Log ship trade resumes
EASTLAND PORT WAS GRANTED A dispensation from the Ministry of Transport to begin exporting logs while the country remained in Level 4 lockdown, after a break of three weeks.
The dispensation allows the port to export logs already in the port storage areas and it has taken the necessary Covid-19 precautions. “This will clear the way for cartin work to resume when the forestry industry returns to work at Level 3,” says port Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Gaddum. “This is welcome news, as international demand for logs looks to be increasing and the Chinese economy starts to ramp up after Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed.”
Some 300,000 tonnes of harvested logs are sitting at ports around New Zealand with more than a third at Eastland Port. “This dispensation will also be welcome news for our local forestry industry, as it allows us to get the port up and running as quickly and safely as possible, and ensure that the rest of the supply chain can return to work with minimal disruption.”
“It will be great to see that first ship come into the wharf and take the first load of wood out, particularly as the log price is looking good, and there is an increasing international demand for ‘fresh’ wood,” says Eastland Wood Council Chief Executive Kim Holland.
“The shipping and movement of wood from the port during this week will enable harvesting and transport work to get moving with confidence,” she adds.
She says there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes over the lockdown period to ensure that the forestry workforce could operate safely at Level 3, notably the national industry stakeholder group to develop the Covid-19 forestry industry operating protocols.
“A key part of this is making sure that any additional risks from the extended work break are also managed, as this would be the longest break from work that many people will have had. Being aware of workers’ mindsets, their physical fitness, general health and wellbeing is important in assessing readiness to return to work,” she says.
Ms Holland says this is not a return to “business as usual” with Covid-19 safety being top of mind.