Operations

NZ Shipping Federation urges Wellington to up maritime focus over trucking

The New Zealand Shipping Federation has hit out at Wellington’s intransigence over coastal shipping, arguing that maritime is a far better option for both the local economy and the environment than trucking.

The body, which represents coastal shipping operators, has issued a new report, Full Steam Ahead, in which it notes: “One of the biggest impediments to coastal ship operations around New Zealand is a lack of government interest arising because the NZ Government has no skin in the game, with no ownership of ports or ships but 100 per cent ownership of rail-track and operations, and 100 per cent ownership of road infrastructure.”

The report says road transport accounts for 16% of New Zealand’s greenhouse emissions.

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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