Ports of Auckland today welcomed Maersk Line’s announcement that the Southern Star service will return to Auckland, with larger ships.

The Southern Star service moved from Auckland to Tauranga at the height of the dispute with the Maritime Union in December 2011.

Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson said “This new service, with bigger ships and larger exchanges of containers cements our position as the import port of choice.

It also requires increased productivity from us, something our work over the last year has shown we can deliver – and there is potential for more.”

Ports of Auckland has been working to lift productivity by restructuring, improving processes, and by implementing a new shift and roster system for over a third of stevedores. These changes have seen productivity at Ports of Auckland lift significantly over the last year.

​ENDS