A 7000-tonne capacity motorised barge intended as the centrepiece of the revival of bulk shipments from NZ South Island West Coast ports berthed yesterday [22 July] at Nelson to complete regulatory formalities.
The 98-metre Manahau was purchased last year by Christchurch-based Westland Mineral Sands (WMS Group) as Star Victory from Filipino owners and sent to the ASL Batam shipyard for an extensive refit, which has brought the vessel up to RINA class and Niue flag status, supported by Maritime New Zealand.
Refit works included overhauled engines, azimuth drive shafts and bow thrusters, as well as brand new electronics, navigation equipment, accommodation, electrical wiring, and steel plates. Manahau has had a full repaint, inside and out.
At Nelson it is undergoing customs clearance and MNZ inspection before moving to Westport under the auspices of WMS Group member West Coast Bulk Logistics to load an inaugural shipment of heavy mineral sands for transfer to a deepsea bulker anchored in Buller Bay.
The company says Manahau’s arrival will complete a long held and ambitious plan to see shipping and port operations resume on the West Coast.
“WCBL, through its lease of ports at Greymouth and Westport, is investing in upgrades to the existing infrastructure to ensure these publicly-owned assets can not only meet the needs of the mineral sands operation but also better serve the community in an emergency scenario.
“Together with our motorised barge, these ports will play a vital role in moving goods in and out of the West Coast region if road access becomes difficult. The coastal shipping network we are developing will also support faster and more efficient recovery efforts, moving rock and aggregate to where it is needed most in New Zealand,” WMS said.
“Resilience is about more than just withstanding a disaster, for our local businesses it means having options for secure market access. Our multi-purpose vessel and coastal shipping network will offer a low-carbon solution for other industries and businesses to get their products to the domestic market in a more cost-effective way than moving goods by road.”
