The Maritime Union says New Zealand should not rely on
assurances of international fuel companies about our fuel
security, as the fallout from the closure of Marsden Point
refinery continues.
Maritime Union of New Zealand
National Secretary Craig Harrison says concerns expressed by
industry researchers about New Zealand’s fuel stockpiles
and energy security must be listened to.
Responding to
recent claims by Z Energy about fuel security, Mr Harrison
says the language used by Z Energy spokespeople was opaque,
and admitted the possibility of risks with the closure of
Marsden Point and a major shift in the fuel supply
chain.
He says there needs to be a Government plan for
fuel security for New Zealand that has an element of
redundancy built into it.
The closure of Marsden Point
refinery is one risk factor affecting fuel security, but a
related threat is the plan to remove New Zealand flagged
coastal tankers from operation in favour of deliveries to
New Zealand ports by international vessels, says Mr
Harrison.
“We need the Government to declare if it
has a position about the retention of the New Zealand
flagged tankers in the interests of New
Zealand.”
“The main lesson from the current
disruption to global supply chains in the post-COVID era is
New Zealand cannot rely on overseas shipping
operators.”
Mr Harrison says New Zealand coastal
tankers ensured a reliable regular service with a very
strong safety record, and provided a backup option for
emergency fuel deliveries, such as during the 2017 Auckland
pipeline failure.
An unplanned for disruption of fuel
supplies to regional New Zealand through global crisis or
natural disaster would crash the economy, he says.
Two
New Zealand flagged and New Zealand crewed coastal tankers
currently operate on the New Zealand coast, the MT
Kokako and the MT Matuku.
The vessels
are managed by New Zealand operator Silver Fern Shipping
Limited and owned by international operator ASP Ship
Management Group, which charters them to Coastal Oil
Logistics Limited (COLL).
COLL transports petroleum
products from Marsden Point to New Zealand ports on behalf
of its shareholders BP, Mobil and
Z.
