Lyttelton Port of Christchurch, New Zealand’s largest coal-exporting hub, expects to resume unloading vessels on Saturday after port infrastructure was damaged in this week’s earthquake, according to Bloomberg.
“Fuel and essential supplies are expected to start flowing through the port from Saturday,” the company said in a statement dated yesterday and released today to New Zealand’s stock exchange.
Exports of products including wool and dairy products may resume from the port in two to three weeks, chief executive officer Peter Davie said yesterday. A ship with emergency vehicles and water supplies will arrive tomorrow and general supplies will arrive Feb. 27, the company said. The port’s oil berth is undergoing final damage assessment today, it said.
Rescuers have recovered 103 bodies following the 6.3- magnitude aftershock that struck Christchurch on Feb. 22, and say that figure is likely to rise. New Zealand is the world’s largest dairy exporter and produces about 40% of the supply of heavy-grade crossbred wool used in carpets.
The port had earlier suffered damage to its wharves, cranes and other facilities when a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck the region on Sept. 4 – Article by Bloomberg