Napier Port to Make Room for Larger Ships

New Zealand’s Napier Port has received clearance to build an additional wharf on its container terminal to accommodate larger ships and alleviate growing congestion from increasing cargo volumes.

The proposed 350-metre wharf on the northern edge of the container terminal was approved by three independent commissioners, engaged by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to review the applications.

The approval follows a three-year long consultation process with the aim of minimizing the project’s environmental impact, especially the proposed dredging program of the project.

Napier Port Chief Executive Todd Dawson said that some stakeholders will not be pleased with aspects of the decision – both those campaigning for dredge material to be deposited near Westshore and those who wanted it further than the proposed 5km offshore.

“The port has engaged in one of the most rigorous consenting processes any New Zealand port has been through. We’ve committed to more than 100 conditions, including nine management plans, and these are now a formal part of the consent,” Dawson added.

“As well as the extensive work done to design a project that is sensitive to the environment, we hope that the conditions to continually monitor the impacts of construction and dredging will reassure stakeholders that their interests will be protected.”