Company feels confident

Press, 18 May 1989, Page 22

Company feels confident

Six months after taking over the commercial activities of the Port of Lyttelton, the Lyttelton Port Company is working hard to attract new business.

The director of the company, Mr Alan Shadwell, said that although the directors had brought with them a wealth of experience in commercial matters they did not all have a background associated with ports and the waterfront. A considerable amount of time had been spent reviewing policy and procedures to provide that background, Mr Shadwell said.

A company plan has been developed to look at new projects and port development.

Large projects being investigated by the company relate to the export of West Coast coal, the development of a cement trade through the port, and a bid to attract the Soviet South Pacific deepsea fishing fleet to Lyttelton for servicing. Mr Shadwell said another key matter being addressed by the directors is the responsibility for the standard of service at the port. “In the past it has not always been the Lyttelton Harbour Board or the Lyttelton Port Company who have been responsible to provide a particular service, but when criticism is levelled, the party supplying the service is often overlooked.”

ffl/tr Shadwell said the

company was particularly pleased with the increased handling rates being achieved with the loading of coal export vessels.

The China Ocean Shipping Company has also shown its confidence in the port by introducing larger vessels on its direct shipping service, linking China and New Zealand.

Handling rates per crane in the container terminal also compared favourably with any container port in the world, Mr Shadwell said. The accounts of the port company have not yet been completed, but it was clear the company was profitable, he said. Shareholders will receive a company report at sie end of the mosh.