MAERSK's 8,500-TEU Rio de Janeiro's docking was a successful test run for similar big ships to calling at New Zealand's South Island Port of Timaru, 100 miles south of Christchurch, reported the Timaru Herald.
This came after a NZ$2.5 million (US$1.6 million) project to widen the port's inner breakwater entrance from 90 to 140 metres. This involved removing a rock wall and dredging an approach to the harbour in 2019.
'Maersk has been very consistent since the Timaru container terminal started operations in 2014 and will be calling in at Timaru again,' said PrimePort CEO Phil Melhopt.
'They have recently announced their Southern Star Rio Class will form part of their service into Timaru. They're going to call here going forward.
'It's a very large vessel but for us it demonstrates our capability and for Maersk I'm sure they're happy we are able to accommodate them,' said Mr Melhopt.
Said Maersk Oceania manager Greg Paradine: 'We are pleased to confirm that after a successful trial call with a Rio-class vessel in late May, Maersk will be adding Timaru as a permanent weekly port call to our Southern Star service.'
The service caters for South East Asia, Africa and Europe volume, and the Timaru port call will be added to the weekly schedule starting with the Rio de Janeiro calling Timaru on July 7.
Mr Paradine said Maersk's OC1/USA service, catering for Americas, North Asia and Trans-Tasman volume, had resumed its weekly port call into Timaru.
'This follows a six-month period of fortnightly calls. This change took effect with the Olga Maersk [3.028 TEU] port call on 20 June,' he said.
Meanwhile, Malteurop NZ, New Zealand's largest malting company, and Coastal Bulk Shipping announced the signing of a long term partnership to move barley by sea between Timaru and Whanganui, on the North Island, 100 miles north of Wellington.
Malteurop's New Zealand operations manager Glen Simmonds said Coastal Bulk Shipping has been able to show the reduced carbon footprint of moving their cargo by sea.
'They are also working with transport company Philip Wareing Ltd from Methven who, with the confidence of the partnership, have built grain silos in Washdyke near the Timaru port,' he said.
'This allows the grain to be moved to suit trucking loads, minimising empty running,' said Malteurop manager Glen Simmonds.
WORLD SHIPPING
This came after a NZ$2.5 million (US$1.6 million) project to widen the port's inner breakwater entrance from 90 to 140 metres. This involved removing a rock wall and dredging an approach to the harbour in 2019.
'Maersk has been very consistent since the Timaru container terminal started operations in 2014 and will be calling in at Timaru again,' said PrimePort CEO Phil Melhopt.
'They have recently announced their Southern Star Rio Class will form part of their service into Timaru. They're going to call here going forward.
'It's a very large vessel but for us it demonstrates our capability and for Maersk I'm sure they're happy we are able to accommodate them,' said Mr Melhopt.
Said Maersk Oceania manager Greg Paradine: 'We are pleased to confirm that after a successful trial call with a Rio-class vessel in late May, Maersk will be adding Timaru as a permanent weekly port call to our Southern Star service.'
The service caters for South East Asia, Africa and Europe volume, and the Timaru port call will be added to the weekly schedule starting with the Rio de Janeiro calling Timaru on July 7.
Mr Paradine said Maersk's OC1/USA service, catering for Americas, North Asia and Trans-Tasman volume, had resumed its weekly port call into Timaru.
'This follows a six-month period of fortnightly calls. This change took effect with the Olga Maersk [3.028 TEU] port call on 20 June,' he said.
Meanwhile, Malteurop NZ, New Zealand's largest malting company, and Coastal Bulk Shipping announced the signing of a long term partnership to move barley by sea between Timaru and Whanganui, on the North Island, 100 miles north of Wellington.
Malteurop's New Zealand operations manager Glen Simmonds said Coastal Bulk Shipping has been able to show the reduced carbon footprint of moving their cargo by sea.
'They are also working with transport company Philip Wareing Ltd from Methven who, with the confidence of the partnership, have built grain silos in Washdyke near the Timaru port,' he said.
'This allows the grain to be moved to suit trucking loads, minimising empty running,' said Malteurop manager Glen Simmonds.
WORLD SHIPPING