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A damaged wharf at Lyttelton Port after the September earthquake - Source: ONE News -
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Lyttelton port has sustained $50 million worth of damage from Saturday's earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, says the port company's CEO.
Speaking to NZI Business this morning, Lyttelton Port of Christchurch boss Peter Davie says the situation is tough but the port is continuing to operate.
"We're all a little lacking in sleep but hanging in there," he said.
A large shipment of Pike River coal went out this week, but the continuing aftershocks - including one yesterday of 5.1 magnitude and shallow depth - led the port to issue a precautionary force majeure notice yesterday to coal exporter Solid Energy.
"(We were) really just indicating to them that we may not be able to load at our normal loading rate," Davie said.
He stressed that the port is fully operational despite the massive amount of damage but it does have to allow for slower processing times.
"Our people have down a wonderful job. From Saturday morning first light, we've had engineers all over the port, we'e had maintenance people making sure we had power ... and after every big aftershock we do exactly the same."
Davie explained that the port's infrastructure had survived relatively intact but there is quite a lot of damage on some wharves which meant they had to limit loading.
The biggest amount of the estimated $50 million of damages is on the areas between the wharves and land where the pavements have been torn apart by the violence of the quake.
The CEO said the port is managing to keep crucial supplies like fuel and food heading through to Christchurch and use of the Lyttelton tunnel had been vital.
He said the one positive aspect about the amount of aftershocks is that the port workers now know exactly how to react.
"We're actually getting quite good now at knowing exactly what to do when we get a shake. (We) stop the operations, check it right through again, make sure everything is safe and then start work again to get those essential supplies through."
Davie said the port is fully insured but he expects the repair work will take "months, if not years" to be completed.
