Update: NZ Ports Strike

by Lloyd's List - last modified Mar 22, 2012 11:54 AM

Pressure on supply chains is being felt in New Zealand as the port of Tauranga restricted operations owing to extra traffic seeking to avoid the Ports of Auckland strike.

Tauranga said it could not accept any more vessels from shipping lines wanting to sidestep the strike-torn port of Auckland.

The port coped with a record 20,200 container movements last week compared with a normal throughput of 11,000-13,000 containers.

The rail network transporting goods from Tauranga to Auckland will be reduced from six to five transits a day to stop trucks building up while queueing to collect supplies from MetroPort.

As it enters a fourth week of industrial action, the Port of Auckland can only manage a small number of imported containers, which are being handled by around 50 non-union workers.

The situation is also starting to hurt exports as the movement of empty containers is being restricted as well.

The Importers’ Institute has spoken out in favour of the Ports of Auckland’s decision to outsource stevedoring services. However, it added that the strikes were having a considerable impact on supply chains and the ultimate cost was being felt by the consumer.

On the issue of making 292 union members redundant, the association said: “Some of them will get jobs with the new contractors, others will move their heavy machinery driving skills to Australian mines and a few will have lots of time to reflect on the consequences of mindless militancy.”

Dismissals were put on hold last week in lieu of a judicial settlement conference which took place yesterday.

Back to News