Port of Tauranga

Port Operations Continue as Normal

Posted on 15th October 2011

The underwater sonar surveys undertaken by our hydrography staff and the Navy personnel have been very successful in the location and detail provided of the containers on the seabed, even down to the container type and orientation. The general view is that all containers lost overboard have now sunk or been washed up on Motiti Island or the beaches, including the containers previously corralled together. We will undertake another sonar and magnetometer study from 0400 hrs tomorrow to ensure the flood tide has not shifted anything into shipping channels.

Shipping movements and cargo operations continue as normal (20 vessels over the next 24 hours) and we look forward to the three cruise ships returning again next week.

The situation is being monitored continually and we will not bombard you with any further updates unless the situation changes.