COVID-19: Import Uplift Guidance and Updates
Kia ora,
We hope you are all keeping well and navigating the current Alert Level 4 restrictions. Our teams are continuing to make the necessary adjustments to ensure our port operations continue as smoothly as possible, and with the appropriate health and safety protocols in place. We have provided some important guidance below to assist us in this process going forward. Thank you again for your ongoing support and cooperation as we work through this challenging time.
Import Uplift and Ministry of Transport Guidance for Transport
In order to ensure the continuous flow of essential cargo through the port, we are requesting that all importers make the necessary arrangements to uplift their containers within current free time allowances. This is critically important so that we can avoid congestion and remain operational during the lockdown period and beyond. Napier Port is operating with a full programme of shipping over the next two weeks and does not have capacity to store containers on port.
Ministry of Transport guidance on essential transport services is a lot broader than last year’s lockdown restrictions and makes allowance for all import uplifts:
“During this time, it is important that New Zealand’s transport system operates smoothly. Certain business and movement is still permitted at Alert Level 4, including freight services by road, rail, air or sea. Other transport and logistics services can also continue to operate at Alert Level 4.
This includes services at ports, container yards, distribution centres, couriers, postal services, and services necessary to maintain or service these Alert Level 4 businesses.”
Ministry of Transport has provided a list of recommended evidence for travel at Alert Level 4 available here. The Ministry are also providing regular Alert Level 4: COVID-19 Guidance for Transport updates, with yesterday’s update available here for your reference.
Again, the Ministry of Transport have set up the following email address to address the large number of queries they are receiving – essentialtransport@transport.govt.nz.
6 Wharf Works Re-commencement
We were pleased to receive formal advice from the Ministry of Transport yesterday afternoon that construction of 6 Wharf can continue under the current Alert Level 4 restrictions. As per the Ministry’s guidance, our 6 Wharf development has been deemed “nationally important infrastructure to support supply chains which provide for either the current needs of people and communities or will enable/support COVID recovery“.
Works will re-commence in earnest today with appropriate Alert Level 4 health and safety protocols in place.
Arrival of Mattina into Napier Port
Last month, crew members on board the Mattina container ship tested positive for COVID-19. They were transferred into isolation facilities and the Mattina remained berthed at South Port.
On 18 August, the Mattina and its crew were officially cleared by health officials following deep cleaning procedures under Southern DHBs infection, prevention and control advice and guidance.
As part of our preparations for allowing its entry into Napier Port, we have spoken in detail to our colleagues at South Port, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Hawke’s Bay DHB (HBDHB). We are confident that all reasonable precautions have been taken and the vessel is safe to berth here this weekend. These precautions include all crew returning negative COVID-19 tests and the vessel being granted pratique by the HBDHB to berth at Napier.
Napier Port continues to take a firm position regarding the protection of our border and keeping everyone on port and in the community safe. To read further details of our decision related to the Mattina and our border protocols please see our full statement here.
Port Pass Card Collection Suspended under Level 4
As we navigate the recent move to Alert Level 4 there will be some temporary changes to Port Pass services at Napier Port. The following information has already been communicated to Port Pass company administrators and is copied again here for wider reference.
As an essential lifeline service, Napier Port will continue to operate during Alert Level 4. You will be able to apply online for a Port Pass as usual, but will only be able to collect your card at Alert Levels 1 and 2.
If you are working in an essential industry and do not yet have a Port Pass card, you will be allowed to access Napier Port so long as you have:
A valid health and safety induction (see instructions below)
A valid form of photo identification
A sound business reason for accessing Napier Port
To get a valid health and safety induction, please:
1. Apply for a Port Pass card at portpass.co.nz
2. Validate your email
3. Follow up with your company administrator to pay the invoice.
4. You will then receive a health and safety induction to complete.
5. Present the induction certificate to Security, either in hard copy or on your phone, along with your form of ID
If you are working in an essential service and have a query about Port Pass, please contact our team at support@portpass.co.nz.
Keeping you informed
We’ll be staying in touch as the situation evolves, and if there’s anyone else in your business who would like to be on our mailing list, please send their name and email to communications@napierport.co.nz.
If you have any questions, please contact our Commercial team on commercialdepartment@napierport.co.nz, but bear in mind that they may be busy with many customer enquiries.
Stay well.
Kind regards,
David Kriel
General Manager Commercial
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Sustainability aligned with global goals:
At the United Nations summit meeting in September 2015, world leaders adopted 17 global goals (and 169 targets) as a set of universal goals that aim to address the urgent environmental, political and economic challenges facing our world. These are known as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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