Welcome to our first regular news update on Northport events, happenings and news worthy progress at Northport. This has been in the pipeline for a while now but we have waited for the transfer of our web site to a new "platform" (IT sorta stuff - don't go there), as being the ideal means of getting it out regularly and directly to interested parties of the port. So please read on and we look forward to any feedback and / or ideas, areas of interest you may have for items in the future.

Third berth completed and in demand

Mid to late 2007 (depending on the engineers or operations people's perspective of finished) saw the completion and commissioning of the third berth at Northport. With the closing of the Port Whangarei operation in mid-April we had immediate requests to use the third berth prior to "the actual commissioning" but were able to manage our way through this till power and lights were available on the new berth.

We are now getting regular occurrences of three ships at the berth, which was the driving force for building the berth. While occupancy is still relatively low, Murphy's Law with shipping is even when there are few ships around each month they all turn up together, we have had a number of full berth occasions already. With Hancock Forest Managements RFP for pulp grade logs for the next five years that went out last year likely to see chip exports increase, log volumes on a gradual increase over the last three years, and CHH WoodProducts purchase of TDC Sawmills in Whangarei and the subsequent $30 million investment, we are expecting ship numbers to gradually increase and therefore berth occupancy to go up as well.

A recent photo of a full berth at the port.

Container Handling Capacity

Northport has kept in touch with regular shipping lines to the port over the last 2-3 years regarding the need for container handling capacity at the port. With the huge increase in freight rates in the last couple of years for bulk carriers, containers have become a cost effective alternative for many bulk cargos like sawn timber, veneer, scrap metal and even logs. Late last year Northport invested in an Omega 20-40 top-lift container forklift, ex-Port of Napier, and has been pleasantly surprised in the early demand for its use.

Omega 20-40 top-lift container forklift now part of the Northport stable

Personnel Changes

Late 2007 saw some personnel changes at Northport. Terry Knight a long time Northland Harbour Board, Northland Port Corporation and for the last six years Northport employee decided it was time, after 37 years, to kick back a little and spend more time at home at Whangarei Heads (depleting the local fish stocks as well I'm sure). We wish Terry all the best in his new endeavours and I'm sure he keeps an eye on the port each day from McLeod's Bay across the harbour.

Terry's replacement, as Operations Supervisor Cargo, is Wayne Anderson an ex-local lad who used to work for Northland Stevedoring Services and then followed the exodus to Auckland when NSS's operations got quite in recent years. Wayne has been working for Wallace Investments as a stevedore at Ports of Auckland, but decided the opportunity to move back North to the new port was too good an opportunity to miss. We welcome Wayne and family back to the north and as an integral member of the Northport operations team.

                                              Terry Knight

NorthTugz new baby

NorthTugz the Joint Venture company that runs the towing and pilotage operations on Whangarei Harbour is due to receive its new tug, that will replace the old Takahiwai, in early March with a handover ceremony on the 4^th of March. Below is a photo of the new tug the "Bream Bay" taken recently in Vietnam during sea trials. The Bream Bay is a Damen model ASD 2411, has a length of 24.47 metres, speed of 12.5 knots, beam of 11.33 metres and has a bollard pull of 68 tonnes. We hope to have a live link on the Northport web site from one of the port security cameras to show the hand over ceremony and the new tug "going through its paces" on the harbour - watch this space.