Coastal Tankers under threat

Coastal tankers provide lifeline

New Zealand’s energy security is under threat as New Zealand flagged coastal tankers face an uncertain future. The proposed closure of the Marsden Point oil refinery leaves big questions as to how fuel will be delivered in future to New Zealand ports.

Two New Zealand flagged and New Zealand crewed coastal tankers currently operate on the New Zealand coast, the MT Kokako and the MT Matuku.

The vessels are managed by New Zealand operator Silver Fern Shipping Limited and owned by international operator ASP Ship Management Group, which charters them to Coastal Oil Logistics Limited (COLL).

COLL transports petroleum products from Marsden Point to New Zealand ports on behalf of its shareholders BP, Mobil and Z.

If New Zealand coastal tankers are removed from the picture, it will be a blow to national supply chain security. Global shipping and logistics are already in turmoil, with major problems due to shipping shortages and port congestion. If fuel deliveries were to come in on overseas ships direct to New Zealand ports, this leaves New Zealand wide open to the same type of disruption that has affected shipping and ports globally in the last year, but for essential fuel supplies.

Coastal tankers are able to offer a backup during disasters such as earthquakes or flooding that disrupt land based fuel movements, providing a level of redundancy in the supply chain.

The fuel pipeline rupture between Marsden Point and Auckland in 2017 was a real life example where coastal tankers provided a backup.

This would not happen if we are dependent on overseas tankers who were locked into schedules and had no other commitment to New Zealand.

It’s essential a maritime nation like New Zealand has the ability and resilience to service its own ports with its own shipping.

Coastal fuel tankers are a major part of the mix. Let’s keep them online.

Former Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson leaves his Remuera home on the evening of 12 August, hours after charges were filed against him in relation to the death of Amo Kalati. Media sought comment at his home, and an unidentified woman said via intercom Gibson was not at the property but was in Papamoa. Shortly after, Gibson left the house in an Audi SUV.

Charges against POAL, former CEO

The Ports of Auckland and its former CEO Tony Gibson are facing charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 filed by Government agency Maritime New Zealand at the Auckland District Court.

Mr Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati was killed at POAL on 30 August 2020 after being crushed when a container was dropped during a lifting operation on the night shift.

31-year old Mr Kalati was a father of seven and had only been working at the Ports for a short time.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says the Union made repeated attempts for a number of years to call attention to health and safety issues at POAL.

An independent review commissioned by POAL owners Auckland City found systemic problems around the health and safety management culture at the Ports.

It is the first time a chief executive from a company of POAL’s size had been charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

The former chair of the POAL Board Liz Coutts and former CEO of POAL Tony Gibson have both resigned since the 2020 death of Mr Kalati.

On Friday 4 December 2020, POAL was sentenced for their role in the death of another young employee in 2018 and fined over half a million dollars.

We’re backing Fremantle workers

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is backing Fremantle port workers in their dispute with Qube Stevedores. The dispute has identified global shipping conglomerate Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WWL) as one of the drivers behind the scenes.

The Maritime Union of Australia are in dispute with Qube Ports Pty Ltd regarding the negotiation of a new Enterprise Agreement in the Port of Fremantle. Union labour has not been employed by Qube in Fremantle since 30 July 2021, and scab labour has been used on five WWL ships.

A financial donation from MUNZ national office and branches has been sent to the Fremantle port workers.

During lengthy negotiations between the MUA and the employer, Qube have laid responsibility for their refusal to agree to claims around work allocation, shifts, rosters and planned time off on their clients including WWL.

The dispute with Qube is not about wages but is focussed firmly on providing workers with a safer work environment, says the MUA.

Bargaining claims are primarily about improving fatigue management practices and occupational health and safety on the job while ensuring that workers have a proper work-life balance.

The use of scab non-skilled labour in the dispute is entirely unacceptable to the Maritime Union of New Zealand and its branches in all ports of New Zealand.