New Zealand Coastal Shipping Boost Biggest Turnaround This Century | Scoop News – Scoop

Wednesday, 25 May 2022, 9:10 amPress Release: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union says successful funding outcomes forcoastal shipping are a game changer for New Zealand shippingand the biggest turnaround for the industry thiscentury.

Maritime Union of New Zealand NationalSecretary Craig Harrison says the outcome will see four ormore New Zealand operated ships come into service on the NewZealand coast.

He says the new ships will have asubstantial positive impact on New Zealands supply chaincrisis as well as providing environmental benefits.

MrHarrison says it is essential the new ships are New Zealandflagged and New Zealand crewed to build resilience andcapability in the shipping sector.

Minister ofTransport Michael Wood announced on 24 May 2022 theGovernment had committed $30 million of funding for coastalshipping funding through the National Land TransportProgramme (NLTP) to improve domestic shipping services,reduce emissions, improve efficiency and upgrade maritimeinfrastructure.

Waka Kotahi worked with the widerfreight industry to select four applicants for co-investmentin new and enhanced coastal shipping services through theNLTP.

The four successful applicants were Coastal BulkShipping Ltd, Move International Ltd, Swire Shipping NZ Ltdand Aotearoa Shipping Alliance.

Mr Harrison says afterdecades of neglect, New Zealand coastal shipping had turneda corner and could now begin to fulfil itspotential.

The Maritime Union had relationships withseveral of the operators and would work to ensure crews wereavailable.

Mr Harrison says further investment intraining and skills for a new generation of New Zealandseafarers was an important aspect of rebuilding theindustry.

He says it is essential that a maritimetrading nation like New Zealand had shipping capability andskilled seafarers in an increasingly volatile globalsituation.

Coastal shipping was a low carbon emissiontransport mode, so provided environmental as well aseconomic benefits.

When the new shipping services arefully operational, the Government estimates they will removearound 35 million kilometres of truck travel from NewZealands roading network everyyear.

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New Zealand Coastal Shipping Boost Biggest Turnaround This Century | Scoop News - Scoop