There are concerns in the maritime sector that petrol supplies could be affected by the same type of shipping disruptions creating chaos in other supply chains.
Three unions; the Maritime Union of New Zealand, New Zealand Merchant Service Guild and Aviation and Marine Engineers Association are mounting a united campaign to save New Zealand's coastal tankers – MT Kokako and MT Matuku.
The two current New Zealand oil tankers are chartered by Coastal Oil Logistics, a joint venture between BP Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited and the Z Energy Group, who are also major shareholders in Refining NZ, who operate Marsden Point.
New Zealand tankers currently deliver fuel to New Zealand ports from Marsden Point.
It was confirmed in November last year that the Marsden Point refinery would close in April.
Earlier this month, the Unions stated their understanding that the two tankers' operator, Silver Fern Shipping, notified employees in late 2021 that the vessels would also be taken out of service by April this year.
Maritime Union of New Zealand national secretary Craig Harrison suggests the vessels are under immediate threat of being replaced by petrol companies using direct imports from overseas tankers.
He believes this will create a reliance on overseas shipping which, combined with the running down of New Zealand's shipping capability could lead to a 'perfect storm”.
He says it is bizarre that, at a time when international shipping was in chaos, New Zealand was 'sleepwalking” towards a similar situation with fuel imports.
'It is essential the same problems occurring in the container trade are not allowed to replicate with New Zealand fuel supplies,” says Craig.
Craig says New Zealand coastal tankers provided a dedicated service and a level of redundancy which could not be guaranteed by overseas shipping, despite what petrol companies say.
There are numerous scenarios where outside situations could result in disruption and delays with overseas shipping, he says.
He suggests a solution to shipping congestion would be to rebuild New Zealand domestic shipping capability, reducing the reliance on overseas shipping.
'This includes keeping New Zealand coastal oil tankers in service to reduce the risk of delays or service failure,” he says.
4 comments
Yes
Posted on 27-01-2022 10:14 | By Kancho
We sleep walk a lot in NZ . Always late to do anything it seems. Coastal shipping has been in serious decline for decades so we end up with more and more trucks in the roads and the problems they bring. New Zealand was built on coastal shipping and we ignore the problem at our peril. Water conveyance is essential to us for import and export being an island nation, so should distribution and movement.
Government sleepwalking
Posted on 27-01-2022 11:12 | By Johnney
Yes, they attack the oil companies and now we are at great risk of a shaky shipping system to rely on our direct fuel imports. It’s not sleepwalking, it literally sleeping at the wheel.
Not Just Shipping
Posted on 27-01-2022 13:16 | By Bob Landy
The country’s entire energy policies are a complete mess. This is what happens when you have climate activists and assorted greenies setting policy.
Sleepwalk?
Posted on 29-01-2022 17:56 | By morepork
It seems to me to be more of a nightmare. And there is no sign of soon waking.
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