20 Sep 2012

New shipping line means fewer layoffs at port

4:35 pm on 20 September 2012

Timaru's Prime Port will not have to lay off as many workers as originally planned following news Mediterranean Shipping Lines will use the port.

Forty-two full time jobs were due to be cut at the end of the month after two shipping companies, Maersk Shipping and Hamburg Sud, said they would no longer visit the port.

Thursday's announcement means 19 jobs will now be cut, with 23 workers staying on to work at the port.

Port chief executive Jeremy Boys is hopeful the faith Mediterranean Shipping has shown in the port will eventually lead to others doing the same in future.

Mr Boys says a huge volume of cargo is produced in the region "...typically growing at up to 6% a year in terms of actual volume, so we would like to think that this is only a start of more opportunities to come".

He says the decision also means a further 30 casual workers will have more opportunities for work.