SOUTH PORT S PEOPLE Misty Pringle, Dairy Supervisor

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1 January 2009 Vol 29 No. 1 Published by South Port NZ Ltd

SOUTH PORT S PEOPLE Misty Pringle, Dairy Supervisor FINDING REFUGE IN BLUFF Recently the converted trawler Waipori was contracted to tow the hopper barges WH 761 and WH 762 from Lyttelton to Adelaide

A quick diversion into Bluff soon had the problem sorted and the Waipori on her way again, the value of a major port on the southern approaches to the Tasman Sea, and the shortest route to South

2 SOUTH PORT S PEOPLE Misty Pringle, Dairy Supervisor FINDING REFUGE IN BLUFF Recently the converted trawler Waipori was contracted to tow the hopper barges WH 761 and WH 762 from Lyttelton to Adelaide but suffered fuel problems en route. A quick diversion into Bluff soon had the problem sorted and the Waipori on her way again, the value of a major port on the southern approaches to the Tasman Sea, and the shortest route to South Australia, being proved once again. On this occasion only the towing ability of the South Port tugs was required, next time it may be their salvage capabilities. Misty Pringle cannot claim to be Bluff born as she first saw the light of day in Balclutha, but as her parents moved to Bluff when Misty was very young she can certainly claim to be Bluff bred. Early schooling was at Bluff Primary School followed by Southland Girls High. This was interrupted in 1994 when Misty moved with her family to Australia, attending Sandgate District State High School. Fortunately Misty soon realised the error of her ways and returned to Bluff the following year, again attending Southland Girls High School. Her first work experience was an after-school job at a local dairy a portent of things to come, perhaps. Employment at the dairy continued while Misty attended courses at the Southland Polytechnic until South Port employed her in 1999 as an office temp and receptionist. Misty continued as an office worker at South Port until 2004 when she became Processed Forestry Administrator, mostly dealing with packaged lumber, fibreboard and veneer, generally for export to Asia. A downturn in processed forest products coincided with the establishment of the Open Country Dairy plant at Awarua exporting bagged milk products through Bluff. This allowed Misty a ready transfer as Open Country Dairy Supervisor, overseeing the reception, storage and despatch of milk products and completing the progression from dairy assistant to Dairy Supervisor. As most of this cargo is exported on the Capricorn Service of the Mediterranean Shipping Company it is appropriate that Misty also undertakes relief agency work for MSC vessels. In the multiskilled world of South Port Misty is also a qualified lines-handler and tug crew member. Away from work Misty both played and coached netball and softball and since 2001 has been a member of the local St Johns Ambulance crew. Supervising dairy; Misty Pringle checking cargo awaiting export. FRONT COVER Front cover South Port crane and container forklift working the MSC Antwerp, currently the longest vessel to have berthed in Bluff. The Bluff Portsider is compiled by South Port N.Z. Ltd P.O. Box 1, Bluff; TFN (03) ; Fax (03) ; reception@southport.co.nz; Website Mr M. O Connor, Chief Executive; Edited by Capt. D. A. Edge; Production by Craigs Design & Print, Invercargill

THE LONGSHIPS OF CAPRICORN The Mediterranean Shipping Company has expanded its Capricorn Service through Bluff with the introduction of additional vessels.

that title. At 238 metres the MSC Antwerp is the longest ship on the Capricorn Service.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company must have found the design particularly attractive as all but one of this class now sail for the company on various services.

3 THE LONGSHIPS OF CAPRICORN The Mediterranean Shipping Company has expanded its Capricorn Service through Bluff with the introduction of additional vessels. The distinction of being the longest ship to enter Bluff didn t remain long with the MSC Jeanne, mentioned in our previous issue, as the MSC Antwerp, with an overall length of 238 metres, now has that title. At 238 metres the MSC Antwerp is the longest ship on the Capricorn Service. One of the newest container ships deployed on the Capricorn service is the MSC Canberra, one of a series of ships built in Germany in this distinctive style, known as the Ecobox design. The Mediterranean Shipping Company must have found the design particularly attractive as all but one of this class now sail for the company on various services. The MSC Canberra making her first visit to Bluff. In terms of TEU capacity the largest ships on the revamped Capricorn Service are the MSC America and her sister MSC Basel, both of which can handle 2,680 TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Units). Like most modern container ships of this size both have their accommodation and engines located right aft leaving the largest possible deck area for containers. Preparing to board her pilot, the MSC America manoeuvring off Bluff.

BLUFF on Dairy L A road tanker arrives at the milk intake station The new Open Country Dairy milk processing plant at Awarua

one building stands out prominently in the sunlight.

additional export cargo through the port.

August 2007. Twelve months and eighty million dollars later it was open for business.

litres of milk required during the season for profitability, a figure comfortably exceeded.

4 BLUFF on Dairy L A road tanker arrives at the milk intake station The new Open Country Dairy milk processing plant at Awarua A view of a section of the wet processing area The Top Platform of the milk drier Look northwards from the port of Bluff and one building stands out prominently in the sunlight. This is the new milk powder processing plant operated by Open Country Dairy Limited at Awarua and the source of an additional export cargo through the port. Proposals to construct the Awarua plant, the first to be built by Open Country Dairy in New Zealand, were announced in August Twelve months and eighty million dollars later it was open for business. During the intervening twelve months local dairy farmers were signed up to ensure the plant received the minimum 120 million litres of milk required during the season for profitability, a figure comfortably exceeded. In fact Southland dairy farmers have embraced the new company enthusiastically. Originally known as Dairy Trust the company entered the New Zealand dairying industry with the purchase of a majority shareholding in Open Country Cheese in July 2007, the construction of the Awarua plant being its second major investment. The company intends to construct and operate a

FOCUS imited The Technopak packer filling bags for delivery to South Port network of dairy plants around the country,

Following completion of the Awarua plant the company is considering its options, among them the construction of a further

Now that it has become a major player in the New Zealand dairy industry, and in view of its association with Open Country

5 FOCUS imited The Technopak packer filling bags for delivery to South Port network of dairy plants around the country, concentrating on the main dairying regions of Southland, which is the fastest growing dairying region in the country, Taranaki, Waikato and Northland. Sites have been obtained in these areas and Southland is leading the way with the first construction. Following completion of the Awarua plant the company is considering its options, among them the construction of a further mirror-image plant at Awarua. Now that it has become a major player in the New Zealand dairy industry, and in view of its association with Open Country Cheese, Dairy Trust is in the throes of rebranding as Open Country Dairy, although, as may be seen, the accompanying photographs preceded this process. No sooner had the new milk powder plant opened than the first export shipments began arriving in Bluff where Open Country Dairy has leased storage space in one of South Port s cargo sheds. Milk powder is now shipped world-wide through Bluff, generally in containers departing on the Mediterranean Shipping Company s Capricorn Service. Open Country Dairy produce arriving at South Port for shipment Dairy products being containerised ready for export

NEW IMPORTER One consequence of the increase in dairying in Southland has been the importation of PKE Palm Kernel Extract through Bluff.

Gardner Smith. A new importer through Bluff is Ravensdowne, the well known fertiliser company, with its first shipment of PKE recently arriving aboard the Captain Corelli.

6 NEW IMPORTER One consequence of the increase in dairying in Southland has been the importation of PKE Palm Kernel Extract through Bluff. This is used in feed for livestock, particularly dairy cattle, and we have previously mentioned palm kernel imports for Winton Stock Feed and Dynes Stockfood, along with bulk molasses imports by Gardner Smith. A new importer through Bluff is Ravensdowne, the well known fertiliser company, with its first shipment of PKE recently arriving aboard the Captain Corelli. Road transport alongside the Captain Corelli NEW WAREHOUSE Although there has been a great increase in the movement of containerised cargo through the port this has not reduced the demand for covered storage for bulk and general cargoes. In fact demand has increased and as a result South Port is in the process of constructing a new multipurpose warehouse at a cost of some $3 million to provide 5,900 square metres of storage area. Located to the west of existing warehouses it is scheduled for completion in February The foundations are laid and the new warehouse begins to rise. NEW TANK Dairying is behind the new storage tank located to the west of number six berth. Being installed for Marstel Terminals Limited to store caustic soda, used for cleaning dairy sheds, a pipeline is under construction to the nearby number five berth which will be the dedicated caustic soda wharf. Quite a change from the days when it was known as The Meat-Loader Berth. Still very much a construction site but the caustic soda tank is secure behind its containing wall.

WHAT S IN A NAME? One of the shortest, and certainly one of the most unusual, names to be borne by a vessel at Bluff is that of the F & K.

No doubt they, along with F & K, make perfect sense if you know why they were so named.

Enunciate! A TRADITIONAL NAME Not too many years ago a Japanese ship s nationality was instantly revealed by her name, which invariably bore the suffix Maru. Not any more.

7 WHAT S IN A NAME? One of the shortest, and certainly one of the most unusual, names to be borne by a vessel at Bluff is that of the F & K. Largest of six ships managed by Fair Field Shipping K. K. of Tokyo her original name was K & A - presumably F & K was seen as an improvement. Two others in the fleet are Cocoa Heart and Pioneer Third. No doubt they, along with F & K, make perfect sense if you know why they were so named. Careful enunciation is imperative when calling the F & K on VHF - where the F & K is concerned diction is everything. Enunciate! Enunciate! A TRADITIONAL NAME Not too many years ago a Japanese ship s nationality was instantly revealed by her name, which invariably bore the suffix Maru. Not any more. These days most Japanese owned ships follow the corporate image path of incorporating the company s initials into their names. Fortunately at least one owner, Kambara Kisen, has resisted the trend as the visit of its bulk carrier Tenshu Maru will attest. In fact we are rather spoilt in Bluff with the Rakiura Maru also a regular visitor. The Tenshu Maru discharging fertiliser at number eight berth. THE LASCO NAME In last January s issue Clipper group featured on page 8. That article mentioned Clipper s takeover of the Lasco fleet which once traded regularly through Bluff, its Packing, Pacprince and Pacprincess in particular being frequent visitors. Following the takeover, which occurred in 2004, one of the first deliveries to Clipper Group was named Clipper Lasco and she recently visited Bluff reviving memories of a once familiar fleet. The Clipper Lasco looking pristine at Tiwai.

DORVAL KAIUN K. K. The Dorval D with bow wave The Dorval D cutting a foaming bow-wave across the funnel is one of the more familiar insignia seen on the Bluff waterfront.

with less frequent services from New Zealand to South East Asia, Europe and the America s.

Considering the company s origins this concentration on Australasia is not surprising. In May 1970 Dorval Tankships Proprietary Limited was established in Melbourne as a partnership between Mr T.

8 DORVAL KAIUN K. K. The Dorval D with bow wave The Dorval D cutting a foaming bow-wave across the funnel is one of the more familiar insignia seen on the Bluff waterfront. Operating one of the most modern fleets of chemical tankers in the world, with an average age of less than eight years, Dorval has fortnightly sailings between North Asia, Australia and New Zealand, with less frequent services from New Zealand to South East Asia, Europe and the America s. With a fleet of twenty-five chemical tankers, and a further five on order, Dorval offers more sailings in the Far East/South East Asia/Australasia region than any other operator. Considering the company s origins this concentration on Australasia is not surprising. In May 1970 Dorval Tankships Proprietary Limited was established in Melbourne as a partnership between Mr T. Sato and Mr E. V. Vine to operate chemical tankers between the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. A branch office was formed in Tokyo the following January. The Tokyo branch evolved into Dorval Kaiun K. K. in August 1973, being established to acquire and manage the company s ships. Increasingly the Tokyo office became the hub around which the company operated and the management of fleet operations was One of the company s older ships, the Golden Lucy 1, in Bluff Harbour The chemical tanker Golden Kaori outbound transferred there in October Tokyo thus became the company s head office. One of the company s founders, Mr Tadashi Sato, assumed the role of Chairman in From its early trade between Asia and Australasia the company expanded into a trans-pacific service via the Panama Canal to service the huge petro-chemical industries around U.S. Gulf ports and an office in Houston opened in Services to Europe followed with Dorval Shipping Limited being established in London in Apart from the head office in Tokyo other Asian branches may be found in Pusan, which opened in 1997, and Dalian, founded in Of its current fleet nearly half are committed to the JANZ Japan, Australia, New Zealand Service, although capable of trading elsewhere if required, while the rest are employed in Dorval s world-ranging activities, which cover three distinct trade routes. These include a Pacific Service, offering regular liftings from the USA via the Panama Canal to Asian destinations in the Japan to Singapore range, returning to the USA through either Suez or Panama, depending upon cargo and contract requirements. There are also sailings from the USA via Panama to Australia and New Zealand, from which destinations vessels generally back load for South East Asia, often returning to the USA via India and the Suez Canal. The third major trade route is from Asia to Europe and back, with new trades under constant review. By operating smaller tankers in the 9,000 to 23,000 tonne range Dorval Kaiun is able to work smaller, developing ports and can also offer a virtual door to door service. Chemical tankers are enormously complex ships, often with individual pumps and pipework for each tank to avoid cross-contamination of cargo while, depending upon the proposed cargoes to be carried, tanks and pipework are generally constructed of stainless steel or are epoxy coated. This results in a very sophisticated vessel costing considerably more than a conventional oil tanker of similar size. Consequently chemical tankers cannot operate economically in the way conventional tankers do, where they may spend up to half their time at sea in ballast. Rather, chemical tankers tend to follow established trade patterns where back load cargoes are available, thereby minimizing ballast passages. This is very evident locally where Dorval tankers frequently discharge an inward cargo of molasses then back load tallow for Asia or Europe from the Port of Bluff.

September 2008 Vol 28 No. 3 Published by South Port NZ Ltd

September 2008 Vol 28 No. 3 Published by South Port NZ Ltd SOUTH PORT S PEOPLE ruslan mitlash, Pilot The newest member of South Port s maritime staff, Ruslan Mitlash, recently passed the examination for