The Government says it is strengthening the resilience of New Zealand’s coastal shipping network through six investments aimed at improving supply chain reliability and ensuring essential goods can reach communities during disruptions.
Associate transport minister James Meager has confirmed $400,000 in funding for a national digital platform designed to improve supply chain coordination across ports, in partnership with PortConnect.
“Historically, the siloed nature of New Zealand’s port operations has resulted in limited ability to anticipate, respond and adapt to disruptive events. This funding will address the fragmented coordination of berthing windows and vessel visits,” Meager says.
“Recent weather events have reinforced the value of clear, shared information when under pressure. Our ports are an economic lifeline to the outside world. If we are to grow productivity, we need greater resilience to external impacts on the way we trade.”
The funding is the final allocation from the Government’s $30 million Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund.
Other projects supported through the fund include container-handling equipment in Gisborne to support rapid freight movement, modifications to the Rangitata coastal vessel to improve cargo-handling capability, and reconstruction work to return the Greymouth wharf to service.
The programme also includes training berths on domestic vessels to provide maritime students with sea time required to qualify as mariners, and the development of a cost-effective dredging capability in Northland to support smaller regional ports.
Meager says coastal shipping plays an important role in New Zealand’s freight network.
“Coastal shipping is a critical piece of our freight network, moving large and heavy cargo such as containers, cement and aggregate efficiently and safely. It is also a low-emissions mode of transport and has repeatedly proven its value following natural disasters,” he says.
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, coastal shipping was used to deliver essential supplies to Tairāwhiti when land transport routes were severely disrupted.
“These six investments build on that experience and help ensure we are better prepared for future events in practical, tangible ways,” Meager says.
