Guest Speaker Leonard Sampson CEO Port of Tauranga
Leonard was introduced by Jane stating that the Port of Tauranga is a high performing company and major driver of the local and national economy. Jane reiterated that we were fortunate to have Leonard as a guest speaker.
Leonard aimed to give us an update of the Port, where he had worked for eight years.
He introduced the senior personnel for a start.
The Port has a number of subsidiaries or associated businesses:
CODA business with Fonterra
Metroport
Prime Port Timaru
Inland ports in Auckland and Christchurch
The Port handles some 20 million tons of cargo, 32% of all NZ cargo, and 42% of shipping containers.
The total vessel numbers declined due to global supply congestion and no cruise ships. ( thank you Bay Sun for the Photo )
There had been a rise in container numbers.
Import volumes were up but trans-shipment volumes down.
Meat, dairy and kiwifruit were now containerized.
Logs down 3 million tons with the majority going to China. Outlook for forestry uncertain due to Chinese construction firms being unstable.
Forecast large growth in kiwifruit.
Dairy probably at peak, but change in commodity type products.
Big investment in infrastructure in Timaru Port which is 50% owned but container 100% operated, by Tauranga. It mainly handled dairy products.
An amazing 300,000 containers moved by rail between Tauranga and Auckland with 92 trains per week.
Challenges
The Port operates like a bus schedule, but currently only 40% meet their berth window, a global problem.
Crane productivity is the key metric and it is returning.
Big container vessels are on order so looking to the future we will need to plan for them.
Managing emissions is important. The bigger the ship the lower the emissions per container. Many ships are 10,000 TEU plus.
Water misting was helping suppression of dust.
More environmentally friendly grabs were being commissioned.
Currently capturing all fumigations at 90% within an increased buffer zone of 100 metres.
Looking at retrofitting a new water runoff treatment system.
Thanks
Brett offered the Club’s thanks and reaffirmed that the Port is a critical asset to the whole country,. He hoped for a return to a working supply chain.
Jane mentioned that the Port dividend offset BOPRC rates, and was this used to address environmental problems across the whole BOP Region, including harbour activities.
Volunteers wanted
Many organisations struggling for volunteers, Foodbank or Good Neighbour. Please contact them directly.
Farewell from Tauranga
Former member Lloyd Davies is retiring to Paeroa. There he will be more centrally located for family. Lloyd always had a heart for his community and those in need.
Sergeant Dan
Stand-up comedian Dan began by saying he had just finished another sentence, this time isolation. He also mentioned that waxing and tanning salons are currently closed.
Dan avoided touching his face by having a wine in each hand.
He observed that people used to cough to cover a fart but now it’s the other way round.
To solve a shortage he suggested using lettuce instead of toilet paper but felt it was just the tip of iceberg.
Dan’s wife picked their holiday spot by where a dart she threw landed on map. So they’re spending two weeks behind the fridge.