December 2009 (pdf) - Port Nelson

Port Nelson Limited report. December 2009. Page 6
around the port...
Disaster Recovery
If we had a fire in our server room, a leaky pipe or a malicious break-in, our
business would grind to a halt and our ICT systems could be out of action for
weeks. To avoid this we now have an offsite Disaster Recovery Centre, where
core applications such as email and the operating application, Jade, will
have a near-live copy running at the Gen-i office in Waimea Road to keep us
operational. Senior Business Analyst Hugh Stark says if a disaster happened
the wireless network switches would interrupt the current network and
re-point everything up to Gen-i, where a copy of our server can be running
within seconds. The plan is to add the other major systems that cover payroll,
financials and so on to the server at the Disaster Recovery Centre.
Hugh Stark and Gen-I Senior Systems Engineer Carl Snelgrove with the Port Nelson server
in Gen-i’s windowless, double-skin concrete Disaster Recovery Centre. The silver box is the
new server, while the black box above it is the tape copy system.
Photo: Mark Harrison and Jaimie Baird
More Naval Action
HMNZS Manawanui visited Port Nelson in September after completing navigation training in
the Marlborough Sounds. The training was part of the ship’s build up towards Electronic Chart
Accreditation. Manawanui arrived in Nelson via French Pass, a first for many onboard including
the Lieutenant Commander Phil Rowe, who says there was some tight timing involved.
“French Pass is infamous throughout New Zealand and can be a treacherous piece of
water with tidal streams of up to 8 knots, timing is crucial and there is only a 10-15 minute
window to pass through,” he said. “Everyone, including myself was on tenterhooks but our
planning paid off and we transited with ease.”
During the visit to Nelson Manawanui hosted a visit from the local Sea Cadet Unit, TS
Talisman. Fourteen cadets visited the ship and were given a tour and afternoon tea.
Chopper Landing
Helicopters usually land from the air – but in early November six Sea Sprites landed at Port Nelson from the Tasman Chief. The older style
choppers were quickly lifted for a road trip to Woodbourne Air Base, where they will be used for ground crew training. They had been
customs cleared in Auckland, but had a brief MAF inspection in Nelson just like any other used vehicle, and will be fully cleared by MAF once
they are unwrapped in Blenheim. The unloading involved Smith Cranes and DHL who handled the logistics.