Ports and Logistics

New Zealand ports assess earthquake damage

Ports across New Zealand spent today assessing damage after a powerful 7.5 earthquake struck the nation off Canterbury overnight.

The worst hit port looks likely to be Wellington which is operated by a company called CentrePort.
Chief executive Derek Nind said in a statement that CentrePort staff carried out inspections of port property and assets during daylight hours today.

“We have sustained damage to buildings and the port and also some liquefaction and differential settlement in places,” he said.

The company was currently inspecting its Harbour Quays site, as well as inspecting its other facilities.

CentrePort said it was working through a process with tenants to ensure all buildings were safe before they were re-occupied, which would happen over the coming days.

One of the buildings on CentrePort land is the BNZ Building, damaged during an earlier earthquake, and the offices of the Regional Council, which (with the city council) owns the port company.

Port companies in Napier, Timaru and Christchurch are also dealing with the fallout of the natural disaster.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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