April 2009 (pdf) - Port Nelson

April 2009
rePORT
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
• Uncertain Times
Port News . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Report from Nepal
SupPORT our Region . . . 4
• Jazz in the Park
Port Progress . . . . . . . . . . 5
• New Wharf in Use
Around the Port . . . . . 6/7
• Double Bunking
• Cruising Along
Our Port Our People . . . 8
• Comings and Goings
Safe Harbour . . . . . . . . . . 9
• Out on the Water
Meet the Client . . . . . . . 10
• Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd
Environment Update . . .11
• Major Step on Noise
Looking Back . . . . . . . . . 12
• Thomas Cawthron
Busy Season, Bigger Ships
From February the size of the COSCO vessels calling at Nelson ramped up to meet the demands
of the busy export season, when fruit is added to our usual mix of products from the forestry
and seafood sectors. The line replaced the current 1700 TEU vessels calling at Port Nelson with
the three 2700 TEU sister vessels to the COSCO Melbourne. Currently these vessels are set down
just for the peak season but we may see them employed on a more permanent basis. The first
of the new callers, the COSCO Karachi, arrived at the end of February. The other two vessels are
the COSCO Dammam and the Sils.
Maersk responded to the continuing trend to containersise fruit with their extra loader
programme in place for the second year. The new vessel, Maersk Niagara, was the first of these,
talkng on a large load at Port Nelson on March 28. “N” Class vessels will call alongside the usual
Maersk schedule on a fortnightly basis throughout the fruit season.
The added capacity from both these lines ensures we can meet the demands of our exporters
to get their product to global markets without delay.

Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 2
editorial
Uncertain Times
We head into another fruit season at a time of great uncertainty across many
businesses, including a large number of our customers, whether they be
exporters, importers or shipping lines.
From a drop off in consumer demand for a myriad of products, through to
plummeting sea freight rates, each of these parties are finding life tougher by
the day. That is being reflected already in many ports where cargo volumes
are falling. Countries such as China, Hong Kong and Singapore, which have
experienced ongoing volume growth for many years have now started seeing
a significant fall in figures for cargo handled, with little suggestion that pattern
is likely to change in the near future.
Closer to home a number of New Zealand ports are also starting to report a
drop in volumes. In Nelson we have not been impacted too much in that area
to date, but it is naive to expect this region will be exempt from the effect of
these global issues as the situation evolves.
From a Port Nelson Limited perspective it is clear that all of us within the
company have an obligation to look at our own areas of operation and see
what possible further efficiencies we can identify and where we can possibly
assist our customers during these difficult times.
Everything that we are seeing in the news indicates that this is not a ‘short
term’ issue that will be over in a matter of months and the ramifications of the
current financial recession may well be felt for a prolonged period of time.
During such difficult times it is important that importers, exporters and service
providers work together wherever possible to try and assist each other to
weather the storm and we look forward to playing our part in that process
where we can.
We are fortunate in this region
to be exporting products that
will still, even if to a lesser
extent, be in demand globally,
and to have loyal markets built
on many years of quality supply
and service.
Martin Byrne
Chief Executive
Port Nelson Limited
Port Nelson Limited • 10 Low Street, Port Nelson • PO Box 844, Nelson, New Zealand
Tel +64 3 548 2099 • Fax +64 3 546 9015 • www.portnelson.co.nz
RePort Nelson is a triennial publication produced for Port Nelson Limited by:
• Nelson Media Agency - www.nelsonmedia.co.nz • SeeReed Visual Communication - www.seereed.co.nz
Photography: Troy Dando, Roy Skucek and Jacquetta Bell
Investment in
Unimar Ltd
We announced in the New Year that we
have made a 25% investment in Unimar
Limited, a Nelson based marine service
company, that was formerly Nalder
and Biddle. The company has grown
considerably since its formation in 2004
and is establishing a strong presence in
the oil industry. It was the South Island
service provider for the Maari well head
float-off project earlier this year, which
saw the heavy transport vessel Blue Marlin
demobilised at Port Nelson before leaving
New Zealand.
This is a strategically important investment
that will help to establish Port Nelson
as an alternative service centre for the
offshore oil industry. It will assist with the
economic growth of the Nelson region,
improved utilisation of port infrastructure
and enhanced returns to our shareholders,
the two local councils.
Unimar owns the Calwell Slipway at Port
Nelson, Marine and Industrial Stainless and
Maritime Services.
The sort of vessel we want to see more of: the semisubmersible
Heavylift Falcon, that called here briefly in
December, en route to Admiralty Bay to pick up the oil
rig Ensco 056 for a trip to Asia

Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 3
Boost for Seafarers’ Mission
Port Nelson’s Seafarers’ Mission has a reputation to
maintain as the best in New Zealand and one of the
busiest, so a steady income is a must. The mission trust
had a major boost at the end of last year when PNL
Chief Executive Martin Byrne handed over a cheque for
$12,000 dollars, the proceeds of the November Nelson
Port and Transport Industry Charity Golf Tournament.
There are plenty of ways the money could be spent,
including carpet and tables to complete the upgrade of the
centre, but manager Milo Coldren has other plans.
“We’re putting this cheque straight in the bank,” he said.
“We are very grateful for the generosity and support we
have from the port company – they’ve got the Seafarers’
Mission as the charity for next year’s tournament as well,
which will give us a tidy capital sum that we will keep
intact while using the interest for our everyday running
costs.”
Martin Byrne, Dean Charles Tyrrell, Milo Coldren and his admin assistant Rebekah
Smith and Charles Hufflett from the Seafarers' Trust.
Forklift Honour Guard
A very unusual site in the Container Yard on March 18,
with the drive past of Johnny Pav (Ivan Pavlinic), who
had worked in the stevedoring division for just over seven
years as a casual, then as a part-timer from 2006.
Container Operations Supervisor Mark Smith shepherded
the forklifts (that been working just minutes before) into
two lines and Financial Accountant Mason Robinson
played the Last Post in a moving tribute to a valued
workmate.
Martin, decorated for a colour festival, with local school children.
Report from Nepal
CEO Martin Byrne is just back from a leadership and
development course that was a long way from the
usual meeting rooms and white boards - literally.
The course, offered by Kiwi run company Second Base,
was held in Nepal, which put a whole new angle on the
term ‘taking participants outside their comfort zones’.
“The focus of the course was very much around
values-based leadership. There was the traditional
classroom environment type workshopping, but we
also spent five days in Chitwan province in a small
village, working on improvements to a school for
disabled kids while living with local families and
sharing their conditions,” Martin says. “This meant
using outdoor squat toilets, making the most of the
power when it was on for two four hour bursts a day ,
and eating twice daily meals of dhal bhat - rice, lentils
and curried vegetables.”
The six course members shook this experience down
in further workshop sessions in Pokhara and then did
a four day trek on the Annapurna loop. Martin says the
course was a 'life-changer' from a personal perspective:
“When you’re put into conditions you’re not used to it’s
quite a learning experience to see how you react,” he said.
“There was also a strong team building aspect.”
Overall he expects the course to have long
term impacts on areas such as self-awareness,
effectiveness, motivation and the ability to empower
and lead effective teams.
Navigation Chart
An old harbour chart was found rolled up, water stained
and barely legible during a recent workshop office clean
out. It was on a direct trajectory to the bin when Workshop
Supervisor Craig Terris gave it a closer look and found it
was an original ink on paper and fabric chart of Nelson
Harbour from 1882. The chart, prepared by Captain
Johnson, is an update of the 1850 Stokes chart. Craig
googled ‘document repair’ and
sent it off to Marion Mehrtens,
a Wellington document conservator.
Framed by Dickson
Marine, using timber from the
recent Main Wharf upgrade, it is
now looking very handsome on
the boardroom wall.
Craig Terris and Murray McGuire admire
the chart.
port news

supPORTing our region
We picked up a new sponsorship this year, in association with the Woollaston Jazzfest, which keeps locals and visitors
entertained over four days in the early New Year. We sponsored seven Port Nelson Jazz in the Park sessions that gave thousands
of people a free night out at a varied range of concerts from Takaka’s Village Green to Nelson’s Fairfield Park.
Rowing On
PNL has re-confirmed its sponsorship commitment to the
Port Nelson Golden Edge Nelson Rowing Club on the back of
their continued high performance at national events and their
development of school kids into the sport.
At the Banklink New Zealand rowing championships at Lake
Ruataniwha in February racing was compressed to one day,
but our teams held their nerve. The first gold of the day went
to the women's senior eight who won by two boat lengths
ahead of an Auckland team. With no time to celebrate, four of
the rowers were back on the water for the under-19 coxed four,
gaining the third place and going on to win the final. Overall
the club took five gold medals, three silver and two bronze.
Eleven rowers from the squad went looking for further
honours at the Maadi Cup in early April.
Blokes' Day Out
Jazz in the Park
Our support for the entry level triathlons, the Port Nelson
Blokes' Day Out and the Taylors Nelson Women’s Tri continued
this year, with the kids also encouraged to take part in the
Kauri Kids Aquathon. The event was run in perfect weather
on March 29, and won by Nigel Burgess in a new record time
of 42min 17sec. From the ‘home team’ Cargo Operations
Manager Phil Francois and Business Analyst Hugh Stark
did particularly well to win the walking section of the NBS
Corporate Challenge.
Fun at the Library
‘We have seen our daughter’s reading improve, and with it
her confidence.’
‘The whole family has enjoyed our shared reading time and
visits to the library.’
Just some of the comments from parents about the
Superheroes Summer Reading Programme at the library,
sponsored by Port Nelson. One hundred 5 to12 year olds took
part, doing some reading every day and making regular visits
to the library to talk about their reading and to pick up a little
surprise as a reward. After the holidays the children received
a certificate, medallion and a book to keep. Another 30 preschoolers
followed a simplified programme that wrapped up
with a finale party at the library.
Garin Bags It
The Girl’s Soccer First XI at Garin College will be cutting a dash
with new sports bags to go with their tops and sports strips.
Twenty numbered and monogrammed bags in the school
colours were bought with funding from Port Nelson. Garin
Sports Director, Albie Evans says they chose bags as something
many students could benefit from each year. From left are
Sanchia Paterson and
Maryann Cant. Maryann
has subsequently gone
on to be selected for the
Mainland Under 16 girls
representative team.
Congratulations Maryann.

Main Wharf South Infill
A wharf is more than just the place you tie up a vessel – the
area alongside for storage and cargo movement is just as
vital for a speedy ship turnaround. For this reason we are
embarking on the consent process to infill the area behind
Main Wharf South. Brunt Quay will remain the preferred
container berth but the development will lessen truck and
forklift trips, improve crane efficiency and enhance safety.
The expected cost of the development is in the vicinity of
$3million, with the construction period taking 6-9 months.
Cawthron is doing a report on the environmental impacts,
but these are expected to be minimal, with the loss
of seabed offset by the habitat provided by the new
structure.
We are consulting with Iwi, environment groups and
residents and also seeking their views on a public amenity
in the harbour area as part of the project. This could
be a port education centre, a jetty at the lighthouse or
some other facility that may come up as a result of the
consultation.
Supersize Shopping
It’s dirty work but someone’s got to do it…we recently sent
Andy Farmer from QuayPack and Grant Cottle from the
Workshop to Aussie to have a look at new forklifts. When
you’re spending over a million dollars it pays to get it right.
The plans are for a 32 tonne Omega 36D, primarily for
unloading timber packs into sheds, and a Hyster 18.00XMS for
QuayPack. Unfortunately the recent drop in the NZ exchange
rate has boosted the purchase price. The two new machines
are expected to arrive mid-year.
New Wharf in Use
Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 5
The newly strengthened Main Wharf North has been busy recovering the $3.4 million cost of the upgrade, with ships
berthed at this wharf more often as we enter our busy season. The wharf is proving itself for Tasman Bay Stevedores
with both cranes now able to be worked, and more room for storage and hatch cover placement. Overall there’s less
vehicle movement, we don’t have to shift the vessel along the berth during loading and we’re getting a faster vessel
turnaround.
The COSCO vessel Sils made good use of the enhanced MWN facility in March.
More Washing Up
There has been a noticeable increase in
containers needing a wash, especially dry
boxes. This is driven by demand for top grade
units for wine and dairy product loadings,
along with more ‘dirty’ import cargoes such
as fertiliser, palm kernel and salmon food
being shipped into Nelson in containers. This
means our new wash pad, completed by
contractors HEB Structures, is getting plenty
of use. The wooden and concrete blocks have
been replaced with a solid concrete surface
that is easier to clean, an added biosecurity
advantage. Forklift drivers say the new wash
bay is much easier to work, with the added spin
off of less stress on the hi-stacker spreaders.
Forklifts Go Hi-Tech
New Year is when Nelson Pine Industries has its
annual maintenance shutdown, which provided
us with a quiet time to implement the JADE
warehousing systems at QuayPack. Supervisor,
Andy Farmer reports the change has gone
extremely well: “We now scan all product as it
comes in by truck,” he explains. “Every pack is
given a date, location and is assigned a vessel,
so there’s no lost time in hunting for product.”
All credit to the IT guys with their behind the
scenes know-how and to the Quay Pack team
for their enthusiastic upskilling.
Paul Stent uses the long-range scanner mounted on his
forklift to read the code on stacked MDF packs.
port progress

around the port...
Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 6
It was a very close fit at the Main Wharf in late February when the bulk carrier Santiago
Basin struck rudder problems at the same time as the container vessel Papuan Chief
had a break down. Both ships were tied up unexpectedly for five days while repairs
were carried out, so it was fortunate we had the wharf capacity to meet this need.
Yachting calls
There were several visits from ‘super-yachts’ over the summer,
and even a rumour that Bob Dylan was holidaying on the
52m ketch Tamsen. If the bard had been on board he’d have
been able to chose between 11 staterooms, 13 bathrooms
and a spa; somewhat more luxurious than the relatively
modest Arcadia (pictured). Described by her skipper as a ‘big
little superyacht’ the 36m Dutch built cruiser was tidying
up in Nelson after the trans-Tasman trip, before visiting the
Abel Tasman coastline.
Home for Christmas
The fishing berths were full for the festive season as crew
took shore leave. There has been some bad news from this
sector, with Sealord shedding jobs in the move to processing
fish at sea, as the distance to fishing grounds dictates, backed
up with increased on-board capability.
Double Bunking
▲
HMNZS Resolution Visit
HMNZS Resolution, the
navy’s hydrographic ship,
was in Nelson over the
weekend of March 21.
Originally the USNS
Tenacious, she was
used to track Soviet
submarines, before being
bought by the Royal New
Zealand Navy in 1997.
The Resolution now does
survey work around the
coast, which fits with her
being named after the
ship used by Captain Cook
on this second and third
voyages.
The primary purpose of the Port Nelson call was to give crew
a rest and recreation break during patrol operations.

Maersk City
The annual influx of containers boosted the height of the
Container Yard skyline from early in the year. There was a
huge 715 container discharge from the Francoise Gilot in late
January, including 400 hi-cube reefers for pipfruit loading as
well as dry/general boxes.
Cruising Along
It was a light season for us as far as cruise ships go, starting with the Australian expedition ship
the Orion, described as more a mega-yacht than cruise ship in port for two day calls at the end of
November. The 95 passengers were greeted by WearableArts models and had the choice of shore
excursions around the region or shopping in the city. The Orion sailed from Nelson to Abel Tasman’s
Onetahuti Beach, for kayaking and exploring the park coastline by zodiac. It’s a little different from
tramping the Abel Tasman – passengers go home to staterooms that feature internet access, flatscreen
TVs, and marble bathrooms. Other on board amenities include a health spa with gymnasium,
sauna and sun deck jacuzzi.
Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 7
Kiwi Pride
MSC Kiwi had been a regular visitor but was then taken off
the Nelson run, with her New Zealand calls only at North
Island ports. However the Kiwi is now back on the MSC
Butterfly Service, which comes up the East Coast calling at
Port Chalmers, Lyttelton and Wellington, with Nelson the last
stop before crossing the Tasman to Sydney and MSC services
to Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
▲
Fruity Options
The busy fruit season is upon us, with growers reporting a
good season. However, there’s a wait and see aspect on what
returns they will get in the depressed northern hemisphere
markets. Two reefer vessels called in March, and another three
are expected between now and the end of June.
The cruise ship Clipper Odyssey’s visit on February 13 ended the cruise ship calendar for the year, and though she only made the
one visit, there are already another three visits booked for the end of the year. Nelson Tasman Tourism and Port Nelson Limited
continue to actively promote the port and region to niche cruise ships.
...and beyond

our port our people
New Infrastructure
Manager
Matt McDonald, a Nelsonian and a Civil Engineering
graduate from the University of Canterbury, joined the
port company at the end of last year, taking over from
Dick Carter on management of the environmental
aspects of the port operation, and the maintenance
and development of the port infrastructure.
Matt has specialised in coastal and environmental
engineering, with experience on large hydro projects
and most recently on a Scottish water project. Matt,
Michele and Benjamin (10 months) are enjoying
exploring the region and spending time with family
and friends.
35 Years
Ian with this workmates at the 25 year celebration.
In early December Port Services Worker Ian Inwood
celebrated his 35 years with the port, at a lunchtime
barbeque. The Inwood association with the port goes
back even further, to Ian and his brother Peter’s father,
making this a remarkable contribution from the one
family. The company presented Ian with a new set of
bowls to mark the occasion and the Nelson Mail picked
up on the story and ran a photo of Ian with the cranes
that he has helped care for over the last decade.
Congratulations too to Tom Stewart who reached his 25 year milestone,
also in December.
Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 8
Comings and Goings
Jon Bennett is our new Business Systems Analyst, coming to us
from NMIT where he has worked for the past four years after
graduating with his Information Technology degree. Jon and
Sylvie and their four children emigrated to New Zealand in 2002
and have a lifestyle block in Dovedale.
Elaine Carter is full time now in the Gatehouse while Joanne Long
is on parental leave. Elaine has worked with us off and on since
2004, so brings a lot of experience to the role.
Johan Verhage is a fully qualified electrician in the Netherlands,
and as our Trainee Electrician will get the two years practical
experience he needs to register in New Zealand. He and his Nelson
wife Anna have settled in Richmond.
Steve Ehau is the latest addition to QuayPack’s permanent staff.
His varied work history ranges from the armed forces to a stint as
a youth worker with the New Hub.
Chris Growcott has joined our Logistics team, bringing the
expertise gained as Container Dispatch Co-ordinator with Toll
Tranzlink for the past four years.
Graeme Kinzett adds his extensive forklift driving experience to
our Logistics team. Off work Graeme enjoys flying and has his
private pilot’s licence.
Farewell to Frances
Frances Woodhead, our Environmental Officer, is leaving us to live on
the Isle of Tiree, population 750 and situated off the Scottish coast.
‘It’s all in the name of love!’ said Frances. She plans to keep doing her
art glass work and will keep the environmental connection alive with
a 20 hour a week job for Tiree Rural Development as a Powerdown
Officer. This role is one of 27 community positions created recently
across Scotland to implement carbon reduction initiatives. On Tiree
this means composting toilets, a zero emissions shower block for the
tourists and electric cars for the locals.
Frances brought great enthusiasm and professionalism to the
environmental side of our operations, particularly as we worked
through ISO certification and the Port Noise Variation. We wish her
every happiness as she follows her heart to the long summer days
of the very far north.
Frances will be taking her
glass kiln to Tiree.

Everything was real – except for the 100 metre flames. An oil
fire drill on January 22 had the tanker Kakariki on fire, the fire
service spraying water, the tanker spouting foam, everyone
evacuated from the port area and the tugs all set to tow the
Tasman Chief away from Brunt Quay if it became engulfed by
flames. The Waimea 2 and the workboat were called out to
assist in traffic management and to help evacuate the crews
off the ships. It was a good effort by all and a very worthwhile
exercise.
Pilot Gavin Giblett briefs the assembled crew of the Tasman Chief on the
emergency procedure…they were to get ready to evacuate via the pilot’s ladder.
Just for Men
Women’s health gets a lot of attention, and now PNL men
will be getting their share of it, with the new initiative of a
prostate health check being offered to our male staff. Our
occupational health nurse canvassed support for the concept
at the regular annual health checks last year, and gathered
over sixty names from chaps who said they’d give it a go.
So we followed up with some advice on the procedure (note
it is just a blood test!) and the tests have been taken in
batches of 12 every Tuesday over the last few weeks. Results
go direct to the staff member’s GP, so confidentiality is assured.
Keeping our team healthy is in everyone’s interests.
Fire Drill
Keeping Safe
Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 9
Out on the Water
The Waimea 2 has been extra busy over the holiday
period, in between pilot jobs, taking on an active role
on the water as the harbourmaster craft, representing
the Nelson City Council.
There has been a noticeable reduction in boats
exceeding the 5 knot speed limit in the inner harbour,
with patrols conducted randomly between Monaco in
the south to Cape Soucis in the north. Public feedback
has been positive, with many people saying they have
noticed a marked improvement in behaviour when the
Waimea 2 is on the water in her harbourmaster role.
The fire service trains water on the hull of the Kakariki.
Passed Again!
We are thrilled with the news that we have flown through our
latest ACC Workplace Safety Management Practices (WSMP)
audit and maintained the highest level of accreditation. To get
confirmation from an independent third party that our safety
systems and practices meet the tertiary level audit standard
recognises the efforts of our staff towards safety on site, and
the added benefit of a discount on our ACC levies.
The auditor visited us in late January for what is largely a
paperwork exercise, looking for evidence and confirmation
that we are meeting the standards of the WSMP programme.
However, the auditor also looks for verification of safe systems
in action, such as staff wearing safety clothing and clear
marking of emergency exits.
All staff can be very proud of the result, which reflects their
ongoing commitment to safety in the workplace.
We welcome any suggestions or information to make Port Nelson a safer working environment.
If you have a name you would like added to our mailing list, please let us know.
safe harbour

Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 10
meet the client
Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd
It’s the second ‘most used commodity’ in the world after water, and it’s delivered to our port every fortnight.
The product is cement from Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd, a
leading global supplier with New Zealand origins dating back
to 1888. Holcim now supplies cement in bulk to ready-mix
concrete and other customers using eight dedicated marine
terminals at the ports of Auckland, Napier, Gisborne, New
Plymouth, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin and Nelson. Cement
supplied to Nelson comes from Holcim’s Westport works, which
have been operating virtually non-stop for the last fifty years.
Tim Knight is the Nelson Depot Supervisor, and he and a
tanker driver oversee the discharge of bulk cement from the
two carriers, MV Milburn Carrier II and MV Westport to the 27m
storage silo on Wakefield Quay, and thence around the Top of
the South. The vessels visit Nelson every couple of weeks and
can discharge pneumatically between 180 and 330 tonnes
per hour, taking around 12 -14 hours to fill the 2800 tonne
capacity silo. With both vessels making around 300 port calls
each year, Tim says he really appreciates the work that goes on
behind the scenes to make the berth available to the ships.
“Port Nelson Ltd ties our ships up and provides services, so we
have a very close relationship,” he says. “The location of our
pipes means we are restricted to just one berth – so it’s a big
task to fit our needs in with the rest of the shipping schedule.
The port company has their own matrix to juggle and because
of the nature of the business, things can change fast but we
rarely have a delay and they keep us well notified.”
Limestone is quarried at Cape Foulwind, processed into cement
at the Westport Works, then trucked and stored in silos at the
Westport wharf before being loaded on to the ships.
Holcim Westport liaises with Port Nelson, and depending on
the tides, the availability of the berth and the needs of other
depots around the country, a schedule is worked out and Tim
is notified. However, he says if there is a big job at another
centre it might change the whole equation.
Tim says Holcim does a fantastic job of forecasting and
updating stocks everyday, and this ties into production. It also
helps that concrete companies are good at giving Holcim
notice of any big jobs they have coming up.
Holcim and Port Nelson have a shared commitment to
health and safety and environmental issues, and Tim says
the company is great at keeping him informed about port
activities.
“As a contractor sited at the port we have monthly meetings
with Cargo Operations and Port Security, stevedoring reps
and others, and we are consulted about any issues that may
affect our operations. For example, we were involved in an
emergency plan for periphery services developed following
the July 2008 storm that closed the port.”
The Wakefield Quay cement silo had a makeover in 2002
when Holcim New Zealand rebranded. The global brand logo
of Swiss company Holderbank Cement, a stylised black H
painted over a red C, replaced the previous Milburn signage. It
is now one of the most visible brands on the Nelson cityscape,
which is fitting, since cement from the silo has helped to build
our city and our region.

Major Step on Noise
In early March the city council adopted the recommendations of independent
commissioners on the management of port noise. The commissioners
accepted the Port Noise Variation to the Nelson Resource Management Plan,
with Port Nelson Ltd responsible for minimising the amount of port noise at
the source, providing acoustic insulation to qualifying houses, and offering to
purchase the most affected houses. Noise insulation standards are defined for
alterations and new homes in the affected areas. This is a major step forward
in a process that began in 1994. However, the decision by Council is open to
appeal to the Environment Court 30 days from its release in early March.
We have now completed noise mitigation works for the first two Stage 1
properties affected by port noise on Queens Road. The work has involved
installing acoustic proof glass, re-lining and installation of ventilation systems.
One of the two properties was bought by PNL at the request of the owner and
now that the work is complete the property is back on the market.
A free lunch?
Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 11
Members of the Environmental Consultative Committee have
been giving up their lunchtimes for many years now for the
regular environmental meetings…looking for no reward
other than a free lunch and an annual ride in a boat around
the port! This year’s port tour included Nelson City Council
Resource Management staff. The tour covered the slipway
contaminant trap, the proposed infill behind Main Wharf
South and storm water management.
Introducing the Scrubber
The new code of practice for methyl bromide fumigation that
requires recapture of the fumigant is now in place, with new
ducting, monitoring and scrubbing systems installed in Shed
#3. The re-capture systems for containers and timber stacks
operate until the concentration of methyl bromide is down
to new levels set in the Air Plan. This season timber for export
to Australia has been covered and fumigated in small blocks
to allow the methyl bromide gas to be removed by the new
Nordico Recovery system. Port Nelson is well ahead of the
rest of the country on this issue and others are now following
suite.
A stack of timber being vented from under the covers in Shed #3. An added advantage
of the new process is that much less methyl bromide is needed, compared with when
the whole shed was filled.
Environmental Management
System Audit
The impact of our operation on the local and the global
environment came under scrutiny with the annual visit
from the ISO 14001 auditor in early February. It was a
pleasure to have the benefit of an outside eye looking
at our system and bringing specialist knowledge of best
practice in environmental management systems. The auditor
commented that our system is shaping up well with high
levels of staff awareness and progress towards targets.
Mystery Maitai Pipes
What do invasive marine organisms hate? The answer is
fresh water, so it seems like a ‘no-brainer’ to divert some
Maitai water into the marina to stop bio-fouling of boats.
The suggestion came up at an Environmental Consultative
Committee meeting, followed by a vague recollection that
there were some pipes under the Akersten Street causeway
that would do the job. Port Senior Engineering & Hydrographic
Officer Murray McGuire couldn’t find the pipes on any plans
and it was thought they may have silted up. But like many
mysteries, the answer was actually quite obvious – at low tide
the two 600mm pipes can be seen bubbling fresh water into
the marina, just along from the curve in the road.
A keen yachtie helped
point them out, and
he has even put in a
‘backyard’ diversion
system. Port, Council
and Cawthron staff gave
the pipes a once over
and will now measure
water flow and salinity
levels to assess whether
the river water inflow
will have any effect on
bio-fouling.
Insulation work
on a Queens Road
property
RePort is Green
In line with our environmental policies RePort uses elemental
chlorine free paper produced from sustainably managed forests.
RePort is printed with vegetable based inks.
environment update

Port Nelson Limited report. April 2009. Page 12
looking back
That’s how Thomas Cawthron
(1833 -1915) was described
by his biographer, David
Miller. The name lives on
with the Cawthron Institute,
and most Nelsonians could
probably tell you that
Cawthron donated the
Church Steps and the chains
along Rocks Road. But it
wasn’t until the end of last
year that the Nelson Tasman
Chamber of Commerce, as
part of its 150th anniversary
celebrations, made Thomas
Cawthron an inaugural
inductee of its Hall of Fame.
It’s also not widely known
that Cawthron’s business
dealings were largely based
around the port, and his first
office was in a wrecked ship.
Thomas Cawthron
Businessman and Benefactor
“Nelson's most philanthropic citizen whose bountiful generosity has
done so much for the welfare of its people.”
Cawthron arrived in New
Zealand with his parents in
1849, but was soon lured
over the Tasman to the goldfields. Returning a few years
later he started out in business with a contract to dig the
test drives for copper deposits on the Dun Mountain; going
on to provide supplies for the copper-mine, and setting up
office in the beached hulk of the Albion at Port Nelson. The
business developed as a general merchant and Cawthron
made the most of new opportunities: when steam ships
brought an increased demand for coal, he got involved with
the development of the Enner Glynn Coal Mine, and when
gold was discovered in Golden Bay, he shipped miners' stores
and equipment to the boom towns. Gold had a huge impact
on Port Nelson, trebling inward cargo between 1860 and
1865, and making the port attractive to regular calls from
steam ships for the first time.
Photo supplied by Cawthron Institute.
Cawthron amassed shipping
agencies, starting with the
Panama Royal Mail Steamship
Co in 1859, and by 1876,
when the Union Steam Ship
Company of New Zealand
took over the New Zealand
Steam Shipping Company, he
had a monopoly of shipping
agencies in Nelson, controlling
practically the whole of the
maritime shipping from the
busy port.
Cawthron’s ‘Midas Touch’
carried over to his investments
in shares and property and
by the time he retired in
the late eighties he had a
considerable fortune. He had
a reputation as a miser, but
quietly gave money to many
causes, and was influenced
by his friends to make his
bigger civic donations.
These include the Church
Steps, the chains and posts along Rocks Road, extensions to
Nelson Hospital and nurses' home, a 1000ha reserve near Dun
Mountain and the organ at the Nelson School of Music. Seven
years after his death the Cawthron Institute was founded, and
has done major research on soils, agriculture and biochemistry,
while playing an important role in stimulating government
scientific research.
Today one of the Cawthron Institute’s strengths is marine
research. Cawthron scientists carry out the surveys and
reports that are used in support of Port Nelson’s consents
for dredging work, and they make a valuable contribution to
our Environment Committee on issues from water quality to
marine invaders.
Sources: Karen Stade, The Prow (local history website); Margareta Gee, Dictionary of NZ Biography 2007; and Theodore Rigg, Encyclopaedia of NZ, 1966.
Image below Edwin Harris from The History of Port Nelson, Ruth Allan 1954.
The Albion Wharf in the late 1870s.