Ports of Auckland has started the second round of consultation with staff and unions on a proposal to use partial automation at its container terminal.
Should the project eventually proceed after the consultation finishes, around 50 stevedoring roles would go, but it would take around three years to implement.
In that time, Ports of Auckland says it would be able to manage the reduction in those 50 positions through it’s normal staff turnover and retirement.
The partial automation plan would involve the use of robotic straddle carriers loading and unloading trucks and move containers around the terminal.
However, Ports of Auckland wants to continue manual straddle carrier operation between the terminal and the wharf cranes.
Since announcing the proposal in August 2015, Ports of Auckland has been consulting with staff and unions and carrying out a scoping study.
The consultation and research have provided more detail on how the proposal could work, especially in the regard to safety.
Ports of Auckland has now shared that detail with staff and unions and is seeking feedback.
The second round of consultation is expected to take five weeks, after which it will be making a decision on whether or not to proceed.
