Napier Port is set to welcome a fleet of self-driving trucks. The trucks (similar to inset) will feature autonomous technology. Photo / Supplied
Napier Port says the introduction of a dozen self-driving trucks will improve its operations and productivity, but won’t compromise safety.
The port is set to welcome a fleet of “battery-electric autonomous trucks and trailers” in 2026, which are being manufactured in China.
The investment for the 12 driverless vehicles is estimated between $20 million and $25m, which will cover the cost of the fleet as well as related works for the project, such as a battery swap station.
The port and the Port Industry Association understand it is a first for any port in New Zealand.
Port of Auckland previously introduced autonomous straddle carriers (effectively cranes that move on wheels), but that project proved unsuccessful and a decision was made in 2022 to shift back to manual operation of its carriers.
Napier Port’s incoming trucks will only be used around the container terminal and won’t be used outside the port.
“We will firstly introduce the truck and trailer units with drivers when they arrive on port and transition to autonomous,” a Napier Port spokesman said.
“Autonomous vehicles can operate independently and see their surroundings using advanced sensors, cameras and data.
“They are capable of making decisions in real time – like stopping if something is in their way.
“They still work within a defined area and under human supervision.
“Automated vehicles can perform tasks independently, but still follow a predefined set of rules or instructions.”
The move will result in “a small number of redundancies” within the heavy plant operator team, the port confirmed.
The port is using an undisclosed provider of autonomous technology for the project based in China, and the truck and trailer units themselves are Sany battery electric terminal tractors (a Chinese-based manufacturer).
The main function of the fleet is to change the way containers are moved between the container yard and ships.
“Our current container handling model relies on large diesel-powered reachstackers to vertically lift containers off a stack, and then horizontally transport containers between the container yard and the wharf,” the spokesman said.
“Reachstackers will still be used to lift containers from [a] stack, but instead of transporting them to the cranes, they will load the containers to a truck and trailer unit, which will then drive the container to shipside and vice versa.”
The changes to that model are expected to reduce equipment wear and maintenance costs for the reachstackers, decrease congestion within the container terminal (providing more space between rows and more storage capacity) and also improve productivity and efficiency.
As for safety, the spokesman said they had expanded the safety team to prepare for the changes and were working closely with an international consultant and Maritime New Zealand.
He claimed the new fleet would actually enhance safety at the port, as a new one-way traffic system was being introduced in the container terminal “which will reduce one of our major risks – vehicle collision".
The first truck is scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2026 from China, followed by the rest of the fleet later in the year.
The fleet will be gradually phased into operation.
The port says there will be new opportunities associated with the changes, and 11 staff are currently completing a New Zealand Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) through EIT.
Allan Addison-Saipe, the central region organiser for the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, the largest union at the port, said “if we look at ports overseas, there is a lot of automation”.
Addison-Saipe said for the jobs that were being disestablished, the union had a good rapport with Napier Port and he hoped those workers would be able to find other roles.
“We are a union and we are very much about keeping people employed.
“If automation is going to come and take our jobs, that is a concern, because jobs in ports are good jobs.
“They are good jobs for people and are pretty well-paid and most people that earn that money go out into the community and spend that money.”
As for safety for workers on the port, Addison-Saipe said “we will be watching very closely to make sure that people stay safe”.
“[Autonomous trucks are] an unproven technology in this country, it is used in other countries, but we haven’t seen it here before.”
Addison-Saipe said he was interested to see how traffic would be managed on the port, with trucks coming on to the port while the self-driving trucks were in operation. He understood a lot of work was going into that.
The port confirmed external trucks would still enter the container terminal, and the new one-way traffic system would apply to them as well.
Napier Port is 55% owned by Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company (essentially the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council) and 45% is listed on the NZX stock exchange.
Every Monday afternoon, the port has been running trials simulating how the new autonomous truck and trailer model will operate.
The trucks can be used with a driver in the cab, autonomously without a driver inside, or be controlled remotely from the office.
Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.