E:PO  T

JULY 2018

Calwell Slipway Remediation Project complete

Calwell Slipway Remediation Project complete

This first six months have been very busy ones for the Port with several projects underway in infrastructure development, staff training, and innovations across all Port entities. The booming regional export commodities that drive Port Nelson show no signs of slowing, particularly forestry – both logs and processed wood continue to fetch record-breaking prices and the overseas demand for New Zealand apples is ongoing.

Wine export volumes and value have gone from strength to strength as brand New Zealand Wine firmly makes it mark in international markets. This trend continues to benefit the Port and QuayConnect, as well as customers in the wine growing, bulk export, bottle manufacture and bottling industries.

As you will read in this issue, our customers at Sealord have just launched their new deep-water fishing vessel, Tokatu for the upcoming hoki season. The first new purpose-built vessel in 20 years, this factory freezer trawler will no doubt have a positive impact on seafood exports through Port Nelson, already the largest seafood export port in the southern hemisphere.

In such a volatile global market place, we are fortunate that the region offers such a diverse range of commodities to satisfy export demand and to secure cargo across the wharf throughout all seasons.

However, with increasing cargo, comes the issue of space, which is an ongoing challenge we continue to work to alleviate. Other challenges faced and overcome this year included dealing with tropical cyclones Fehi and Gita as well as the outbreak of the brown marmorated stink bug. Both cyclones were unprecedented weather events that caused some infrastructure damage and unplanned changes to shipping and cruise schedules, while extra caution had to be taken with all imports through the Port during the brown marmorated stink

bug outbreak to ensure the pest was contained. Fortunately, the problem was not as severe as occurred at other ports. Despite these challenges Port Nelson’s capacity to react rapidly to changes in the status quo enabled us to prevent any significant impact on operations.

Community is at the heart of Port Nelson and this edition highlights the value of our sponsorship programme and the monthly offering of behind-the-scenes terminal tours for community groups.

Another recent highlight was the NZIA Nelson/Marlborough Architecture Awards at which the Plant and Food Research facility on the Port edge, completed just over a year ago, was named the winner of the Commercial Architecture award. The new Port Nelson corporate offices were also a winner, in this case the Interior Architecture award.

Our business and those of the region are in the middle of an exciting growth period. I hope you enjoy reading a small snapshot of our stories in this issue of Re:Port.

Martin ByrneChief Executive OfficerPort Nelson

It’s hard to believe we are already half way through 2018 and coming to the end of another successful financial year.

F  OM THE CEO

CONTENTS

PRODUCTION CREDITS

3  Meeting a real-world challenge using virtual reality

4  Qualified Firefighter Course at Port Nelson 

5  QuayPack young team prepares for bumper wine harvest

6  The Gatehouse: the front-line of Port Nelson

7  Come behind the scenes at  Port Nelson

8  Ecological and economic benefits follow completion of Calwell Slipway Remediation

10  QuayConnect update

12  Staff profiles

14  Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Conference heads to Nelson

15  Interislander ferries choose Port Nelson for vital maintenance work

16  The arrival of Tokatu

17  Success brings new challenges – and new solutions

18  Port Nelson in the community

The Royal New Zealand Air Force flies over Port Nelson

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All photos by Tim Cuff unless otherwise indicated.

Re:Port is proudly produced by HotHouse Creative (www.hothouse.co.nz), Ro Cambridge (www.greyurbanist.com), Renée Lang (www.renaissancepublishing.co.nz) and Tim Cuff Photography (www.timcuff.com).

In order to reduce cost per container and increase profitability, many international shipping companies are now using larger container ships, and developing alliances amongst carriers to fill them. This has put pressure on ports worldwide to accommodate larger vessels. Nelson’s port is no exception.

Dave Duncan, Port Nelson’s Harbour Master, says that “it makes good economic sense for shipping companies to want bigger container ships to visit Port Nelson. Amongst other things, it gives them a better return on their berthage fees.” However, he goes on to point out that it makes sense for importers and exporters too. “The region’s economy is reliant on the efficient, cost-effective flow of imports and exports through Port Nelson” says Dave, “If container ships were to by-pass Port Nelson, goods headed for overseas markets would have to be transported to a feeder port elsewhere and then transferred to a container ship for their final destination. Imports would be subject to the same process in reverse. It would be costlier, slower and much less efficient.”

That’s why Dave Duncan and his team of experienced pilots have been working so hard to find ways to assist the passage of larger ships into Port Nelson’s demanding harbour without compromising safety. Guiding larger ships into port is challenging, even though between them Dave Duncan and his piloting and tug team have 40+ years of hands-on experience of the peculiarities of Nelson’s harbour.

Fortunately, they now have a new tool close at hand to help them with the task. It’s the ship’s Bridge Simulator, supplied by Norwegian company Kongsberg, which lives in the marine training department of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

“The simulator creates a highly realistic facsimile of our harbour as seen from a ship’s bridge” explains Dave Duncan. “We can feed all sorts of information into it, including data about the ship we need to get into port, wind, tides and weather. The great advantage of

the simulator is that it gives us an entirely safe way to trial different piloting approaches in a variety of circumstances and conditions.” The simulator also allows Port Nelson pilots to practice in a totally risk-free environment.

The results speak for themselves. The 238 metre Crystal Symphony which visited Nelson in February this year was the largest cruise ship ever to berth at Port Nelson. At 261.5 metres in length, the Harrier Hunter, which also entered the port earlier this year, was amongst the largest container ships to ever berth at the port.

Meeting current shipping demands on the port, while anticipating and planning for future demand is an on-going process but Dave Duncan is confident that the marine team has the right tools and know-how to do it.

Meeting a real-world challenge using virtual reality 

It makes good economic sense for shipping companies to want bigger container ships to visit Port Nelson. The region’s economy is reliant on the efficient, cost-effective flow of imports and exports through Port Nelson.Dave Duncan, Harbour Master, Port Nelson

238m Crystal Symphony cruise visiting Port Nelson in February 2018

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Qualified Firefighter course at Port Nelson Port Nelson is always a hive of activity with trucks, forklifts, cranes and plenty of heavy machinery loading and unloading ships operated by gangs of stevedores. In May this year the Port welcomed an additional – albeit temporary – crew in the form of a group of firefighter students from around the country, led by Station Officer Brendon Grylls.

The group were participating in one of the many practical assessments involved in the 18-month Qualified Firefighter course which, once completed along with written assessments, will enable members of the group to progress in rank from Firefighter to Qualified Firefighter.

The course is usually held in Rotorua, with the vessel component taking place at Port Tauranga. However, due to a busy recruitment season, this year the session was moved to Nelson, chosen for its regional similarities and access to facilities required for completion of the course.

Given there have been two major vessel fires this year, the first on the Korean fishing vessel Dong Won 701, which burned for days while docked at Prime Port, Timaru, and the second, caused by a digger on the Nord Yilan log ship at Port Napier, it makes sense that a vessel fire familiarisation practical should be an essential module of the Qualified Firefighter course.

The Eagle, a 50-year-old fishing trawler and site of two on-board fires, provided the classroom for the firefighters and Blair Broad, the Eagle’s chief engineer, led the familiarisation tour through the vessel. Highlighting equipment locations, systems in place and an overview of vessel layout through the mess hall, processing room, engine and pump rooms, his tour then took the group of firefighters on to the bridge, which housed the main fire alarm panel. The exercise required the firefighters to be fully kitted out in heavy equipment before following through the tightest of corridors and descending steep ladder stairs to the trawler’s hull. This was hard enough to navigate by daylight in a role-play situation, but the firefighters were instructed to envisage the scenario through thick black smoke, a lack of oxygen and probably dealing with the weight of incapacitated crew who would need rescuing.

The vessels that enter New Zealand ports tend to be of varying age as well as being registered under different flag states. As a result they operate under differing regulations and this, along with language barriers, can create challenges for fire crew. There are, however, base International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations that all vessels must adhere to, although they vary for container, bulk, fishing and passenger carriers. These regulations ensure that every vessel has international shore connections for fire hoses to connect with, an emergency manual shut-down switch, a remote activation station and fan closures. Importantly, there also must be accessible floor plans or vessel maps located in the exterior red pipes, which firefighters would use to navigate the potentially dark smoke-filled pathways during an onboard blaze.

Beyond the challenge of finding their way around an unfamiliar vessel, the loud noise of engines and moving parts, enclosed spaces and narrow tunnels to isolated rooms as well as an abundance of flammable substances all add to the risk for firefighters in controlling or escaping a fire.

But should the vessel be at sea, there are just two choices: either attempt to control an inferno or abandon ship. For fires in port, however, fire crew tackling a blaze must take in to consideration the volume of water pumped in. Too much of it can overload and sink a vessel. To avoid this happening, and also to cool flames, water is often sprayed – sometimes utilising tug boat hoses – on the exterior of a vessel.

When questioned by the group, Engineer Broad did not hesitate before listing human error and stupidity as the number-one cause of fires on board and his experience is that they often start in the mess hall or galley. He recommended improved awareness and continued weekly fire drills to be the best way to reduce the possibility and impact of fire on a vessel.

Engineer Broad explaining international connections to the fire crew Photo by PNL staff Jennie Harrison

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QuayPack young team prepares for bumper wine harvest

QuayPack is Port Nelson’s on-port packing and unpacking service. The great majority of its work involves the containerising of goods like MDF, sawn timber and fitting flexi tanks, although it also receives and unpacks incoming goods. Demand fluctuates widely in the course of a year and so QuayPack relies on a flexible workforce in order to provide a quick and responsive service all year round.

QuayPack Supervisor Jeremy Salton has nurtured a youthful team of casual workers who can be called upon to meet demand at peak times. The team includes NMIT students whose work at the port complements their studies, university students, and recent school leavers. “For school leavers who don’t know what they really want to do” says Jeremy, “we are a kind of gap-year experience where they can test their interests and aptitudes in a real-world situation.”

Jeremy is very aware of balancing QuayPack’s needs with the needs of his team. “We try hard to guarantee them a minimum number of hours per week” he says, “We also work with HR to identify talent and encourage them to apply for suitable permanent roles when they come up.”

In anticipation of a 3% increase in the 2018 wine harvest, Jeremy’s young team is currently busy preparing containers for bulk shipping of wine to Europe. Luke Smith, aged 24 coordinates the process which involves lining each container with a “flexi”, a bladder of strong food-grade plastic, which will contain the wine.

Before a flexi can be installed in a container, Luke and his young colleagues must check each container for structural integrity and sharp projections which might rupture the bladder. They must also ensure that each container is free of odours and potential contaminants. Next, they protect the flexi by lining the container’s floor with heavy foil-backed paper and its walls with plastic sheeting. It is only then that they are ready to lay the flexi into the container, and attach the valve through which wine is pumped in and out of the flexi. Finally, the team installs bulkheads which will

prevent full flexis from bulging against the container doors, or surging out if the container’s doors are inadvertently opened.

Once the containers and their flexis are ready, they are trucked to the region’s wine producers for filling. When they are full, they are transported back to Port Nelson to be loaded onto outward bound ships. When the wine arrives at its overseas destination, it is blended before bottling, or simply decanted into bottles for on-selling.

Shipping of wine in bulk, rather than in bottles, is becoming an increasingly attractive option for wine shippers internationally. The young team at QuayPack is doing its part to ensure that local wine makers get their wine to international markets economically, and with less impact on the environment.

For school leavers who don’t know what they really want to do, we are a kind of gap-year experience where they can test their interests and aptitudes in a real-world situation.Jeremy Salton, QuayPack Supervisor

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 2018 5

The Gatehouse: the front-line of Port NelsonSince those catastrophic events back on 9/11, security around the world has tightened significantly and Port Nelson is no exception, as now, in order to trade with the USA and a number of other countries, certain levels of security must be in place. Here at the port, that kind of security is governed by the Maritime Security Act 2004.

On a day-to-day basis, however, the Gatehouse is where and how the majority of people access the port – around 1,800 on a daily basis – and each one of them must not only have a valid reason for being there, but they must also be able to prove who they are. Failing this, the gatehouse operator is fully entitled to deny them access.

Casual visitors must go through a check that involves entering all relevant information on one of the two Visitor Management Systems available at the Gatehouse. This information includes their name, vehicle registration, reason for being there, the name of the person they are there to see, along with details of their driver’s licence or other acceptable identification. The computer then captures an image of the person, after which a pass is printed.

Once issued, this pass must be clearly displayed, e.g. attached to their outer clothing or similar and then, when they are ready to leave, the temporary pass must be checked off by the security staff at the Gatehouse. From that point, and primarily for safety reasons, first-time or casual visitors will always be either escorted on foot by a Gatehouse security staff member or shuttled to their destination.

To save time and make the system work as efficiently as possible, port staff will in most cases advise security staff in advance of the time and identity of any expected visitors. These details are then

recorded and checked off against the visitor’s arrival and later their departure.

Because the port operates a “challenge culture”, in which employees are encouraged to question the presence of anyone they don’t recognise, particularly if that person is unable to produce a valid pass, this goes some way towards helping security staff do their job. This culture applies to employees, too, so that even if you’re known to Gatehouse staff and you for whatever reason have come to the port outside of your working hours, you will always be challenged.

Along with several kilometres of fence line, there are 11 points of access, i.e. gates, to the port. Some are dedicated, e.g. the log gate, through which the logging trucks drive on to the port. What they all have in common is that every one of them can be operated by Gatehouse security staff.

Much of the foot traffic, both inside and outside of normal working hours, comprises crew members from the various vessels that may be tied up at any time, and according to the rules of the port most of them must be escorted or driven by a security shuttle driver. These crew members are subject to their bags being searched at any time to avoid them either bringing in or taking out prohibited items such as drugs and weapons.

Members of the Security Team (L – R), Richard Breen-Rickerby, Boaz Gabay, Tony Robinson, Madeline Viviers and Steve Bosecke

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 20186

There’s also been the odd case of crew members attempting to bring in cartons of cigarettes to trade, which would then be referred to Customs to deal with.

The port also works closely with Customs in the case of supervising the replenishment of ships’ supplies. Detailed paperwork, originating from Customs and known as a Customs Export Delivery Order (CEDO) must list all these supplies before they can be loaded.

Vessels are coming and going at the port at all hours of the day and night, so when they are expected at night it is part of the Gatehouse’s responsibility to monitor the maritime radio so they know when a vessel is due. In the case of private vessels, e.g. an ocean-going yacht, Customs are often already aware of the boat’s ETA, but it is still the responsibility of the skipper to seek permission from the port to enter the harbour via Channel 16 on maritime radio. This is a safety issue as much as anything, as there could be container ship activity that would make it unsafe for a smaller vessel to be anywhere near The Cut at the same time. Once it’s been established that it’s safe to proceed, the Gatehouse will direct the boat to the Customs berth, which also operates on a 24-hour basis.

In the case of ships coming to the port to unload or pick up a load, all details relating to their arrival and departure are recorded on paper and in electronic form, not least because it is this information on which all billing charges are based.

Occasionally there will be security breach incidents that happen through ignorance or even impatience, such as when a driver who is in a bit of a hurry attempts to gain access by “tailgating”. They don’t get very far, however.

Security at night is an ongoing issue, thus regular patrols, done on foot as well as in a vehicle, provide a visible presence – and deterrent – to anyone who has something less than lawful in mind. It doesn’t happen often but occasionally the temptation of what might be in the containers on the other side of the fence can prove too much for some people.

On top of these patrols, there is very thorough security camera coverage and at night time whoever is working at the Gatehouse is constantly checking the footage to ensure the fence line and gates have not been breached.

Come behind the scenes at Port NelsonThe towering stacks of containers and lofty cranes over the wharf are a familiar site for Nelsonians but most are unaware of what happens behind the busy gates of the region’s gateway to the world.For those wanting to gain a thorough understanding of how the region’s logs, seafood, hops, wine and fruit make it across the globe, where all those wine bottles come from, how all that heavy equipment is operated or just wanting to get up close and personal with the big container ships, a Port tour is the answer.

On the third Tuesday of each month, Port Nelson is open to community and school groups, primary, intermediate and secondary, offering such groups an opportunity to

take a behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings of the Port. To ensure presentations are relevant and interesting, particularly to school groups, they can be adapted to topics of interest as requested.

On their arrival a group will always be greeted by a well-informed Port representative, who then provides a brief overview of the Port business, after which the group is bussed through the terminal for a detailed guided tour. With no two days the same at Port Nelson, groups are guaranteed a memorable 90 minutes and will certainly come away with an appreciation of the scale and variety of Port operations.

To enquire about Port tours, ring 03 548 2099  or email olivia.moir@portnelson.co.nz.

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 2018 7

Ecological and economic benefits follow completion of Calwell Slipway  emediationThe Calwell Slipway Remediation Project, which has spanned the last nine years, is finally complete and Port Nelson are delighted to report the project's key objectives have been achieved.

The first key objective for the project was the reduction of contamination concentrations in the basin to pre-determined target levels. The project’s second key objective was to restore safe navigability to the basin which had not been dredged for over thirty years.

By achieving both of these objectives Port Nelson has reduced detrimental impact and risk posed by these contaminants to the ecology of the local environment and secured the future viability of marine engineering businesses which rely on the basin waters to be navigable. The marine businesses which cluster around the Calwell Slipway constitute a hub for marine engineering which is of economic significance to the region.

The project was launched by Port Nelson in 2009 when routine pre-dredge analysis of sediment in the basin revealed contaminant levels higher than the standard permitted by the Port’s Resource Consent. As a consequence, maintenance dredging could not be undertaken.

By 2010 the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund (CSRF) had given the basin priority for remediation assistance from the New Zealand government. Ultimately, the cost of the project has been shared equally between CSRF and Port Nelson. Port Nelson has also given an estimated $198,000 of in kind contribution to the project.

Heron Construction were appointed to undertake the site works which included dredging of the contaminated sediment with a backhoe dredge, binding it with cement and other additives into a mudcrete, then using the mudcrete to construct a reclamation area of approximately 5,000m2 adjacent to the slipway.

Heron Construction established themselves on the site in the last quarter of 2017 and in spite of a few challenges along the way, the site works were completed in line with time expectations, on budget, and without significant incident.

The first key objective for the project was the reduction of contamination concentrations in the basin to pre-determined target levels. The project’s second key objective was to restore safe navigability to the basin which had not been dredged for over thirty years. 

Site of the Calwell Slipway Remediation Project

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 20188

In the course of the remediation, a total of 32,516m3 of sediment was dredged, 24,500m3 of which was identified as contaminated material. The remaining 8,000m3 of sediment was below the reclamation footprint and although uncontaminated, was identified as a liquefaction risk during an earthquake.

Heron Construction completed construction and site restoration in May this year. Engineered pavement of the reclaimed area is expected to begin in spring of this year. Once completed the area will be integrated into the log yard and used for log storage.

Port Nelson, along with the support of the New Zealand Government through the CSRF, is proud to have delivered this project through to

such a successful conclusion with positive outcomes for the local environment and economy of the Nelson area.

James Walker, Deputy Secretary, Ministry for the Environment, congratulates Port Nelson on the successful completion of the Project. “The Calwell Slipway Remediation Project is an excellent example of sustainable remediation. I am pleased to see Government funding contribute towards a complex engineering project, which has met all project objectives, while coming in under budget” Mr Walker said. “It is very positive to see that the shared learnings from the project will be kept available on the Project website to be used by others”.

The Calwell Slipway Remediation Project is an excellent example of sustainable remediation. I am pleased to see Government funding contribute towards a complex engineering project, which has met all project objectives, while coming in under budget.James Walker, Deputy Secretary, Ministry for the Environment

Mudcrete sampling. Photo by Kelly Leonard

Placing armour on rock reclamations. Photo by Kelly Leonard Mixing plant being lifted into place on Kingsford Quay East Photo by Kelly Leonard

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 2018 9

QUAYCONNECT UPDATE

New efficiencies at QuayConnect 

The first six months of 2018 have seen QuayConnect improve the efficiency of its wine freight logistics further, achieve a globally-recognised food safety accreditation, and support NZ wineries at an international trade fair in Germany.

QuayConnect becomes New Zealand’s only BRC-accredited wine storage and distribution facilityBy achieving a globally-recognised food safety accreditation from British Retail Consortium (BRC) this year, the QuayConnect team is now offering even greater support to New Zealand’s wine industry.

BRC, a consortium of British retailers, established the accreditation process with the aim of harmonising food safety standards across the supply chain, so that food stuffs produced internationally are safe to eat, legal and of high quality.

Many retailers in the U.K. including the large supermarket chains, will only stock products handled or stored in facilities with BRC certification. As a consequence, QuayConnect’s BRC accreditation will help many more Top of the South wineries to access the UK market.

The audit took place in April this year with a two-day visit by a BRC auditor who examined every aspect of the QuayConnect operation including documentation, warehouse management, safe food handling, sanitation and staff training.

The auditor not only approved QuayConnect's BRC certification, but gave it an AA-rating. As a result, QuayConnect is now the only wine storage facility in New Zealand accredited under the BRC global standard for storage and distribution.

The second stage of the Patterson Logistics Centre (PLC), which is at the heart of the QuayConnect’s integrated warehousing and transport service, is now complete. With an additional 9,000m2 warehouse at its disposal, QuayConnect can now dedicate one warehouse solely to the storage and handling of bottled wine.

A significant improvement in efficiency is already apparent, reports Jaron McLeod, QuayConnect’s Operations Manager. “In May last year QuayConnect loaded 181 bottled wine containers for export” he says, “but in May this year we loaded 250 containers. Each container holds around 14,500 bottles of wine so that means we sent 3.6 million bottles of New Zealand wine off to overseas markets.”

Jaron is looking forward to August, when Low St, which currently separates PLC from the wharf, will have been closed to public use

and resurfaced. At that point PLC will be enclosed within the port security area and the new straddle carrier (see story on page 17) can be employed to full effect. “The straddle will be able to carry full containers direct to PLC from the container terminal stacks, and vice versa” explains Jaron. "It’s going to be a lot more efficient than the way we’ve had to operate in the past, and it’s going to reduce our costs and make us more competitive.”

Completed Patterson Logistics Centre I & II. Photo by Troy Dando

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QuayConnect helps New Zealand wineries to shine on international stagePort Nelson’s QuayConnect demonstrated its commitment to the wine industry and support for New Zealand's wineries by sponsoring the New Zealand Winegrowers exhibition at Prowein, the world’s leading trade fair for wine and spirits. QuayConnect also supported a seminar given at Prowein by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ).

Prowein took place in Dusseldorf, Germany from 18 – 21 March this year, attracting 6,870 exhibitors from 64 countries, and 60,000 trade visitors from around the world, eager to keep up with trends and technology in viticulture, production, trade and gastronomy.

Eugene Beneke, General Manager, Business Development, and Jaron McLeod, QuayConnect’s Operations Manager attended the fair. “Forty-eight New Zealand wineries were showing their wines at the fair” says Eugene, "so it made sense for QuayConnect, as a sustainable wine logistics company, to get in behind the New Zealand Winegrowers and SWNZ.”

Prowein also gave Eugene and Jaron the opportunity to talk person to person with existing and potential future QuayConnect customers. “By connecting personally with New Zealand’s viticulturists and wine makers at Prowein” said Jaron, “we were able to demonstrate QuayConnect’s commitment to the wine industry, and to show how we can contribute to its sustainable future.”

New Zealand Wineries and QuayConnect represented at Prowein 2018. Photo by PNL staff Jaron McLeod

Photo by PNL staff Jaron McLeod

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G   ANT DAVISContainer Depot Supervisor

Born and bred in Nelson, Grant Davis began work 11 years ago as a forklift driver at the Port’s Empty Depot, where the condition of the enormous number of TEU containers that come in and go out is assessed. Although they can be handled up to five times from the day they arrive, empty, until they are thoroughly checked and loaded and ready to be exported, the numbers are impressive: 65,000 when he started, and now 120,000.

After two years of working as a driver, Grant was promoted to the position of foreman at the Depot, and then, given the Port’s continuing growth, his role was further expanded to cover both the Empty Depot and the Export Depot. However, due to the very healthy growth in the region’s export activities, the job quickly grew to the extent that two people are now required.

In his current role of Container Depot Supervisor, Grant now has responsibility for all the operations carried out at the Empty Depot, with 11 team members under his watch: eight forklift drivers, two office workers and one person ‘on the wash’. He and his team work with a number of outside contractors including Specialised Container Services, Specialised Refrigeration Services, IRS International and Genera, which handles fumigation.

Checking containers for possible bio-security hazards is a vital part of the process, especially as a good number of them come from countries that are home to invasive insects and plants, such as the brown marmorated stink bug from Asia, a creature that presents a significant risk to New Zealand’s agriculture and horticulture. Four of Grant’s team, including Grant himself, have Approved Co-Management status with MPI, which involves data recording for the Ministry.

Away from work, Grant enjoys going fishing and doing the necessary upkeep on his lifestyle block that he shares with his wife and two children just outside of town. But when he’s on the job he feels “really lucky to have a team that shares a great work ethic”. He also notes that he’s proud of the standards they constantly achieve, given the challenging nature of the job, which at times can see them pulled in all directions in order to satisfy the needs of different departments and customers.

Staff profiles

NIGEL MCKINST   YStevedoring Supervisor 

A South Islander by birth, Nigel McKinstry has had two stints at living in Nelson, but he reckons this time it’s for good. Before starting work at the Port last December, Nigel had a 16 year career in production management in the seafood industries.

Now the Port’s non-operational Stevedoring Supervisor, Nigel has overall supervision of the loading of logs onto the log vessels that come into Nelson and Picton. There is a significant amount of responsibility in this role, which starts with preparing for the arrival of the vessel well in advance. Typically, this involves communicating with shipping agents, forestry owners and, importantly, organising the necessary labour for loading, and making sure that everything will be on site and in good order.

Well before a log vessel arrives, Nigel receives forecasts from forestry owners regarding its estimated arrival time and how many JAS are going to be loaded. This advance information regarding weight allows Nigel to work out the size of the load and the timeframe within which the loading has to be achieved.

Meanwhile, Nigel will have started assembling the necessary labour and equipment. For example, loading for one of the forestry owners might require four gangs of up to 28 men, initially working over 36 hours, then dropping back to three gangs depending on the number of logs (referred to as “the stow”) going into each hold. A typical Nelson Forestry vessel will hold around 34,000 JAS, of which up to 24,000 are loaded here in Nelson with the balance loaded in Picton. Once the holds are full and the hatches shut, the gangs start loading logs onto the deck.

While this process may sound pretty straight forward, it couldn’t be done safely without some significant checks as well as very specific skill sets on the part of the stevedores, such as the foreman, crane operators and digger drivers. The specific experience and precision needed by everyone involved serves to emphasise the importance of Nigel’s scheduling. This cannot be achieved without a huge effort by the labour allocators and office staff.

All up there are about 130 stevedores working at the Port and about 30 more in Picton. Working alongside the team as much as possible is important as it gives Nigel a pretty accurate feel for conditions along with being able to identify any potential problems, and an opportunity to enjoy the witty banter with the wharf staff.

When he’s not at work, he enjoys renovating houses and has recently completed a total renovation of his home in The Wood, which he shares with his partner and two daughters. PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 201812

 UTENE COOPE    Linesman

Ru’s work as a linesman at the Port involves the securing of vessels to posts and bollards as soon as they arrive and then reversing the procedure when they are ready to leave. It’s an important job where tight team work and good quality lines are vital. Each man has a constant eye out on the condition of the lines, if any of them are not up to scratch they will immediately report it to the pilot.

Ru has been a linesman for about nine years, but his links with the Port go back a lot further as he was initially employed as a stevedore.

His working week bears no resemblance to any kind of nine to five employment; in fact he’s on a seven-day fortnight roster, which means he works for five days the first week and then two days during the second week. The rest of the time he’s on call, no matter what time of day a ship arrives in port, he and his team must be available to secure the vessel and connect it to amenities. These include phone lines, fresh water and, on occasion, quarantine bins.

This kind of flexibility suits him as over the years it’s allowed him to be mostly available to help get his children off to school and be there for them when they came home. Those kids are all but grown up now, but Ru still likes to spend as much time as possible with them, whether it’s going shopping with his daughter or whatever else they feel like doing. That said, when left to his own devices, Ru likes to haul out his boat and head off for a spot of fishing.

The growth of the Port has seen a corresponding increase in the number of ships coming and going so it’s not unusual for Ru and his fellow team members to be handling, on average, three or four different vessels per day, and at any time of day or night. Ru observes that while the work of a linesman might look pretty easy to an outsider, that is actually far from the truth.

Apart from the pilot, to whom all the linesmen are accountable, Ru normally works with three others, unless the vessel is smaller, say the size of a fishing boat, in which case two men are enough to handle the lines. It’s a tight-knit team and all its members are pretty happy working together. All of them, too, enjoy the way their roster allows them to make the most of their recreation time.

MADELINE VIVIE   S Port Facilities Security Officer 

One of eight full-time and about five permanent part-time security staff at the port, Madeline Viviers emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa in 2010.

After 18 years of working in the police force in her home country, on her arrival in Nelson she decided to move to security work and spent the next four years working for a security company before joining the port in 2014. In her own words her change in career was “a natural, easy transition”.

During the day – and to a lesser extent at night – a large number of people in a variety of vehicles, mostly cars and trucks, are constantly going in and out of the port. Some of them are regular visitors while others are there for the first time. However, all must go through a particular process to ensure that their presence complies with the International Ships and Ports Facilities Security Standards, which does not allow the entry of anyone who does not have lawful business there. The security staff also have the power to exercise random vehicle searches for things such as bombs and firearms or anything else that could compromise the safety of the Port.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, there will always be two security officers on duty at the gatehouse. One acts as gate operator and the other as a patrol officer.

Security patrol is another part of the job which involves checking the layout berth, buildings and gates, of which there are quite a number. Madeline estimates that security patrol covers around six kilometres, but she’s never bored by this process. “Every day is different because there are always different ships coming in with different crew members. It’s a very varied role, even though some people think we just sit there, opening and closing gates, but there’s so much going on. It’s no secret that I love my job.”

Married, with two stepchildren, Madeline is very happy to be living and working in Nelson and her lifestyle here is the envy of all her visiting relatives.

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 2018 13

Port Nelson was delighted to be the location sponsor for the recent 2018 Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Conference that took place on May 2nd – 4th, at Nelson’s Rutherford Hotel. Over 100 delegates from across the country were present for the stellar speaker line-up of industry influencers and futurists who addressed the delegates over the two day conference.

CBAFF represents a portfolio of member companies and individuals working and participating in customs broking and freight forwarding, an industry with which the Port collaborates closely to move the region’s exports efficiently across the globe.

This year’s conference theme – “Pathways to the future: innovation, investment, infrastructure” – was particularly relevant to recent activities undertaken at Port Nelson and Ports across the country. The line-up of speakers included Tony Gibson, CEO Ports of Auckland, who spoke of innovations being made to successfully overcome space and community challenges and the 30-year master plan for the Port, while Blair Morris presented the pioneering plans of Ruakara Inland Port, which he defined as New Zealand’s freight hub for the future.

QuayConnect Operations Manager, Jaron McLeod and Port Nelson Business Systems Manager, Reagan Pattison chose the occasion to soft launch Pelorus, a mobile application offering customers supply chain visibility, monitoring and management through live Port data. Currently in the pilot stage, the mobile application will be initially rolled out to QuayConnect customers, and then across regional commodities exported through Port Nelson.

Other keynote speakers included David Wild, who coached the audience to think like a futurist, and economist Bernard Hickey, who shared his insight on the economic climate during the rise of Trumpism and protectionism and how it is shaping the shipping industry’s growth.

Following a busy day of workshops and presentations, delegates took a guided tour through the Port Nelson operating area where they saw the latest infrastructure highlights of the Patterson Logistics Centre phase I and II, the Calwell Slipway, and the award-winning Plant and Food Research Building.

Another highlight was the conference dinner, which provided an opportunity for the delegates to network and debrief as well as relax before Newshub national correspondent Patrick Gower spoke. Entertaining and humorous, Gower had everyone’s attention as he told tales of his life on the road, including how he rubbed shoulders with international politicians during his role as political editor.

Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Conference heads to Nelson 

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 201814

Interislander ferries choose Port Nelson for vital maintenance workThis winter, Kiwirail has again chosen Port Nelson as the site for key maintenance work on Interislander passenger ferries.

The Kaiarahi was in port in May for in-water maintenance, including painting, steelworks, and inspections before heading to Sydney for dry-docking.

The ferries have been coming to Nelson for their off-season maintenance for a number of years. In 2017, another ferry, the Kaitaki, spent seven days in Nelson for an interior fit-out and painting. Work on the ferries is scheduled for the quieter winter months in order to minimise disruption to the company’s freight and passenger services.

Nelson is the port of choice for the in-water aspects of the maintenance of the ferries, because of its favourable climate and the availability of excellent local marine engineering resources. Nelson has the additional advantage of being en route to drydocks in Australia. It is therefore a convenient stop-off point for in-water work if ferries need to head across the Tasman for dry dock work there.

Each ferry not only functions as seagoing vessel, but has all the systems that it takes to run a city – water, power, sewage,

communications, accommodation and emergency facilities. Diverse Engineering Limited, which is based conveniently close to the Port Nelson slipway, acts as lead contractor for work which can involve anything from structural and mechanical repairs to cleaning and interior furnishings.

The necessary work is first scheduled out by senior Interislander staff. After that, Diverse Engineering runs the work utilising their own staff, and bringing in contractors when necessary depending on the nature of the work required.

“The repeat ferry work is great for the region” says Mike, “bringing in revenue for engineering and marine services, as well as other more general services too.”

Port Nelson is keen to encourage continued visits by KiwiRail ferries because of the regional economic benefit they bring. With the generous cooperation of other shipping lines who would normally utilise the same berth, and may be inconvenienced during a ferry's lay-up period, the Port is able to make the ferries' stay in port a positive experience.

Interislander ferry Kaitaki visiting Port Nelson for maintenance work in 2017

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 2018 15

The arrival of TokatuThere was great excitement when the fully customised latest addition to Sealord’s fleet of deep-water fishing vessels recently arrived at the port. Measuring just under 82 metres in length with a 17m beam, Tokatu’s main engine has a capacity of 5400 kW, with fuel capacity of about 1,120 cbm and total cargo capacity of about 2,500 cbm.

Designed to the company’s specifications but built in Norway, where they have centuries of deep-water fishing experience and world-class boat building technology, Tokatu is the first new vessel for New Zealand’s deep-water fishery in over 20 years. She was built by SIMEK, a family-owned Norwegian shipbuilder and designed by Skipsteknisk who also designed Rehua and Aukaha, two of Sealord’s older vessels which have stood the test of time and deep water. Sealord’s General Manager Operations Doug Paulin says that they took one of the latest large fillet trawlers and essentially sat with the designer and customised it to their needs. “We included things like a fishmeal plant, a hoki factory and a pelagic factory suited to New Zealand species. The whole focus was on efficiency.”

All up, Tokatu cost $70 million to build, of which $10 million alone was invested in the onboard factory, and took around 18 months to build. Unsurprisingly, many of the developments in design and technology that have evolved over the last couple of decades feature in this svelte new trawler. Doug Paulin confirms this, saying, “There’s a huge amount of technology and electronics involved in a fishing trawler because we’ve got winches, the factory, the latest fish-finding technology, cargo handling systems, fishmeal plant and a big crew with all the support systems that go with them. There’s also a full pack line and freezer storage.” Doug emphasises the importance of the equipment running to the exacting hygiene standards expected of any food processing facility. “It’s actually amazing, there’s so much that can be fitted on,” he concludes. “It’s like taking Sealord’s Nelson site, condensing it to 17m by 81.75m and then venturing down into the Southern Ocean with it.” The vessel will even be able to produce its own electricity via winch systems.

Tokatu, which means “rock or place to stand”, took 40 days to reach New Zealand via the Panama Canal. It wasn’t wasted time either,

especially for the crew of 25 and the vessel’s two skippers, Rex Chapman and Stephan Fridell, who joined the voyage at various times in order to familiarise themselves with the new vessel. When Tokatu embarks on her first deep-water fishing trip, there will be closer to 45 crew on board.

The fit-out is essentially Scandinavian so good looks and comfort are to the fore, especially the galley where the on-duty chef can make fresh bread and other treats every day – and even turn out a birthday cake when the occasion warrants it. The two lounges where the crew get to relax between shifts, a small gym and fully functioning wi-fi will also be appreciated by the crew who, thanks to the latter, will be able to stay in touch at all times with friends and family. That same crew will also appreciate the modern quarters that comprise 14 single and 15 double comfortable en suite cabins and efficient laundry facilities.

The addition of this vessel to the fleet will provide Sealord’s fishing capability with 20,000 metric tonnes capacity and it will do this in a particularly advanced, efficient and sustainable method, which includes processing the catch at sea for maximum freshness and productivity. In addition, a fishmeal plant has been installed, making the vessel a zero-waste trawler.

Although Tokatu has arrived in time to take advantage of the hoki fishing season (hoki run when the water gets cold) it will be able to fish all Sealord’s target species, including pelagic fish as mentioned earlier (i.e. those that are found in open sea rather than the shallower coastal waters) such as barracouta, squid and jack mackerel. This range was only previously possible through the use of chartered vessels.

Chairman Whaimutu Dewes believes that the company’s investment in the reliability, efficiency and increased capacity to the fleet is essential. “This is a significant investment and one that demonstrates shareholders' commitment to Sealord, and it being the best deep-sea fishing company in New Zealand.”

Sealord is planning an event to celebrate the arrival of this stunning new addition to the fleet later this year.

There’s a huge amount of technology and electronics involved in a fishing trawler... we’ve got winches, the factory, the latest fish-finding technology, cargo handling systems, fishmeal plant ... there’s also a full pack line and freezer storage.Doug Paulin, General Manager Operations, Sealord

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 201816

Success brings new challenges –  and new solutionsOver the last year or so, demand on port logistics has steadily increased with QuayConnect becoming fully operational, and truck visits to the port increasing by 40%. At peak times there can be as many as 180 to 220 truck turn-arounds each day.

The task of finding a safe and cost-effective way to meet the challenge of increased demand fell to Jonny Cook, Container Operations Manager, and Grant Davis, Container Depot Supervisor. Jonny and Grant discussed with Port Nelson subject matter experts and went looking for a solution that took into account a constellation of interrelated factors including the nature of the demand, port layout, cost, staffing and safety, as well as environmental considerations such as fuel efficiency, emissions, noise, and wear on road surfaces around the port.

Combining their years of experience in container terminal management, and considerable research, they suggested a slightly unorthodox solution: the introduction of a straddle carrier into the existing matrix of container transport.

Straddle carriers have several distinct advantages over other kinds of container carriers. They can load and unload without the assistance of cranes or forklifts, they are more stable and manoeuvrable, and can therefore be used within more confined spaces. As the name implies, a straddle picks up containers by straddling them, and carries them lengthwise. A loaded straddle is only 5.3m wide, compared to a container handler which carries containers sideways, and is 12m wide.

Straddles are also lighter, and carry their load spread over 6 wheels which results in less wear on road surfaces and lower fuel consumption. Straddles with diesel/electric motors use less fuel because they generate their own power.

Straddles are also very quiet, an important consideration given the port’s proximity to residential areas. Finally, straddles can operate at more efficient speeds – up to 25kms per hour – with safer emergency braking if required.

Serendipitously, a Kalmar Shuttle Carrier (Model ESH 250 HW) came onto the market while Jonny and Grant were undertaking their research, and making the business case to the Board for the purchase of a straddle carrier. The decision was made to buy this particular straddle which can carry two 25-tonne, 20-foot containers, or one 40-foot container at a time.

Before it was introduced into operation, the Kalmar Shuttle was tested in the Port Nelson environment to identify any potential safety risks. A traffic safety management plan was developed, and the vehicle, the environment and working practices were modified to safeguard staff and plant. Modifications included the installation of cameras and mirrors at blind spots, travel direction indicator lights, warning alarms and training for staff who must operate the straddle from a cabin, a lofty 11 metres above the ground.

The outcome has been even better than Jonny or Grant had hoped for, with the port’s QuayConnect and QuayPack operations being the immediate beneficiaries. The straddle transports containers of empty bottles destined for the wine industry, from the wharf to QuayConnect for de-vanning. On the return journey, it picks up full

containers from QuayPack, or collects emptied containers or full wine containers from QuayConnect for delivery to the wharf.

Having the straddle loaded on both legs of the 1.5km round trip increases efficiency, saves time and fuel, and has other advantages too. The straddle has completely freed one swing lift truck for other work, and has reduced demand on one top loader by 50%. Overall, the shuttle has absorbed 30% of the increased growth in truck movements around the port.

Having the straddle loaded on both legs of the 1.5km round trip increases efficiency and saves time and fuel.

Grant Davis with the new straddle

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 2018 17

PO  T NELSON IN THE COMMUNITY

Port Nelson Sea SwimsBeginning in the first week of November and going through to mid-March, the annual Port Nelson Sea Swims series is a popular event, attracting an average of 150 individuals for each swim.

The Port has been sponsoring the series for 11 years but they’ve been going since 1987 and were started by Peter Owen, from Eyebright, who went on to run them for 20 years. At that very early stage health and safety was a bit more casual than it is now and gradually, as more and more rules had to be observed, Peter asked if the Triathlon Club would take it over. On behalf of the club, Peter Gibbs, an established committee member and someone already well known to the sporting community through his own involvement as well as his position at the Nelson Mail, agreed to do so. But it wasn’t until the following year that the club’s insurance actually covered the event.

“Right from the start Martin Byrne was quite actively involved and it helped that in my position as a journalist we were able to get a lot of publicity,” Peter recalls. “By publicising it and getting a website going, we increased the average turn-out from 42 to 84, which then went on to rise to the current number.”

The swims take place at 6pm on a Thursday evening and they start with a checking in process, which is a pretty important part of the event as only so many swimmers can be in the water at any one time because of the ratio of support boats to swimmers. Also involved are an on-shore race supervisor and a qualified first aid person. Then there are the support boats in the form of the club’s six ride-on kayaks supported by an inflatable supplied by the Nelson Yacht Club plus several inflatables (and qualified lifeguards) from Surf Rescue.

The Port’s sponsorship is crucial to cover costs that in previous years included the purchase of a trailer and the ride-on kayaks. Then there’s the ongoing rent of the Nelson Yacht Club premises, where the deck provides a vantage point from which to watch over the swimmers, and the use of their inflatable. The use of the Surf Rescue inflatables and lifeguards are not cheap, either, but without their involvement the event would not be allowed to run. Other costs that the sponsorship helps cover is the provision of coloured swim caps worn by all competitors to ensure their visibility in the water.

The first race of the evening is a short one and is attractive to beginners and children who can easily deal with the 500-metre swim. The main race of the evening is up to 1500 metres in length, but the participants choose to put themselves into one of three categories that are marked by the colour of the caps: white, green and red.

As they come back out of the water, they are counted off, so it’s a relatively straightforward business to ensure that everyone

has returned safely – except for the odd time an individual has taken a short cut back and avoided the official count. Fortunately, says Peter, that rarely happens these days. And quite a few of the participants are only too happy to help bring in various bits of safety equipment as they come back in so that by 7.15 it’s pretty well all over and Peter and other volunteers can head home.

Peter is proud of the way the club is able to offer such a fun activity to the community at large for such a small amount of money. “A similar event in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch will cost you $20,” says Peter. “But we sign up people for a whole season – 18 swims – for just $60. And if you’re a club member, you’ll get 20% knocked off that.” Families get a good rate, too.

For much of the time that the Port has been sponsoring this event the results, along with accompanying photographs, would appear in the Nelson Mail. However, since Fairfax/Stuff’s recent decision to pull out of reporting on regional sport, all the details now appear on the club’s website: nelsonseaswims.co.nz.

For the seriously competitive swimmers, there’s the national Banana Boat Ocean Swim Series to aim for – and more than a few locals have done themselves proud in this event. Earlier this year the club hosted a round of that series and Peter Gibbs reports that negotiations between the organisers of the series and the Nelson City Council have resulted in confirmation that the race, known as The Big Tahuna, will return to Nelson for at least the next three years.

Peter is proud of the way the club is able to offer such a fun activity to the community at large for such a small amount of money.

Photo by Gillian Watson

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 201818

Port Nelson Schools TriathlonSome time ago the Triclub (aka Nelson Triathlon and Multisport Club) was asked to organise the National Schools Triathlon Championship, which at the time Peter Gibbs felt was rather ambitious. But despite his misgivings he became involved and the event took place in March this year. Prior to this the club had long run a regional race – the Andrew Jones Memorial Triathlon – but there was some concern about safety issues as traditionally it was run mid-week, making it difficult for people who were working to attend. What it then boiled down to for the club was that they couldn’t have a national event without also having a regional event in place.

The problem was solved when Peter went to talk to Sport Tasman, pointing out that as they already had regional secondary schools sports co-ordinator Jeni Thorborough in place, they were well suited to having the event in their name – and if this was acceptable he would then act as race director.

The next step was to find a sponsor, and as Peter already had a relationship with the Port through the sea swims series, he invited them to sponsor the regional triathlon. In return it would receive naming rights to the national event, which all parties were more than happy with. So in March this year, the regional event took place closely followed by the national one. Because both events took place so early in the year, not all schools were aware of them, but Peter feels that now word is out the event will grow exponentially. “We got closer to 200 kids this time, but we’re confident of getting more as schools become aware of it.”

There’s a nice piece of serendipity in the Port’s involvement, too, in that Gillian Watson, who works for the Port, is an active member of the club. Her expertise in handling registrations and statistics has long been valued and when the Port was asked if she could be made available to help with the national event, it was only too pleased to make it happen.

Peter notes that another satisfactory development came about when the club spoke to the Tasman District Council about the possibility of closing the road into Rabbit Island for safety reasons, which TDC had not been willing to do for earlier events. However with the co-operation of the local forestry company, which organised a detour through the forest, TDC was willing for it to happen. “This was a breakthrough in terms of safety for the kids involved in the race,” says Peter, “and made it better for both the regional and the national events.”

For more details, visit www.nelsontriclub.co.nz/port-nelson-schools-triathlon/.

The next step was to find a sponsor, and as Peter already had a relationship with the Port through the sea swims series, he invited them to sponsor the regional triathlon.

Photo by Gillian Watson

PO  T NELSON  RE:PO  T JULY 2018 19

www.portnelson.co.nz

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