Port of Tauranga eyes Clifford Bay

Tranz Rail had been expected to announce this month whether it would relocate its Interisland ferry service from Picton to Clifford Bay.

But Interisland line group general manager Thomas Davis said today that the company's focus on its financial status, including financing the Aratere lease agreement, had delayed analysis on Clifford Bay and a final decision would now not be made until the first quarter of next year.

If the move goes ahead the new terminal, 44km south of Blenheim, is estimated to cost about $90 million.

Mr Davis said that as well as overseas companies, four New Zealand ports had expressed interest in the Clifford Bay terminal proposal, including the Port of Tauranga.

Port of Tauranga chief executive Jon Mayson confirmed today that the port company was interested in the potential of Clifford Bay.

"We've not seen any figures on it or economic models but if they appear we would be interested in looking at it to see if it made any sense," Mr Mayson said.

Mr Mayson could not say what the port's role would be if it did become involved in the Clifford Bay project, but said "if Tranz Rail are going to proceed we'd be interested in looking at it."

Mr Davis said Tranz Rail would be looking for a company which could bring expertise in such things as wharf maintenance and breakwaters.

Port of Tauranga is one of New Zealand's most innovative and financially secure ports.

It operates Metroport, an inland port at Onehunga, Auckland, in partnership with Tranz Rail, and operates Northport, New Zealand's newest and deepest port at Marsden Point, in a joint venture with the Northland Port Corp.

For the year ended June 30, Port of Tauranga handled 11.39 million tonnes of cargo, an increase of 11.2 percent, and recorded a net profit of $25.9 million -- up 15.6 percent.

Port Marlborough chairman Ken Forrest was this morning not available to comment on whether his port had also expressed interest in the Clifford Bay proposal.

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