Aotea Maersk, the largest container ship to ever visit New Zealand waters, was officially welcomed to the Port of Tauranga on Tuesday.
Presiding at the event, transport minister Simon Bridges said the event marked a new era in ocean freight as the Aotea Maersk (Aotea name of one of the Māori migration canoes) can carry almost twice as much cargo as any other container ship that have previously docked in New Zealand, providing exporters with the benefits of improved efficiency and lower emissions per container.
The ship is 347 metres in length – longer than three rugby fields end-on-end – and is able to carry 9,640teu.
“Such large ships are a potential game changer for New Zealand businesses looking to export, allowing us to compete with countries that have big ships on their main trade routes,” said Bridges.
He pointed out that the ship will serve a new line between China, New Zealand and Chile, opening up new economic opportunities in Latin America, as well as offering a fast weekly direct service to important markets including China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
He added that the government’s Roads of National Significance programme is strengthening the key strategic routes that will be used to transport freight to and from ports handling these container ships.
“We also continue to invest heavily in the rail network with over $4.2 billion spent in rail since coming into government,” said Bridges.
He elaborated that this foresight means New Zealand’s land transport network, including the ‘golden triangle’ between Tauranga, Waikato and Auckland, will be able to more effectively and safely manage the freight these massive ships will carry.
“Using larger, more efficient ships and reducing the number of vessels needed to shift freight is not only good business, it is good for the environment,” said Bridges.
“The lower emissions per container generated by these vessels allow New Zealand exports to gain a relative carbon efficiency compared to products from other competing markets.”
Maersk Line Oceania managing director Gerard Morrison said the company is able to bring in the larger ships as it becomes the first container line to successfully tie New Zealand to its global mainline networks.
“The arrival of the Aotea Maersk marks a step change towards creating a network that is more fuel-efficient on a per-container basis whilst also significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the ocean freight component of the supply chain,” he said.
He added that the ship, one of 11 vessels in the service rotation, will be capable of holding more than double the number of containers of ships that currently dock in New Zealand.
Kotahi chief executive David Ross said the arrival was a great step in the right direction to ensure New Zealand achieves a secure, sustainable export supply chain.
“Seeing this vessel arrive puts into perspective what can be achieved by working in collaboration with logistics and infrastructure partners, exporters, importers and the wider industry. It recognises Maersk Line’s commitment to the New Zealand market,” he said.
Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns said he was pleased to see the port’s recently completed $350 million infrastructure upgrade being utilised so promptly.
