December port figures looking ‘very positive’

Gisborne Herald file picture by Liam Clayton

Eastland Port exported just over 280,000 tonnes of logs in November despite weather delays that cost 63 hours of loading time, and 50 hours of anchor testing.

The December shipping throughput looks very positive.

“It's looking like the port will be sending the year off with some strong figures,” said Eastland Group chief operating officer Andrew Gaddum.

The 13 ships booked in for this month have been expected to take more than 300,000 tonnes of log cargo out of the region.

“After the challenging year this has been, and as the port plans to begin stage 1 of our twin berth project, it's really encouraging to finish 2020 with such strong figures and bookings.

“This is testament to everyone — customers, ISO, port staff and others all working together and demonstrating strong resilience, which is having a positive flow-on effect for our regional economy and the community.”

The Paiwan Wisdom, currently alongside the wharf loading, would sail sometime Saturday afternoon, to be followed over the next two weeks by the Yangtze Flourish, Stanley Bay, IVA Kingbird, Timaru Star, Daiwan Justice, Yangtze Eternal, and then the Andalucian Zephyr, due on December 24, to depart December 30.

The port has shipping booked for January but details have yet to be finalised.

There will be a lull in ship activity between January 7 and 13 to allow for maintenance work.