Maersk Line ship front

New Zealand's south island port, Otago, is expected to announce its plans to accomodate larger shipping vessels within three months, the NZ Herald has reported.

According to the local news site, chief executive of Port Otago, Geoff Plunket, will announce the port's new dredging plans, deepening the port to 14m to accomodate 6,500 TEU and 8,000 TEU vessels.

“We’re the deepest container port in New Zealand as it stands, so we’ve got a head start on everyone,” Plunket told the NZ Herald, adding that the dredging plans would be in line with commercial demands and cost around NZ$10m.

The plans follow the Port of Tauranga's agreement earlier this month to invest in infrastructure in order to bring in larger shipping vessels, with an agreement between Maersk Line and Kotahi to bring in 6,500 TEU ships.

“All the forecasts show that we need four major ports to become big ship capable,” said Michael Knowles, chairman of NZ Shippers Council. ”The only thing we would say is that we don’t want lessening of competition.”