Shipping Federation Welcomes $36 million

New Zealand Shipping Federation

20 May 2008

Shipping Federation Welcomes $36 million for Coastal Shipping

The New Zealand Shipping Federation has welcomed the announcement of a $36 million fund for sea freight development, as part of Sea Change, the Government’s coastal shipping strategy, launched today.

``Carrying more freight by coastal shipping will reduce national emissions, cut congestion on our roads and improve the efficiency of our transport networks,’’ said Rod Grout, President of the New Zealand Shipping Federation.

``The coastal highway links almost every major centre in this country. It is an asset long overlooked in New Zealand. Sea Change signals a renewed focus on coastal shipping as a core component of our supply chain. The Government and Ministry of Transport should be congratulated,’’ said Mr Grout.

New Zealand’s domestic freight volumes will double by 2020. This scale of increase cannot be absorbed by road and rail alone. Coastal shipping also has the lowest emissions profile of all the transport modes. On a tonne per kilometre basis, it requires just 15 per cent of the fuel required to transport by road, and 60 per cent of that required to transport by rail.

The Shipping Federation’s Executive Director, Sam Buckle, stressed the importance to New Zealand of delivering on Sea Change’s recommendations.

``Sea Change enables New Zealand to deliver a more sustainable, and multi-modal transport network for freight forwarders. It is an important start for coastal shipping. With several years’ commitment and funding, we will hit the target of carrying 30 per cent of freight by coastal shipping,’’ said Buckle.

Mr Buckle said the $36 million sea freight fund ``will begin to address the disadvantage the shipping industry has faced over many years from the heavy public investment in land-based networks’’.

``The sea freight development fund opens the door to important coastal shipping development projects. We are looking forward to getting it moving.’’

``Support for coastal shipping sits alongside the rail network as a key component of a sustainable, multi-modal transport future,’’ said Buckle.

ENDS

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