Port Nelson Annual Report 2007 (pdf)

C H I E F E X E C U T I V E ’ S R E P O R T
6
C A R G O
Volumes through Port Nelson for the year
were the highest on record with logs,
motor vehicles, wine and dairy products
being particularly strong performers.
Total throughput for the 12 month period
was 2,644,000 tonnes, some 89,000
tonnes ahead of budget and around 122,000 tonnes up on the
previous year.
Log exports for the year were 22,000 tonnes ahead of budget at
636,000 tonnes and reflected the strong overseas demand for wood
throughout the majority of the financial year. Imported motor
vehicles (new and used) totalled 167,000 revenue tonnes as against
a budget of 136,000 tonnes and dairy (21,000 tonnes) and wine
(30,000 tonnes) also showed healthy increases on the figures twelve
months earlier.
Processed forestry exports were some 60,000 tonnes below budget,
with fruit exports and fertiliser and cement imports also being slightly
lower than had been anticipated.
Container numbers significantly increased once again with 71,815
TEU handled during that period as against 61,455 TEU twelve
months earlier.
This increase was on the back of a number of factors including the
following:
• Greater volumes of sawn timber being shipped in containers rather
than in break bulk form, particularly to the Asian region
• Increased wine and dairy exports through the port
• A further increase in LVL and MDF products being loaded into
containers.
S H I P P I N G
Vessel arrivals were marginally lower with 1,001 vessels calling during
the year as against 1,012 the previous year.
In late December the fortnightly Tasman Orient Line (TOL) service
ceased calling on the back of the traditional cargo base for this
service moving principally to containers and around the same time
the monthly Indotrans break bulk service to the US also ceased. In
mid June the regular Maersk relay service to Asia also ceased as part
of a nationwide review of their feedering service where they chose
to commence utilising transhipment operations with existing coastal
operators.
S T O R A G E / R E C E I V A L A N D D E L I V E R Y /
Q U A Y P A C K
The purchase of land previously leased by a third party on the western
side of Hay St in the second half of 2006 enabled us to secure extra
land for the storage of containers, which was urgently needed given
the significant growth in container traffic. Space was particularly
at a premium during the 2007 fruit export season and the efficient
operation of the Container Yard and Receiving and Delivery (R & D)
systems was a credit to all the staff involved in the cargo logistics
division of the business.
Our Quaypack division continues to go from strength to strength with
its packing and unpacking operations. The growth of wood products
moving into containers has certainly seen added demand for their
services.
In late 2006 our Cargo Team moved into the ‘One Gate’ facility on
Carkeek Street. The completion of this project on time and under
budget was a credit to all involved. The benefits of having all cargo
staff in one area have been everything we had hoped for and have
certainly assisted us during the busy peaks we experience from March
through to June.
S T E V E D O R I N G
In late 2006 a review was undertaken of our Stevedoring division,
Tasman Bay Stevedoring (TBS) to ascertain how we could improve the
performance of what has been for some time a marginal business. It is
fair to say that all stevedoring companies in Nelson have a reputation
for high levels of service and efficiency of operation but historically this
service has not attracted the returns available for similar operations in
other New Zealand ports. TBS has since worked through various issues
to achieve mutual benefits, where our major customers know they
have longevity of service and at the same time TBS is assured of the
return that makes it worthwhile staying in this line of work. A huge
amount of credit must go to Chris Shand, Digby Kynaston and the TBS
team who have worked so hard in meeting the targets laid down for
them, and I also express my sincere thanks for the efforts of our Chief
Commercial Officer, Parke Pittar, in driving this review process.
E N V I R O N M E N T A L I S S U E S
The Noise variation to the Nelson City Council Resource Management
Plan was notified in early June this year and we expect to commence
noise mitigation work on the affected properties in the coming
months. While no solution will ever meet with universal support we