• End in sight for Napier Port's new $175 million wharf project

End in sight for Napier Port's new $175 million wharf project

Napier Port's new $175 million wharf is one step closer to becoming operational, with the completion of key physical infrastructure

Construction of the 350m wharf, known as '6 Wharf' first began in February, just before Covid-19 arrived in New Zealand. 

Napier Port Chief Executive Todd Dawson says he is immensely proud of the progress that has been made in the two years since.

“We broke ground on this once-in-a-generation project a mere month before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in New Zealand, and despite two periods of lockdown, an international border closure and ongoing global uncertainty it is set to be delivered ahead of time and under budget.

"Given the size and complexity of this infrastructure project, this achievement speaks volumes for our 6 Wharf project team and the tremendous planning and hard work they have put in.”

Once fully operational, Napier Port’s 6 Wharf will provide increased shipping capacity and the ability to handle larger vessels and berth a greater number of vessels, as well as improving the availability and operational performance across all of the port’s wharves.

The wharf is capable of berthing container vessels 320 metres long and a beam (width) of 50m and 360-metre Oasis-class liners – the world’s largest cruise ships. Alongside Napier Port’s three tugs, it will also allow berthing for larger container ships 24-hours per day. 

A huge pavement works project, encompassing an area of 20,000m2, with 8.5km of electrical ducting, 14.5km of electrical cable and 4km of earthing cable installed, is currently in the final stages of completion and will connect the new wharf to Napier Port’s existing Container Terminal.

Once complete, the wider 6 Wharf project will move into the final pre-operations stage involving wet commissioning (berthing the first ships) and container exchange trials in June.

An official opening for the wharf will be held on July 22, at which stage, Napier Port will unveil the wharf’s new formal name.

“We’re excited to welcome our first vessels to our new wharf later this year. 6 Wharf will future-proof Napier Port – allowing us to support the needs of our customers, our community and our region today and the growth we see coming into the future.”