OCEANIA may have a new drydocking capability, obviating the need to send local ships to Singapore, if a plan to develop a new facility at Marsden Point, New Zealand comes to fruition.
The New Zealand government on Friday [21 August] announced a significant milestone had been reached for the Northland Shipyard and Dry Dock project, with the lodgement of the substantive fast-track consent application.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the application for the shipyard and marine maintenance facility at Marsden Point has been lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority under the Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024 (FTAA).
“This project will be a game-changer for New Zealand’s maritime sector, providing a domestic option to maintain, service, and repair large vessels right here at home,” Mr Jones said. “It will reduce reliance on overseas dry docks in Australia and Asia, save owners considerable transit costs, improve vessel availability, and reduce associated emissions.”
The floating dock will be located next to the western edge of the existing Northport commercial area, within Whangārei Harbour.
“Enabling more marine maintenance activity to be done in NZ will support the domestic economy and help deepen our skills and supplier base — a win-win for the Northland region and the whole country,” Mr Jones said.
Modelling has indicated construction and operations could boost the economy by an additional $1.05 billion over 38 years. It is also estimated an average of 1,700 jobs a year will be created during the three-year construction phase and 450 jobs during its operation.
“Supporting strategic infrastructure projects in the right locations is a key component of how we strengthen and grow New Zealand’s economy. Marsden Point is well suited for the facility because of its deep-water access, proximity to an established commercial port, and existing marine services expertise,” Mr Jones said.
It is intended the facility will be capable of servicing NZ’s largest current and planned vessels, including naval ships and major commercial vessels such as inter-island ferries.
As such it should also be suitable for Australian-domiciled vessels, which, since Department of Defence work has taken priority over the Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney, have been obliged to sail to Singapore or, in some cases, to Western Australia for routine docking.
Progressing work on the Northland Shipyard and Dry Dock is part of the National-NZ First coalition agreement. The project is listed in Schedule 2 of the FTAA. The Act’s purpose is to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional or national benefits.