Port Otago a step closer to handling 8,000 teu ships

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 May 2010

The world’s most southerly container port is a step closer to being able to accept 8,000 teu class container vessels. Port Otago has lodged a resource consent application with the Otago Regional Council for its proposed $100 million channel deepening project following an exhaustive environmental consultation.
Port Otago, which lies in the southeast of New Zealand’s south island, plans to deepen its 13km of channel from Port Chalmers to Aramoana’s salt marshes, opposite Taiaroa Head, removing and disposing of up to 7.2 million cubic metres of silt and sand, mainly 6.5km out to sea.
The channel can at present cater for ships up to 281m in length, 12.5m draught carrying 4,100 teu. The deepening and widening will allow super post panamax ships up to 347m in length with a draught of 14.5m carrying up to 8,000 teu to access Port Chalmers. 

Source: SeatradeAsia-Online