Centreport, the publicly owned terminal operator in the Port of Wellington, New Zealand is seeking resource consents to dredge the shipping channel to accommodate 8,000-TEU vessels, almost twice the size of the ships now calling at the nation’s capital. The project is expected to cost between US$20 million and $40 million, and would be funded by existing facilities. This comes as the terminal operator plans to be among a handful of hub ports capable of receiving larger ships in future. Centreport CEO Blair O’Keefe told New Zealand’s National Business Review that the project involves deepening two sections of the shipping channel at the harbour entrance and berth to up to 14.5 metres from 11.5 metres. “Our view is that New Zealand needs a north, centre and southern hub structure, which reflects where the population and trade bases are,” Mr O’Keefe said. “This is driven by commercial requirements.” The company has established inland freight hubs in New Plymouth, Palmerston north, Whanganui and Blenheim. That allows it to draw from an area that contributes 27 per cent of the country’s GDP. Last year, the ports of Auckland and Napier port as well as storage and logistics group Icepak New Zealand set up a joint venture to build an inland port and freight hub in Palmerston north. Port Otago also has consents to deepen its harbour channels to allow for 8,000-TEU ships. The port of Tauranga has seven container cranes to Wellington’s two. Mr O’Keefe said the port has plans to add a third crane “when the need arises.” CentrePort plans to begin consulting with stakeholders, and aims to lodge a consent application in the middle of the year, and request a referral to a board of inquiry via the Environmental Protection Authority. CentrePort is 77 per cent owned by the Wellington regional council and 23 per cent owned by Horizons regional council, whose territory extends from Horowhenua and Tararua to include Ruapehu in the central North Island.