Northport has appointed an Operations Manager. David Finchett has more than 20 years of experience in senior operations, project and technical roles on high value, safety critical and complex sites. Before joining Northport he was the infrastructure and Operations Manager at the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in Wales.

His early career involved working with the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet.

David is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and holds an Honours Degree in Engineering Science from Loughborough University.  

“David adds a wealth of technical project management expertise to the team, something that will be of huge value as we write the next few chapters of our growth story,” said Northport Chief Executive Jon Moore.

The port posted record cargo volumes and ship movements for the year ending 30 June. Tonnage across the wharf grew by 13.5 percentover the previous year to 3.095 million revenue tonnes.  It is expected to handle a large proportion of the materials needed for the construction of Refining NZ’s $365 million expansion project due for completion by 2016.

Growth in cargo volume has already led to several infrastructural developments at Northport. A fully paved and sealed log storage area has been expanded by three hectares while port security, the harbour management control room, security gates and storm-water management system have all been upgraded.

About Northport

Northport, situated at Marsden Point at the mouth of Whangarei Harbour, is New Zealand’s northernmost deep-water port. It is a flexible facility catering for large, multi-purpose vessels and full cargo handling facilities are available from its 570 metre linear berth.

Logs, woodchip and processed timber for export comprise the bulk of cargo processed by the port. Other export items include kiwifruit, dairy products, concrete railway sleepers and manufactured goods. Inwards cargo is an important part of Northport’s business and includes fertiliser, gypsum, coal and palm kernel.

The port is owned and operated by Northport Limited, itself owned jointly and equally by Northland Port Corporation (NZ) Ltdand the Port of Tauranga Ltd.

- ends -

For more information please contact:

Jon Moore

Chief Executive

Northport

Jon.Moore@northport.co.nz / 09-4325010

or

Peter Heath, Due North

peter@duenorthpr.co.nz / 09-4074695 / 021-456353