Noisy ships still an issue
NOISE issues from the relatively new Rioclass of container ships visiting Port Chalmers are continuing to cause problems for both Port Otago and sleepless residents.
The six Maerskowned sister ships visit Port Chalmers on weekly rotations, generally arriving on Sunday and departing Monday, but their noisy generators can be heard as far afield as Portobello, across the harbour.
Port Otago has received numerous complaints since the maiden call in late October.
Port identity and former community board member Lana Oranji, made a brief submission to Port Otago’s 100% owner, the Otago Regional Council, yesterday.
She said even though she lived 10 minutes’ walk from the port, her sleep on Sundays and Mondays was interrupted.
‘‘It’s impossible to sleep because of the Rio [class] ships,’’ she said.
Port Otago is at present undertaking its annual noise survey, which should be completed by June.
Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said he expected to see changes to the ‘‘noise contours’’ around Port Chalmers, which could mean more houses were in the the most affected ‘‘red band’’ area.
Port Otago must either offer those house owners acoustic window treatment or offer to buy them, and had spent $2.86 million on those processes during the past 15 years.
While Mr Winders and port chairman Dave Faulkner wel comed the new, larger ships, they were both ‘‘very disappointed’’ to discover how noisy they were.
The noise comes from shipboard generators cooling down refrigerated containers, and the need to open ventilation apertures because of overheating engines. Still evenings exacerbate the noise.
Under questioning from ORC councillors, Mr Faulkner said Maersk only visited three ports in the world which prompted noise complaints, and in Port Chalmers’ case it was the surrounding hills and still nights contributing to the problem.
Mr Winders said, when possible, the ships cut generator use and were berthed further away, and he expected a return to autumnal weather patterns would make the noise less audible.
While noone disputed the level of noise in Port Chalmers, there were anecdotal reports the generators could also be heard in St Leonards and Portobello, the latter confirmed by ORC councillor Sam Neill, who lives on the Otago Peninsula.