Port of Tauranga is the port of Tauranga, New Zealand. It is the largest port in the country both in terms of total cargo volume, and in terms of container throughput with container volumes exceeding 950,000 TEU's (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units). The port is operated by Port of Tauranga Ltd (NZX: POT). This article is about both the company and the port itself.
The port is located in a natural harbour protected by Mount Maunganui and Matakana Island, and is the only natural harbour between Auckland and Wellington offering good shelter in all weather. As of 2016 the Port of Tauranga employs 194 permanent staff and 25 casual staff.
1828 - The visit of the missionary schooner Herald, probably the first European vessel to enter the harbour.1853 - Captain Drury in HMS Pandora surveyed and charted the coast and harbour.1873 - The Port of Tauranga was officially established by order of the Governor of New Zealand.1882 - The Lady Jocelyn of 2,138 tonnes was the first large sailing vessel to enter the harbour.1912 - A Tauranga Harbour Board was constituted to administer the affairs of the harbour.1913 - First meeting of the Tauranga Harbour Board.1927 - Railway Wharf at Tauranga was completed and used almost exclusively for coastal shipping until the visit of the James Cook in 1948 to load timber for Australia.1953 - First pile driven for Mount Maunganui wharf. The first ship, the MV Korowai berthed at the new wharf on 5 December 1954.1955 - Mount Maunganui Branch relaid with heavy track and reopened on 28 March 1955, for paper and timber products from Kawerau.1957 - First log shipment to Japan - 158 tonnes.1960 - First tug Mount Maunganui was commissioned at the Port.1967 - First container unloaded.1972 - Port Caroline, the world's largest conventional refrigerated cargo liner, visits the Port for the first time.1978 - Kaimai rail tunnel opened by Sir Rob Muldoon, substantially reducing travelling times between the Port and Hamilton/Rotorua areas.1979 - $3.9 million heavy lift multi-purpose gantry crane operational.1985 - New Zealand Steel announce decision to use Tauranga for import/export trade.1985 - Establishment of Port of Tauranga Limited.1988 - As a consequence of Government port reform, the Bay of Plenty Harbour Board is disestablished and Port of Tauranga Limited begins operations.1988 - The Tauranga Harbour Bridge is completed, significantly joining the communities of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.1990 - Record annual cargo throughput of 5.1 million tonnes.1992 - $100 million Tauranga Terminal development completed and wharves opened for shipping.1996 - Formation of The Cargo Company Limited, a joint-venture with Owens Services BOP Limited for on-wharf cargo consolidation.1998 - Tauranga Container Terminal buys fleet of 10 straddle carriers from Hong Kong. Navis information system commissioned.1999 - Port of Tauranga establishes New Zealand's first fully integrated inland port service - MetroPort Auckland.1999 - Australia-New Zealand Direct Line (ANZDL) becomes the first shipping line to use MetroPort Auckland.Underlying Net Profit After Tax for the year to 30 June 2012 rises 26% to a record $73.5 million.2000 - The Port extends its multi-port growth strategy by entering a 50:50 joint-venture with Northland Port Corporation (NZ) Limited to develop and operate a deepwater port at Marsden Point.2001- Agreement between the Port of Tauranga and Tranz Rail to extend MetroPort Auckland to a seven-day-a-week service.2001 - FESCO New Zealand Express Line establishes Tauranga as its sole North Island port of call for its fixed day weekly service to the Far East.2002 - The purchase of a 100% stake in Owens Services BOP Limited, a log marshalling and cargo handling business.2002 - A 50:50 joint venture formed between Ports of Auckland Limited and Northport Limited to provide piloting, tug and lines services for commercial shipping on the Whangarei harbour.2003 - The Mediterranean Shipping Company use Tauranga as its sole North Island port for its European service which commenced on 5 February 2003.2003 - Ten year extension signed with Tranz Rail for the operation of MetroPort, allowing for further investments to upgrade MetroPort’s facilities. The MetroPort agreement expires in May 2013.2003 - Establishment of North Tugz Limited, a 50% joint venture between Northport and Ports of Auckland Limited to undertake marine services within the Whangarei harbour.2004 - MetroBox Auckland Limited, a 50% joint venture with Toll New Zealand Limited, is established to operate a container storage handling, cleaning, washing and repair service for empty shipping containers.2004 - MetroPort's throughput increases by 50%. Its capacity is to be doubled following a $3 million upgrade of the sealed area, ground slots and drainage.2004 - P&O Nedlloyd restructures their express service direct between New Zealand and South East Asia, calling at the ports of Tauranga and Napier.2004 - The sale of the Port's shareholding in The Owens Cargo Company Limited and the formation of the 50:50 joint venture company Toll Owens Limited.2004 - The Port celebrated 50 years of operations. The MV Korowai was the first vessel to visit the Port on 5 December 1954.2004 - The Port of Tauranga was a joint winner of the 2004 Australasian Port of the Year Award run by Lloyd's List Daily Commercial News, the first time a New Zealand port has won a Lloyd's List award.2005 - Three new straddle carriers were introduced at Sulphur Point.2005 - On 1 June 2005, the biggest export shipment of kiwifruit was moved into the Danish motor vessel Knud Lauritzen. The shipment amounted to 2.6 million trays (9,000 pallets) of kiwifruit.2005 - The capacity of MetroPort in South Auckland was expanded to 1,265 operational ground slots with the ability to handle 100 TEU trains.2006 - The first New Zealand call in the newly formed Maersk Line's 4100 TEU "Pendulum" service commenced in February. This service provides New Zealand's exporters with a weekly direct service to North America and Europe which includes trans-Tasman imports via Tauranga.2006 - In March, the new NZX shipping service made its first call in Tauranga. NZX combines several lines [Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), Mitsui Osk Line (MOL), Pacific International Line (PIL), Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL)] to provide an express service calling at Singapore, Tauranga and Lyttelton to provide exporters with a fast connection into Asian markets.2006 - Tauranga was confirmed as the North Island port of call for Hamburg Sud's new fortnightly Trident service commencing in March. The service takes exports to the East Coast of North America and Europe.2006 - US Lines chose Tauranga as the only New Zealand port of call for its new fortnightly service which began in August. Imports from United States and Australia, exports to Australia, Hong Kong and south China and Los Angeles, giving both importers and exporters greater choice.2006 - The new Goodman Fielder grain store was completed and the first delivery received into the store in February. The 4,000 square metre store, built on Port land, has a 20,000 tonne capacity.2007 - A record year for cruise ships with 33 visits.2007 - Marstel Terminals commenced construction on a $15 million bulk liquids terminal and announced Tauranga as their location for future growth.2007 - During March, Tauranga was confirmed as the North Island port of call for Hamburg Sud's new fortnightly Trident service between Europe, East Coast North America, Australia and New Zealand. Calling weekly both north and southbound legs, equating to 104 ship calls per annum.2007 - In June, Port of Tauranga announce that following a reconfiguration of the Oceania Vessel Sharing Agreement (OVSA) service they will receive an additional 26 vessel calls per annum.2008 - A record year for cargo with trade up 7% to 13.525 million tonnes.2008 - Total containers up 25% to 582,072 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units).2008 - MetroPort containers increasing 23% to 170,000 TEUs.2008 - Import of over 450,000 tonnes of palm kernel/grain.2008 - Seatrade, the world's largest specialist reefer shipping operator, announced plans to consolidate on Port of Tauranga.2008 - ABB Grain commits to a 35-year lease with Port of Tauranga and plan to build a purpose-built 9,000m² bulk facility.2008 - A record year of cruise ships with 40 visits.2008 - Order placed for a new Liebherr gantry crane capable of handling 5,000 to 7,000 TEU ships. Scheduled to be commissioned in July 2009.2008 - Commenced process to obtain Resource Consents to dredge channels to 14.5 metres draught.2008 - CMA CGM purchased US Lines and consolidated services at Tauranga.2008 - CMA CGM Panama fortnightly service began calling in July 2008.2008 - Pacifica weekly coastal service began calling in October 2008.2009 - Entering into a long term operating agreement with Carter Holt Harvey Lodestar.2009 - Purchase of 2.6 hectares of Mount Maunganui wharf store and also 1.8 hectares of land within the Mount Maunganui wharf area.2009 - A record year of cruise ships with 56 visits, up from 40 in 2008.2009 - Erection of new Liebherr gantry crane at the Tauranga Container Terminal, commissioned in July 2009.2009 - Lodged application for dredging consent to dredge channels to 14.5 metres draught at low water.2010 - Launch of CargoConnect, a comprehensive online cargo management system, allowing customers to manage their cargo movements at the Tauranga Container Terminal.2010 - Purchase of Tapper Transport Group, New Zealand's largest container transport company and container freight station.2010 - Carpenter Shipping Service began calling, making Tauranga its only New Zealand port call.2010 - Record trade volumes of 13.748 million tonnes.2010 - Pilot launch Arataki commissioned.2011 - Record underlying net profit after tax of $57.9 million for the Port of Tauranga Group.2011 - Exported log volumes reached 4.4 million tonnes, up 14%.2011 - Container volumes up 15% to 590,506 TEUs.2011 - Launch of MetroPack, a container packing and unpacking service adjacent to our inland port, MetroPort Auckland.2011 - Five new container services announced for Tauranga, adding a net 180 vessel visits a year.2011 - Expansion of the Sulphur Point Container Terminal underway, including a 170-metre wharf expansion, more container storage land and the planned purchase of a sixth ship-to-shore gantry crane.2012 - Underlying net profit after tax for the year to 30 June 2012 rises 26% to a record $73.5 million.2012 - Trade volumes increase 20% to 18.5 million tonnes from 15.4 million tonnes.2012 - Container volumes rise 35% to 796,024 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units).2012 - Container transhipment volumes rise 88% to 118,666 TEUs.2012 - Final dividend of 27 cents per share (total dividend payout up 26%).2012 - Log volumes up 11% to 4.9 million tonnes.2012 - Dairy volumes up 125% to 1.3 million tonnes.2012 - Seven new shipping services.2012 - Capex of $39 million primarily increasing capacity at the Terminal.2012 - Ordering of sixth and seventh cranes.2012 - 170 metre Sulphur Point wharf extension underway with completion due March 2013.August 2012 - Five associate and subsidiary Tapper Transport earnings up 7% to $13.3 million.November 2012 - Port of Tauranga sells its 50% shareholding in C3 Limited to Asciano.December 2012 - Port of Tauranga acquires 100% shareholding of Quality Marshalling.February 2013 - Port of Tauranga delivers another record half year result.March 2013 - consent granted for harbour dredging.April 2013 - official opening of expanded container wharf and sixth Super Post-Panamax gantry crane.2013 - Revenue increases 7% to $244.1 million.2013 - Reported net profit after tax rises 52% to $112.1 million.2013 - Underlying net profit after tax rises 5% to $77.2 million, a new record.2013 - Total trade volume increased by 3% to just over 19 million tonnes, driven by export growth of 6%.2013 - Log exports up 14% to 5.6 million JASM.2013 - Dairy exports up 27% to 1.682 million tonnes.2013 - Container volumes increase 7% to 848,384 twenty foot equivalent units (TEU) consolidating Port of Tauranga's position as NewZealand's largest container terminal.
2013 - Final dividend of 26 cents per share, lifting full-year dividend 18% to 46 cents per share.2013 - Capex of $68 million, largely to increase capacity at the Tauranga Container Terminal.The port has a total of 15 berths, of which 12 are located on the Mount Maunganui side of the harbour (general cargo such as wood, coal handling facilities, bulk liquids), while another 3 are located at the NZ$100 million Tauranga Terminal (containers, including refrigerated freight) at Sulphur Point on the Tauranga side.
The facilities also include two cold stores of 20,000 and 9,000 tonnes, 2.5 hectares of covered storage, 27 hectares of paved container yard, and more than 90 hectares of reserve land for future facilities and storage. The port has five Liebherr container cranes, one of panamax size, three of post panamax and one super post panamax. The container facilities served a total of 486 container ships in the 2007 financial year, which is set to grow by another 52 ships per year, with the port landing a major contract with CMA CGM in early 2008.
Port of Tauranga also operates an inland port in Southdown, Auckland, and for $15 million has recently (March 2010) acquired another freight hub, Tapper Transport, located adjacent to the site, intending to expand their Auckland business by adding Tapper's 90,000 TEU annual turnover to their existing business. On the Mount Maunganui side of the harbour, the Port of Tauranga has 2,055m of linear (continuous) berth face. Immediately adjacent to the wharf are cargo sheds and a 20,000 tonne capacity coldstore. Spread along the wharf are 22 bunker points to allow ships to refuel while loading or unloading. More than 90 hectares of back-up land is available for cargo handling and storage. To the south of the Mount Maunganui Wharf is the Tanker Berth:
The Tanker Berth was completed in 1980 and is dedicated to the transfer of dangerous goods in bulk. Activities include the discharging and/or loading of tankers carrying bulk fluids such as hydrocarbon oil products, chemicals and edible oils. A conveyor system is also used for loading wood-chips. The facility consists of a free standing wharf of 80 metres in length with dolphins at each end allowing for ships of up to 250 metres LOA to berth and pump ashore.
On the western side of the Port is Sulphur Point Opened in 1992, this facility features 770m of heavy-duty wharf, six container cranes and 27 hectares of paved container yard.
More than 25,000 m2 of covered storage is available for cargo handling, and a further 9,000 tonne coldstore caters for temperature controlled cargo. Almost 1,600 power points are available for refrigerated containers.
Maximum draught in channels is 13m HW and 11.7 LW. Depths alongside berths vary, please refer to "View Berth Information" below when planning specific deep draught vessels visiting the Port.
Dedicated road and rail access streamlines cargo movement to and from the terminal. Total land area in and around the terminal is 78 hectares providing for significant future growth.
Wharf Length
Mount Maunganui 2,055m Sulphur Point 770m
Berth Occupancy Statistics
Maximum Vessel Length 290m Berth Occupancy - Mount Maunganui 38.8% Berth Occupancy - Sulphur Point 43.3%
Container Cranes
36 Straddle Carriers Maximum Lift (tonnes) 45
12 Hoppers (capacity in tonnes) 50-300
Belt Conveyor Loader and Slinger
Woodchips (max tonnes/hour) 750
Cargo Storage Area Available sqm
Mount Maunganui Dry Storage Cold Storage General Cargo/Cool Storage 21,640 22,500 3,670 Sulphur Point Dry Storage Cold Storage 37,378 7,210
Off Wharf Storage (tonnes)
Petroleum Products Cement 115,000 2,250
Weighbridge (capacity in tonnes) 100
Available 24 hours a day on card system or operator by request.
Reefer Points
337 points are available at Mount Maunganui and 1600 at Sulphur Point.
Port of Tauranga Ltd was established in 1985, and has also established MetroPort Auckland in 1999, an inland port service. • Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) for the year to 30 June 2012 rose 26% to a new record of $73.5 million. Trading on the NZX as one of the 50largest listed companies of New Zealand with a current share price of $13.80 as of 12/10/2013, its market capitalisation is NZ$417 million (2 October 2007).
Several times in the late 2000s, Port of Tauranga has proposed to buy (or merge with) its larger rival Ports of Auckland (POAL). While this has been rebuffed by POAL (which is owned by the Auckland Regional Council, rather than listed on the NZX), Port of Tauranga is still as of August 2008 insisting that a merger of various New Zealand ports is required to make them competitive to Australia, or risk becoming a country solely of reshipment ports. In turn Ports of Auckland has proposed to buy only the container business of Ports of Tauranga, something which Port of Tauranga chairman John Parker notes would add little value.
