Service boost for PrimePort

After a hard year, in which PrimePort lost a big contract and suffered staff cutbacks, a new shipping service is expected to bring jobs for PrimePort workers.

Stevedoring company ISO has won a multi-year contract to load export timber and sawn logs on to Pacific Basin ships. ISO loads about three ships a month in Timaru, bringing in staff from its Nelson base to do the work. With its new contract, ISO has chosen to cross-hire PrimePort staff to load the Pacific Basin ship.

ISO managing director Greg Dickson said the deal made sense.

"I have been watching the media and seeing the situation in Timaru. I think it makes good sense to use local people; it's good financial sense and it builds up skills in the area," Mr Dickson said. "In the context of Fonterra's recent withdrawal of exports from Timaru and the impact of that on the port and its people as well as the region, we have deliberately sought to resource our stevedoring contracts here in a way that mitigates rather than exacerbates those pressures."

Mr Dickson said ISO's relationship with Pacific Basin was important and would be important for Timaru.

"We are pleased to have local resourcing arrangements in place that will not only ensure fulfilment of our contractual obligations to Pacific Basin, but that also contribute to preserving local jobs for PrimePort's personnel and the port's viability, and underscoring its efficiency as an export hub."

Including the other contracts held by ISO, Mr Dickson said the cross-hire arrangement with PrimePort could mean an extra week of work a month for staff working on ISO-stevedored ships.

Pacific Basin ship Black Forest is in port and loading is expected to start this weekend. The Black Forest will transport its cargo to India and the Middle East.

PrimePort chief executive Jeremy Boys was pleased Pacific Basin was picking up the service which would be "putting on a more assured, regular service" into the port.

"The service through the Middle East and India probably replicates previous services provided by other parties.

"We are very pleased to see that Pacific Basin are taking up that role."

- © Fairfax NZ News