Port strike delays continue to hit transporters

The Ports of Auckland strike may be over for now, but things are yet to return to normal for transport firms.

“Far from it, although the logical reaction would be to assume that everything was normal,” says National Road Carriers Association chairman Chris Carr.

“You could liken it to an earthquake, where once the shaking has finished there is a whole lot of work to be done to return to normal.

"This is nothing like the scale of Christchurch, but the principle is valid.”

Last month Mr Carr told NBR ONLINE it was taking as long as seven hours for containers to be picked up by transporters. Delays are now averaging three hours.

While the strike ended on April 6, two short weeks as a result of the Easter weekend and this week’s Anzac Day have added to the problem.

Mr Carr says the overall drop of productivity is now 20%, an improvement on the 40% productivity drop he predicted last month.

Documentation errors have added to the confusion and frustration for transporters, with more delays expected when containers in Tauranga and Wellington are shipped to Auckland.

“Metroport is still very busy sorting out the delayed containers and there are still delays while this occurs," he says.

"There are still lots of containers which have been discharged in other ports are yet to arrive in Auckland.”

Mr Carr says it may take up to four weeks for some normality to return to operations. In the meantime, delays as a result of detention and demurrage can be expected.

“The port needs to review its demurrage policies for a period of at least two months and be more flexible when determining the needs of the transport industry.” 

Retailers Association chief executive John Albertson says retailers haven’t been too badly affected by the latest delays as most had to make arrangements for trans-shipment by rail during the strike.

“Retailers managed to hold off on any significant out of stock situations by re-routing their goods to other ports.

"They will probably now start moving their goods back through to Auckland, so we are hoping it will be business as usual within the next three to four weeks,” he says.