The prospect that Auckland's port could move north will take a back seat to plans to deepen the existing shipping channel and cater for larger container ships, Ports of Auckland said on Friday.
Consideration of the company's request to dredge the Waitemata navigation channel will start on Monday, when a panel will hear evidence from the 200 submitters on the plan.
Ports of Auckland notified its consent application on November 21 for what will a two-stage dredging programme, initially allowing entry by container ships able to carry the equivalent of 6,000 to 7,000 twenty-foot containers.
The second stage will cater for New Panamax container ships with a 12,000 TEU capacity, the company said. The larger vessels, which are 366 metres in length, have a maximum draft of 15.2 metres and will rely on tidal windows to both enter and leave the port, it said.
The port said the 12.5-metre channel will be deepened to 14 metres on the straights, to 14.2 metres on the bends and the berth will be dredged to 15.5 metres so ships can stay through a full tidal cycle.