MAERSK Line is examining current and future calls at the Lyttelton Container Terminal as the port anticipates industrial action that could last through until February.
Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has been in dispute with its workforce since March this year when it announced a plan to ‘disestablish 35 positions and create 21 new ones’ which was about “enhancing operations and ensuring the safety and well-being”, according to media coverage at the time.
After failing to convince LPC owner Lyttelton City Council to abandon the restructuring, the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) took the matter to the Employment Court which, in July, granted an interim order halting the plan. An earlier determination from the Employment Relations Authority found LPC had breached its obligations.
However, in August the Court overturned its earlier decision, and allowed LPC to eliminate 24 full-time foreman and at least 20 relieving foreman covered by a collective agreement, and replace them with 21 new roles on individual agreements.
MUNZ Lyttelton Branch president Gerard Loader at the time said the decision was a blow to port safety and productive relationships: “This restructure will remove the foremen who are the last line of defence against tragedy on our wharves. We are concerned at the collapse of the relationship between the workforce and an aggressive management, which is undermining the future of the port.”
DCN understands LPC has now given notice to the foremen, with industry expectation industrial disruption will result. Comment has been sought from LPC.
In Maersk’s advice to shippers, it said that due to operational constraints advised by Lyttelton terminal, “our teams are closely reviewing both current and forward vessel scheduling to assess the extent of any potential delays, along with evaluating any necessary contingency actions to minimise disruption to your supply chain.
“Our teams continue to pro-actively monitor the situation and will keep you informed as further information becomes available.”
Maersk has two weekly services calling Lyttelton, Southern Star (South East Asia) and J-Star (North East Asia).
Separately, Maersk has announced that peak export season calls at Napier by Southern Star will resume with the 5,568 TEU Maersk Monte Lascar on 31 March 2026 (Week 14) and continue for nine weeks. The updated rotation for Southern Star will then be Tanjung Pelepas – Singapore – Sydney –Tauranga – Napier – Lyttelton – Port Chalmers – Tanjung Pelepas.