Port Nelson is set to have a busy apple export season, with shipping capacity up by a third. Chief Executive Hugh Morrison said four shipping lines that service Nelson had recently renewed their commitment, which was “great news for importers and exporters across Te Tauihu”.
“It means greater schedule confidence and more container capacity ahead of forecast strong seasonal exports, including for apples and wine,” Morrison said.
The port was set to have a capacity increase of approximately a third on late 2022 volumes.
This month, Pacifica’s weekly service moved from one tide to two tides, equating to 12 hours more each visit. “A vessel with one tide can only move around 400 containers,” Morrison explained. “If they stayed for two tides, that was effectively 800 containers that they could move on and off the vessel, meaning more capacity for exporters to load up these vessels and get product out.”
Source: stuff.co.nz