Port manager calls for better coordination
Graeme Marshall,
Commercial Manager,
Port of Tauranga
Does a smear of poop from a New Zealand seagull on the side of an Australia-bound container present a biosecurity risk to our trans-Tasman neighbours? There seem to be conflicting views on the matter.
As far as Graeme Marshall, Commercial Manager, Port of Tauranga, is concerned, some agreement between our respective government agencies on seemingly trivial matters like this can do an awful lot to lubricate the wheels of commerce and keep freight moving smoothly through the port.
Speaking at the Biosecurity Summit in Wellington last November, he also made a plea for better coordination between border control-related government agencies within New Zealand. He said the fact that Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) manages import health standards while a different agency (MAF Quarantine Service) implements the standards could lead to problems. “We would support a single border agency encompassing BNZ, MAF Quarantine Service and Customs,” he said.
He said there should be better consultation with port companies during development of policies and standards. “Policy making is not a simple process, and to do it properly requires an intimate understanding of the supply chain and how ports work.”
Better use of information technology to identify high-risk containers was also a priority, he said.
Port of Tauranga
Given that a large proportion of New Zealand’s primary produce is exported through the Port of Tauranga, Mr Marshall said they were acutely aware of the importance of a properly functioning biosecurity system.
A major biosecurity incursion could threaten the industries that feed much of the produce exported through the port, while any hiccups in biosecurity clearances can cause logistical headaches juggling the thousands of containers awaiting transport.
Not surprisingly, the Port of Tauranga is a strong supporter of offshore biosecurity clearance of incoming containers.
Imported vehicles, on the other hand, can be delayed on wharves at Tauranga while they await inspection and cleaning. Imported trucks can be especially challenging, he said, with decks sometimes having to be removed and cleaned before they are cleared to leave the port. “We would certainly like to see more of this done offshore, prior to importation,” he said.
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Page last updated: 30 April 2008