One of New Zealand’s regional ports is celebrating record cargo volumes.
Napier Port’s results for the 2017 financial year show 4.7 million tonnes of freight crossed the port’s wharves which is up from 3.9 million tonnes in 2016.
Container volumes grew 12% to a record 288,444, resulting in a record $16.7 million net profit.
Log exports also hit a new high with 1.6 million tonnes exported through the region resulting in a 35% increase on last year’s record.
Port chief executive Garth Cowie says it’s been an “historic year” and the growth was unexpected.
“We faced a major challenge in the wake of the Kaikoura earthquake, and I’m proud of the way our people stepped up.
“Essentially, we saw six years’ forecast growth in one year.
“Absorbing that level of unexpected growth without compromising safety or service is a big task, but our people took it in their stride. It’s a real testament to the calibre of our people and our culture,” he says.
A boost in tourism was another annual highlight for the port which welcomed a record 125,000 cruise ship passengers and saw its largest vessel – the 348-metre Ovation of the Seas.
This brought around $20 million into the local economy.
“We’ve had a fantastic cruise season, and the Ovation’s call was undoubtedly the highlight. It really showed what we’re capable of achieving, and it was great to have such strong support from our tourism partners and our local community,” Cowie says.
The port’s onsite packing facility, Port Pack, also continued to grow with 48,310 containers handled over the year.
The financial results were up 46% on 2016 and delivered $10.7 million in dividends to its sole shareholder, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company.
It also invested $18.7 million in capital projects and equipment, including land holdings in Pandora and Whakatu and specialist studies to support its application for resource consent to build a new wharf.
The resource consent application for its proposed berth development and dredging project was submitted to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on December 11.
“Hawke’s Bay’s economy is in growth mode, and we’re forecast to see cargo volumes nearly double over the next decade, while ship size is also forecast to grow.
“Having a sixth wharf in place will strengthen our connection to global markets and ensure Hawke’s Bay can continue to thrive and maintain its enduring relevance,” Cowie says.
Napier Port is the Central North Island’s leading international port which sees the operation of 14 international container lines and employs 255 staff.
