Craig Usher, Commercial Manager of Port Otago was our guest speaker last Thursday. Though his talk and informative power-point presentation, Craig provided us with an insight into the extent of operations and the future direction that this vital link to the outside world provides Otago and beyond.
Craig began by explaining that Port Otago consists of 4 different divisions. The property division which has interests in Auckland, Hamilton and Dunedin, two operational wharf systems - Port Chalmers and the Dunedin Bulk Port, and 38,000 m² of covered warehousing at Port Chalmers. And pre-covid, cruise ships also docked at both the Port Chalmers and the Dunedin wharves.
Port Otago is a 24 hour/day 7 day per week operation and employs 300 people. It is an export dominated port. In 2021, 2.7 million tonnes with a value of $4.3 billion was exported, while 0.7 million tonnes were imported.
Exports include wood, dairy, meat, fruit and seafood. Imports include fuel and oil, fertilizer, cement, dairy and seafood.
Covid has affected business. The container business has decreased, while the bulk business has been steady. Zero tourist ships or passengers have arrived or left from the Port since the arrival of Covid.
Port Chalmers is one of New Zealand's deepest container ports and services the largest container ships in the New Zealand Trade. It can store more than 7000 containers and has one of the highest numbers of reefer points in any NZ port. In addition, it has a purpose-built forestry berth and adjacent 5.5 hectare log storage area at Port Chalmers along with 4.6 hectare log storage facilities in the Dunedin bulk port. Unlike other ports, Port Chalmers owns and operates its own dredge to maintain the shipping channel. The channel from the coast to Port Chalmers is 5 nautical miles, and it is a further 7 nautical miles to the Dunedin Port.
Port Otago has a strong focus on Health and Safety and continues to do work around separating people from operations. Craig showed us that the area behind the Dunedin wharves is to be further fenced off from the public, with the likely relocation of the waste transfer station and redirecting of the harbour cycle trail away from the current exit/entry at Fryatt Street.
In May 2021, Port Otago achieved Toitu Carbonreduce certification, reducing its carbon footprint by 11% during the year. Recently the entire light vehicle fleet with electric vehicles and introducing LED lighting across the port.
Winding the clock back to 1882, it was Port Chalmers where New Zealand’s first cargo of frozen meat left for London in the refrigerated ship Dunedin. Craig’s presentation provided us with an informative look at Port Otago Ltd and how they are committed to remaining at the forefront of New Zealand’s export trade.