Eastland Port log flow is increasing

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Eastland Port is still feeling the effects of weather events over the past few weeks.

Before the two floods on June 4 and June 12, there were about 12,000 tonnes of logs coming to the port each day.

This dropped to as low as 5000 tonnes a day last week. But the tonnage is slowly increasing.

Eastland Port general manager Andrew Gaddum said 7800 tonnes came in on Monday, 8000 tonnes on Tuesday and another 8000 tonnes was expected yesterday.

Eastland Port has received a cancellation from one ship. African Quail was due on Thursday next week but will now bypass Eastland Port.

Mr Gaddum said the pending arrival of long or infra-gravity waves has necessitated a suspension to loading on to the ship Corio Bay.

“These waves cause problems in harbours around the world. They cannot be seen as they are usually masked by the sea and swell waves. But they can energise a moored ship and cause excessive movement and surging against the mooring lines.

“As Corio Bay was due to be heavily loaded when the infra-gravity waves were forecast for tonight, we have decided to pause loading so she can be easily moved into safe anchorage in Poverty Bay if needed. Work will resume once the weather event has passed.”