Japanese ship renamed 'Lyttelton'

Lyttleton's Timeball Station in ruins after the February quake. Photo / NZ Herald

A Japanese shipping company has renamed one of its container ships in honour of the quake-damaged port of Lyttelton.

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) chartered the vessel, formerly called the CSAV Rahue, in late February.

After asking local staff for more appropriate New Zealand names, it's been renamed NYK Lyttelton.

"NYK felt that choosing to rename the vessel NYK Lyttelton was a way of giving recognition to the efforts of the management and staff of Lyttelton Port Company who had ensured the port returned to operation in swift time after two significant natural disasters," Lyttelton Port of Christchurch chief executive Peter Davie said.

The port was damaged in both the September and February quakes.

"For NYK to acknowledge Lyttelton in this way is a huge positive show of support for the port and the community in challenging times," Mr Davie said.

The ship is part of a consortium providing a weekly service for the importers and exports of Canterbury and is due to arrive in Lyttelton on Monday.

It is the only NYK vessel named after a port and the sixth commercial vessel named after Lyttelton.

- NZPA