Ports of Auckland corrects market misinformation

AspectHuntley’s statement that Port of Tauranga was capable of handling larger ships with lower capital investment than Ports of Auckland was incorrect and “the claim that Ports of Auckland needs to spend $200m on dredging to accommodate the new generation of larger container vessels is untrue,” said Madsen.

Mr Madsen said the Rangitoto channel was already capable of taking the larger vessels, within tidal windows comparable to those regularly applied at a number of other international ports.

“Ports of Auckland has already completed a major channel dredging project and invested in new cranes and straddles,” Mr Madsen said. “We are fortunate that the Waitemata Harbour has a substantial tidal range and as a consequence the depth of water at high tide is greater than at most other New Zealand ports.”