Fog delays container ship entering harbour

Fog has continued to delay passenger and cargo transport in Dunedin, forcing Port Otago staff to work extended shifts.

Container ship Maersk Jubail was unable to enter Dunedin Harbour as scheduled early yesterday, instead berthing at the multipurpose wharf about six hours late.

Its delayed arrival meant Port Otago staff worked around the clock to unload the vessel before its scheduled departure at 5am today.

Cargo handler Gene Carty said he believed it was the first time this winter low fog had prevented a vessel from sailing up the harbour.

Strict safety protocols meant, if there was any doubt about whether the crew could clearly navigate the channel, the approach was suspended, Mr Carty said.

"The pilot has to have good visibility to see the channel markers. The fog was right up as far as Port Chalmers itself and it went out but the wind blew it back in again," he said.

Maersk Jubail sat at the "mile marker" until fog lifted and eventually berthed just after noon.

Mr Carty said morning shift workers did "a bit of overtime" to clear the load before the next arriving vessel.

"Once the vessel was in, we started working straight away and we don't stop until it's done," he said.

Fog was not a common problem at the port, Mr Carty said.

"We've been relatively lucky. It's just one of those things," he said.

Maersk Jubail sailed to Dunedin from Lyttelton and was headed to Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia.

Flights in and out of Dunedin International Airport were also slightly delayed on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Disruption was minor, and no flights were cancelled, staff said.

The airport also experienced a few foggy days last week, causing schedule changes.

 

 

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