New Zealand kiwifruit exporter Zespri is supporting a shipping industry call for facilities to accommodate bigger ships.
New Zealand Shippers’ Council has released a report urging the accommodation of larger vessels at NZ ports. Zespri shipping manager Mike Knowles said: “Upgrading New Zealand shipping ports to accommodate bigger ships will be the deciding factor in international supply chain efficiencies for New Zealand export industries.”
The council’s report. The Question of Bigger Ships: Securing New Zealand’s International Supply Chain, reviews and recommends infrastructure initiatives to give New Zealand competitive advantage and supply chain efficiencies.
“For a country whose wealth is based on the success of our export industries, New Zealand must remain internationally competitive,” said Knowles. “The strategic development of a North and South Island port to accommodate bigger container ships is imperative to longterm export growth and success.
“We cannot afford to turn these ships away from our ports and risk having our shipping services become increasingly boutique in nature using older and smaller ships to get our products to key global markets.”
