MEDIA RELEASE
19 March 2009 - for immediate release

Ports of Auckland applies for consent to deepen berth

Ports of Auckland has lodged a resource consent application to deepen one of the ship berths at its Fergusson container terminal.

The move follows the completion in 2007 of a major project to deepen the Rangitoto shipping channel.

Auckland’s commercial shipping lane now offers wider tidal windows and can cater for the new generation of bigger container ships carrying up to 6,000 TEU.*

Managing Director Jens Madsen said Ports of Auckland was applying for the resource consent now so that it could move quickly to construct the berth when needed.

“One effect of the global recession may be that, as shipping lines consolidate their operations, larger vessels arrive in New Zealand sooner than anticipated,” Mr Madsen said.

Mr Madsen said the project was minor in scale compared to the already-completed channel deepening.

“This really is the icing on the cake,” Mr Madsen said.

Further information, including a copy of the Assessment of Environmental Effects, can be found on www.poal.co.nz.

ENDS