Our team is proud to have played an important role in the development of the new ferry terminal in central Auckland.

Nine modules for the terminal’s pontoon were built locally by Ruakaka-based SPIIND Industrial Engineers at its facility on Marsden Point Road. These were all put into the water at Northport and towed by tug to Auckland.

The heavy modules were lifted by our two mobile harbour cranes which, between them, can manage loads of 225 tonnes. We conducted six tandem lifts over an 18-month period.

The units were transported at night to our wharf on specialised heavy-haul transporters. We had to remove a segment of boundary fencing each time to let the loads enter.

They were then lifted from the trucks and lowered into the water by the cranes. Each operation was timed to coincide precisely with a morning slack tide.

SPIIND managing director Paul Hebberd said Northport’s ability to handle large loads with its two mobile harbour cranes was “a deal-maker”.

“Finding another suitable transportation option would not have been easy and would no doubt have added significant cost to the project,” he said.

When we speak of Northport’s ability to support economic and infrastructural growth in parts of Auckland, projects like the SPIIND lift are what we have in mind. We’re well suited to handle large cargo and our team can add significant value to any project planning process.

Early consultation and a collaborative approach are important so we can ensure that designers are aware of limitations around weight or width, avoiding the need for costly changes to design and even identifying where savings and efficiencies might be made.