Freight mover Toll New Zealand has joined Mainfreight in prioritising inter-island freighting movements for the South Island, with Ports of Auckland expecting a doubling of shipping space demand between Auckland and Christchurch.
With CentrePort in Wellington's rail wharf out of action following earthquake damage, and still under assessment, transport operators are concerned about a rail-container bottleneck developing in the capital.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson said: "While the sudden increase in freight does put pressure on us, we will do everything we can to make sure the goods get through as quickly as possible."
Container mover Toll New Zealand yesterday joined Mainfreight in saying it had made arrangements with both domestic operators and international shipping lines to use coastal shipping, Toll NZ general manager Greg Miller told the ODT when contacted for comment.
"We have also activated an intermodal road and rail combination for services interisland, alongside installing significant additional road services interisland," Mr Miller said.