Tuesday 13 May 2008

Port puts out the welcome mat

Ports of Auckland is inviting its Auckland neighbours to come over and get to know their Port better when the ‘gates open’ for nine days of tours (from Saturday 24 May to Sunday 1 June 2008). The weekend-to-weekend event includes FREE bus and boat tours of the seaport every day, heritage boat tours and guided Red Fence Heritage Walks, public ‘Dancing Tug’ displays off the end of Princes Wharf and static displays at Captain Cook Gate.

Ports of Auckland Managing Director Jens Madsen said: “SeePort Week is a huge community event for the port company and it is something that we are very committed to. It gives our neighbours and others in the community the rare opportunity to see, first-hand, the exciting, bustling place that is the Auckland port.

“The first SeePort Week in 2007 was a huge success with many thousands of people taking advantage of the variety of tours available, so I am really pleased that we have been able to extend the timetable and add even more tours to this year’s event,” he says.

“As a special bonus we’ve also arranged for our tugs to put on their popular ‘Dancing Tug’ displays for the public at the end of Princes Wharf,” adds Mr Madsen. The variety of tours offered every day of SeePort Week take in highlights including:

-Eight cranes, towering more than 100 metres high and capable of lifting two containers at a time

-The country’s largest fleet of eco-friendly straddle carriers - the 3-story-high, yellow machines that are driven sideways moving containers around the port

-Two 5,000 horsepower tugs, or ‘bulldozers on water’, that help guide ships in and out of port

-Huge ships, some the length of three rugby fields and capable of carrying over 4,000 containers

-The Category A, heritage protected Red Fence and other heritage points of interest including the last remaining rock from Britomart Point, where Auckland was founded in 1840

- The new 400-metre, multimillion dollar public waterfront walkway built by Ports of Auckland and gifted to Aucklanders in March this year Mr Madsen continues: “Ports of Auckland is an intrinsic part of the Auckland region. The Auckland Port gateway is where the region’s ‘supplies’ arrive from overseas and where many of our locally manufactured exports depart for overseas destinations.

“Myself and all those that work at Ports of Auckland are proud of what we do and that it benefits our community, the region and New Zealand. We are keen to show our neighbours and the local community just why the Auckland Port has been the country’s premier maritime gateway for 168 years.” Ports of Auckland invites the public to book a free tour by phoning 0800 AK PORT or visiting www.poal.co.nz for further information. Bookings are essential. Please note, that due to safety regulations and government security requirements, walking tours within the port proper are not available. Photo ID is required for bus tours for those 16 years and older.

ENDS

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