Update to Berth Allocation Process – General Cargo
January 13th, 2026
Kia ora,
As part of our ongoing focus on berth productivity, fair and consistent application of rules, and accurate planning information across the port, Napier Port has completed a trial of updated berthing protocols for General Cargo (GC) vessels.
The trial has helped clarify expectations, improve pre-vessel planning discipline, minimise disruption for waiting vessels, and support a more efficient whole-of-port approach to berth allocation and vessel execution. Following this trial, these protocols will now apply going forward.
These protocols are intended to ensure that pre-vessel notes represent the agreed plan for the vessel to work to throughout loading, unless formally approved changes are agreed with the Port.
Please review the confirmed protocols below. These will be published on the Napier Port website and form part of our standard GC planning process.
Berthing Protocols for General Cargo – Pre-Vessel Berthing
Pre-Vessel Meetings:
Pre-vessel meetings will be scheduled for 11:30hrs on the day prior to the vessel’s expected start date.
Pre-Vessel Notes:
Notes summarizing the vessel line-up will be distributed by 12:00hrs on the same day as the pre-vessel meeting.
Weekend Arrivals:
For vessels set to commence operations on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, the pre-vessel meeting will be held on the preceding Friday at 11:30hrs, with notes sent out at 12:00hrs.
Weekend Monitoring:
The on-call General Cargo Planner will review the status of upcoming vessels at 12:00hrs on both Saturday and Sunday, and any changes will be communicated to the relevant agents.
Volume Adjustments:
Importers and exporters may adjust pre-vessel volumes by up to 10% during vessel loadings. Initial volumes must be confirmed at the pre-vessel meeting, with flexibility to change by +/- 10%. This is largely to account for variances in log weights for log export vessels.
Approval for Significant Volume Changes:
Any additional volume changes beyond the 10% variance must be approved by the GC team.
Export Cargo Requirement:
For export shipments, a minimum of 90% of the intended cargo must be on-site by the time loading begins.
Gang Strength and / or Vessel Performance:
A reduction in the number of working gangs, or vessel exchange rate, may result in the vessel being required to leave the berth, at the vessel’s expense.
Gang Strength Updates:
The stevedore is responsible for keeping Napier Port informed of any changes to gang strength or vessel completion times during operations. This will be reviewed in conjunction with daily updates received by the vessel’s agent.
Vessel shift costs to make way for a vessel with a berth priority or adverse weather:A vessel will have to depart a berth if any incoming vessel has a berth priority (e.g Container Vessels, Cruise Vessels) and pay the vessel shift cost if it can be moved to another berth, or to and from anchor to continue loading. This also applies for vessels impacted by adverse weather. Acceptance of shift costs are required at the pre-vessel meeting before the vessel is allowed to berth.
These rules are applied in conjunction with Napier Port’s 6 Day Berthage and Cargo Advice Form.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or the Planning team.
Ngā mihi,
Adam Harvey Henri Purvis Chief Operating Officer Business Development Manager – Commercial
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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