09 February 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release

Ports of Auckland hits new productivity targets

More than 200 staff at Ports of Auckland will receive performance bonuses this week after the Company hit key productivity targets in January.

“Lifting productivity is good not just for the Ports and our employees, but for all of New Zealand’s exporters and importers,” Managing Director Jens Madsen said.

“World class performance is just what the country needs in these difficult economic times.”

Mr Madsen praised his employees’ motivation and commitment to working smarter and faster.

Crane rates at the port have increased 6.5 percent since the staff bonus programme was introduced in May 2008. Staff hours per container have decreased 11.3 percent over the same period.

Employees are eligible for a cash payment based on a percentage of their earnings if monthly targets are met.

Mr Madsen credited a range of innovative changes to work practices at the Ports with the improvements, including the introduction of “dual cycling”, where ships are loaded and unloaded in the same cycle.

“Twin-lifting of containers, dual-direction straddle driving and better yard planning are also paying off,” he said.

The Ports’ engineering department has also succeeded in lifting plant availability above 96%.

Mr Madsen said he was confident there were more gains to be had.

“Not only are the current performance gains sustainable, we are busy rolling out a series of new initiatives including tighter export cargo procedures,” Mr Madsen said. “These new procedures will reduce the number of wasted container moves and increase peak wharf capacity, further improving productivity.”

Since he became Managing Director in late 2007 Mr Madsen has focused Ports of Auckland on lifting productivity to world class levels, introducing the bonus programme alongside leadership training and a major culture change and values programme.

ENDS