift and are the largest in New Zealand. Working from a nucleus of 6 permanent staff and supplemented with part-time employees these operators all undergo training through the PrimePort Training Programme. They work a normal 8 hour shift however at peak times cross cover other shifts working up to 11 hours to ensure PrimePort customers receive the turn around and service desired.

New Faces

Mark Babbington has been appointed as Terminal Supervisor. Mark's key role is to co-ordinate the container activities on the North Mole. He will have responsibility for the Gatehouse, Planning and Forklift Operations, and is the our link with Specialised Container Services and Tranz Rail.

Alison Radford has taken up the role of personal assistant to the executive management. Alison was Personal Assistant to the Clinical Directors and senior staff at Timaru Hospital, which followed 6 years as Personal Assistant at Deep Cove Fisheries.

Derek Cooper has been appointed as the new Assistant Accountant. This role is to provide support to the office and manage day to day accounting activities. Derek has a young family and he has just moved into the area from Alexandra.

David Jones has been appointed as Stevedoring Supervisor. This is a similar role to Alistair Cresswell and provides increased resource to this critical area. David comes from a shipping and stevedoring background. He has a Class 1 Deck Officer Certificate and has had previous roles as a Stevedore Supervisor.

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