Portsider-March-2023

CHANGINGGEARS OURPEOPLE

SCHOLARSHIPRECIPIENTS

CHANGINGGEARS

Kia ora koutou katoa,

Interim Result

The South Port 2023 first half has been characterised by excellent progress being made on some longer-term initiatives for the Port, but with subdued operational performance reflecting demand constraints in China and a slowing domestic economy.

Bulk cargoes through South Port held up well in the opening half-year of FY23 to 31 December 2022, however slightly behind expectations Total cargo moved through the Port of Bluff at 1,732,000 tonnes (compared to 1,745,000 tonnes in FY22).

South Port’s NPAT for the first six months of FY23 was $5 2 million (FY22 $5 9 million) Earnings per share were 19 6 cents (FY22 22 4 cps) The full interim result commentary can be viewed at: https://southport.co.nz/south-port-retains-positive-outlook-despite-short-term-market-disruption

Capital Projects

Excellent progress was made on several capital projects at the Port The town wharf fuel accessway, pipeline corridor, and discharge platform, were officially opened with a celebration on 22 November 2022 Planning for this project began in 2016, and it was pleasing to see that the end product is something the Port and industry can be proud of.

Because of the new infrastructure at the Town Wharf, an area was opened to the public before Christmas - more information is included within this issue

As mentioned in the last issue of the Portsider, Heron Construction’s backhoe dredge completed a very successful campaign at the Port to carry out dredging of fragmented rock in the harbour entrance channel, just falling short of 9 7m chart datum (CD) This was a significant milestone as this is the depth targeted for project Kia Whakaū, the subject of the resource consent granted on 31 August 2022 (notified to NZX on 1 September 2022).

Work is now to begin on project Kia Whakaū to dredge and remove seabed materials, 10 7m CD in the Island Harbour berth basins, and 9 45m CD in the swinging basin The Port is working through contractual details for a trailer suction dredge to complete this work in the coming months.

Discussions are also underway to bring Heron Construction's backhoe dredge back to the Port to complete the excellent work that was carried out in the entrance channel in 2022

Another project nearing completion is the Island Harbour Access Bridge. Work began on the Access Bridge in 2019 to install impressed current cathodic protection throughout the 14 bays The final bay will be completed in the coming months, protecting the steel framework for 50 years

Other News

Work is progressing in preparation for South Port to comply with the mandatory reporting guidelines for Climate-Related Disclosures Although this is a requirement of the Port, the leadership team has embraced this challenge and is working with third party consultants to complete this work for the 2024 reporting period A Sustainability Committee has been formed and will work on strategies to decarbonise the Port operations and select appropriate Sustainable Development Goals for implementation.

Some of the recent initiatives in this area include the replacement of the diesel heating system with electric heat pumps for the administration office, installation of dust monitors around the Port, electrical upgrade, variable speed fans installed in the cold stores, the purchase of EVs in the security division, the trialing of an electric forklift in the dairy warehousing division, with several others underway or in the pipeline

It is also exciting to see the recent confirmation of stage one of the Kaiwera Downs 240MW wind farm, 15kms southeast of Gore. Stage one represents 40MW or ten wind towers expected to come through the Port in April this year Southland is ‘blessed’ with one of the best wind resources in the country with several sites suitable for the generation of renewable energy It is hoped that we will see more developments of this nature in the future

Finally, it is always heartening to support talented people setting out on the next stage of their education South Port was pleased to present both Jackson Faithfull (son of our Bulk Cargo Coordinator, Scott Faithfull) with the staff scholarship and Paula Brown with the community scholarship.

Ngā mihi nui, Nigel Gear

TheBluffPortsideriscompiledby: SouthPortNZLtd POBox1,Bluff9842 (03)2128159 reception@southportconz wwwsouthportconz ChiefExecutive:NigelGear

OURPEOPLE

WELCOME

Josiah Bancroft - Cold Stores Logistics Administrator

John Breet - Dairy Warehousing Logistics Administrator

Jenny Phillips - Administrator

Jess Snyman - Container Operator

INTERNALCHANGES

THE FOLLOWING TEAM MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PROMOTED

FROM FIXED-TERM TO PERMANENT:

Michelle Marr - Terminal Yard Planner

Christian Guanga - Cold Stores Operator

Juan Moriano - Cold Stores Operator

Maropai Tonorio - Cold Stores Operator

Miimetua Teau - Cold Stores Operator

Julie Lay - Cold Stores Operator

WANT TO JOIN THE SOUTH PORT TEAM?

COMMERCIALPROPERTYADVISOR

Aspartofourlongtermstrategyofpositioningourbusinessfor thefuture,wehaveestablishedanexcitingnewroleinour CommercialTeam,reportingtoourCommercialManager Thisisa fantasticcareeropportunitythatinvolvesoversightofthePort’s commercialpropertyportfolio

Don'tmissoutonthisgoldenopportunity-reachouttofindout more!ContactThomasLewis: Telephone:(03)2128159

Email:tlewis@southport co nz

THREE'SDEFINITELYNOT ACROWD!

SouthPort’swarehousingoperationsplayanimportantrole inthesouthernsupplychain,andourDairyWarehousing containerpackingoperationforOpenCountryDairy (Awarua)underpinstheMSCcontainervesselserviceinto Bluff.

TheDairyWarehousingleadershipgroup–SianTarrant, KhamishMcCauley,andHaydenMcLiskey–representour nextgeneration,andwhilerelatively‘young’inyearsand leadership‘timeintheseat,’theycertainlydonotlackin termsofexpertise!

This Bluff triumvirate epitomises the Company’s commitment to developing talent from within and providing career pathways for deserving staff who fit the mix.

SianTarrantstartedwithSouthPortasalogistics administratorinmid-2016andwasappointedSupervisorin May2019.Theknowledgeandhands-onexperienceshe gainedfromworking‘onthegroundfloor’hashelpedidentify andeasethepressurepoints,streamlineandimprove processes Siisknownforherhighenergyand‘cando’ attitude;sheispassionateaboutherwork,andthe promotionhasbeenahighlightofhercareeratSouthPort However,itprobablypalescomparedtoothermajor milestonessinceshejoinedus–gettingmarried,introducing babydaughtersIndigoandIvoryintotheSouthPortwhānau, andmorerecently,universitystudytowardsaBachelorof AppliedScienceinPsychology.

KhamishMcCauleyhasawell-deservedreputationasa reliable,hard-workingandno-nonsensekindofguy Hetook ontheTeamLeaderroleinlate2020,withresponsibilityfor leadingandgettingthebestoutoftheteam–thisisacritical role,coordinatinganddirectingoperationalactivitiesto ensureordersareprocessedefficiently. Khamishhadtobe ‘persuaded’(asinarmtwisted)totakeontheleadershiprole, butheisanaturalfit,anditwasanaturalprogressionforhim afternearlytenyearsontheforklift.

HaydenMcLiskeyistheteam'syoungsterandisyettohit30 Hisoperationalandadministrationhands-onexperienceis theperfectmixfortheoperationsandtrainingcoordinator rolehe’sbeeninsincemid-2020 Hekeepsthingsticking over,ensuringtheteammeetscustomerrequirements accordingtoagreedcontractualspecificationsanddeadlines. BornandbredinBluff,andbeingabletoworkastone’sthrow fromhome,isahugeattractionforHayden–butsotooare theopportunitiesthathaveopenedupforhimsincehe startedasafixed-termforkliftoperatorin2015,movinginto apermanentfulltimepositionafterthreeseasons,before transitioningtologisticsadministration

BLUFF BECKONS FOR BRIGHT FUTURE

Arecordlog-loadingundertakenon23February2023markedasignificantmilestoneforSouthPort,NFA,AVATimber,and MatarikiForests.

VesselschedulingforNewZealandlogexportershashaditschallengesrecently,withnewfumigationregulationsanddebarking ofon-deckcargoaddingtothecomplexityoffillingvessels AddtothisthesignificantdisruptiontoNorthIslandcargofrom CycloneGabrielleandgeneralcongestionissuesatsomeports,andtheAVAteamneededtobenimbleandthinkoutsidethebox TheirsolutionwasasingleportloadwiththeZhoushanIsland,a‘Supra’sizedvessel Withitswiderandlongerdimensions,this vesselcouldshipwhatwouldnormallybeloadedovertwoportsfromBluff. Allthatwasneededwasthesufficientvolumeatthe port,thenecessarystevedoringcapacitytoloadthelargevessel,andtheweight-to-volumefactorstomakeitaneconomic proposition. WithSouthland’ssummerdroughtmakingthelatterpossibleandtheothertwocriteriabeingmet,thedecisionwas takentodothefirstone-portlogvesselfromSouthPort.

Almost39,000JASm3wasloaded-themostvolumeNFAhasloadedontoonevessel. Otherrecordswerealsobroken,including anewdailythroughputtotalandthemostvolumeNFAhasmarshalledinaweek ThesuccesshaspavedthewayforAVATimber toconsideranother1:1vesselinmid-March SouthPort’schanneldeepeningprojectiswellunderwayandisexpectedtobe completedlaterthisyear ThefutureisbrightforshippingoutofBluff

In December, South Port began upgrading the heat pumps in the main administration building. As a means to give back to the community, it was decided that the old heat pumps would be donated to the local Bluff Golf Club, to provide a more comfortable environment for players and visitors

Until now, the only heating was by way of a single fireplace It is a well-known fact that temperatures in Bluff see both extremes, so the heat pumps mean the club rooms can be acclimatised a lot faster and efficiently It was a win-win situation for both South Port and the Bluff Golf Club.

TOWN WHARFOPENTOTHEPUBLIC

JustpriortoChristmas,SouthPortwasdelightedtoannouncethata sectionoftheTownWharfwouldbemadeopentothepublic,effective immediately Whilenobodyknowswhatthefutureholdsforthissectionofthewharf, forthetimebeingitwasimportantthatthepublicwasabletoreconnect withBluffHarbour.

Ahugeshout-outgoesouttothecontractors,whoworkedtirelesslyto makethishappenintimeforChristmas

SOUTH PORT 2023

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP

Paula Brown

Local Bluff resident Paula Brown is married with three children and will commence a Master of Environmental Management degree. Her long-term goal is to pursue a PhD. Paula is interested in the management and conservation of Antarctic and Subantarctic marine environments, especially as they relate to the ecology and conservation of bird populations Living in Bluff during her childhood ignited Paula’s interest to study in this area Paula started a Masters in 2001, but her plans changed after the birth of her eldest child, and she has devoted the last 20 years to raising her children

Paula loves the outdoors and is often out trail running, walking up a mountain, kayaking, mountain biking or tramping. Her other interests are photography and reading

Paula has spent the last eight years working as a science teacher and has really enjoyed interacting with the students she has taught

Paula’s proposed course of study focuses very heavily on conservation ecology and wildlife management. Paula is a dedicated student and always strives to do her best. Gaining this scholarship will mean that Paula will need to work less to help support her family, which will allow her to continue her community involvement at the RSA and Bluff Senior Citizens

We wish Paula well on her journey toward gaining her degree

STAFF SCHOLARSHIP

Jackson Faithfull

Jackson has excelled academically as well as in the sporting domain at James Hargest College and will be commencing his academic journey with the University of Otago to study a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) Jackson’s aim is to work towards either chartered accountancy or stock brokerage in the future. Jackson is the son of Scott Faithfull, South Port’s Bulk Cargo Coordinator.

Jackson is a very competent sportsman who has been involved in

We would like to congratulate this year's successful scholarship recipients: SouthPortralliesthetroopsannuallytodonateChristmasgiftstoselectedBlufffamilies.

triathlons, volleyball, and basketball and has represented Southland in touch rugby at nationals for five years, captaining the side for two of those years Jackson has played club football for the past 13 years for Old Boys AFC He has been involved in the senior Donald Gray premier men’s team as one of their youth development players for the last two years As well as club football, Jackson has also been involved in age group Southland representative teams from U13-U17. He has also refereed summer and winter football matches for several years and coached an Old Boys junior team for the last two years.

Jackson has learned many valuable skills from his past coaches and managers and enjoys coaching the younger aspiring players, as it gives him the opportunity to give back and teach the younger players important skills to help them grow and develop

Jackson’s other interests include cycling, running, skiing, and socialising with friends.He is currently working at Mitre 10 Mega, which has helped towards his costs for university this year

Described by his teacher as being a very dedicated and diligent student, Jackson shows initiative and commitment These attributes will serve him well in the future Haere pai (go well) Jackson!

CHRISTMAS GIVING INITIATIVE

InNovember,BluffSchool,StTeresa's,TeRourou,andBluffKindergarteneachnominatedonefamily.Wethendetailedtheagesand gendersofthoseselectedtothebroaderSouthPortteam,providingsomeguidanceastowhatwasrequired-suchasfood,gifts,and vouchers TheCommercialTeamthenfacilitatedthewrappingandhandoverofthehamperstoeachfamily,confidentially,viaeach school

ThisChristmas,wehadthefundraisingassistanceofPowerNet,alongwithformeremployeeAnnekeandherhusbandAnder Grobler,whoputinamammotheffort,substantiallyaddingtothegiftandpantrypool

BLUFF FOCUS ON

They’re back! As all will be aware, COVID-19 stopped cruise ships from operating, and many of our tourist towns were the poorer for their absence, but this season the cruise ships have returned if not without the occasional hiccup which has restricted the wanderings of some.

However, not all of them are back as the cost of maintaining some of the older cruise ships proved prohibitive, and they have gone to meet their breaker. One that many will be sad to learn is among the dear departed is the “Marco Polo,” one of the pioneers of ‘big ship cruising around New Zealand - although, with accommodation for just 850 passengers, she was small by today s standards Several now-retired Fiordland pilots cut their piloting teeth aboard her and remember her affectionately, as do the many passengers whose introduction to cruising was aboard the “Marco Polo ”

One veteran apparently departed, is the world’s oldest, active, sea-going cruise ship, the “Astoria,” better remembered as Swedish-America Line’s “Stockholm,” the ship that collided with and sank the luxurious Italian liner “Andria Doria” off New York in 1956 Completed in 1948, the “Stockholm" went through various iterations before being rebuilt as a cruise ship for the upper end of the market in the 1990s visiting New Zealand as the “Italia Prima” in 1996 Now reported to be sold to breakers, she was in her 75th year, a remarkable age for any ship, let alone an ocean-going cruise ship

Fortunately cruise ships visiting New Zealand waters this season are much younger. They range from the relatively large, such as the "Ovation of the Seas ” nearly 160,000 gross tonnes and accommodating 4,100 guests to the relatively small but more adventurous, with guests numbering in the hundreds, not thousands During the summer months, these smaller ships are frequent visitors to Bluff, the gateway to Antarctica, and to Southland's tourist gems, Fiordland and Stewart Island. Pictured above and featuring on the cover of this issue is the latest of this ilk the “Heritage Adventurer ” operated by Heritage Expeditions, Christchurch. This company has been associated with Antarctic and Fiordland cruising based out of Bluff since 1991 when the “Akademik Shokalskiy” made the "Heritage Expedition" first cruise to Antarctica She or her sister “Professor Khromov,” and sometimes both, cruised south every year since COVID-19 intervened. They have been stood down from their strenuous role with the purpose-built polar ship “Heritage Adventurer” taking over their duties. All three were built in Finland where they know quite a bit about ice, and we hope the cheerful atmosphere that prevailed aboard her forebears continues in the luxurious surroundings of the “Heritage Adventurer”

HOSPICE SOUTHLAND ANNUAL STREET APPEAL

OnFriday,10February,16SouthPortteammemberstookturnsstandingoutsidethe BluffFourSquareandFoveauxDairy,raisingmoneyfortheHospiceSouthlandAnnual StreetAppeal.Thiswascomplementedwithcollectionbucketsineachdepartmenton Port,aswellastheBuffServiceCentreandSoldCoffeeandGifts.

Theeffortssawthecommunityraise$1,186,whichwentdirectlytoHospiceSouthlandto supportover140patientsrightacrossSouthlandandtheWakatipuBasin.

AhugethankyoutotheSouthPortvolunteers,andthosethatdonated towardsthecause.

2023

MAYALL CUP

The2023editionoftheMayallCupheldlastmonthinBluffturnedouttobeaSouthPort domination,withemployeesoftheporttakingmostofthetopspoils

Arecord74playersturneduponabeautifulsummer'sdayinBluff,allwiththeambitionof placingtheirhandsontheMayallCup Duetothenumberofplayers,thecommitteeallowed someoftheportteamstoteeoffinthemorning,anditprovedtobetheoracleforthetoptwo prize-getters

SouthPortemployees(andBluffGolfClubmembers),JonoDaintithandJacksonWilliams werepairedwithtournamentfavouritesKrisWalkerandScottFaithfull Byallaccounts,both teamsliveduptotheirloftyexpectationshittingfairwayafterfairwayandeverygreenin regulation LogexportcustomersHamishFitzgeraldandMattThwaitesmadeapushtowards thetitlelaterinthedaybyplayingsomeexceptionalgolf,butitprovedtobeinvain,withJono andJacksonholdingoffthechallengerstowinbythreestrokes

WhenthePortsiderspoketowinningteamcaptainJonoafterbeingannouncedthevictor,he advised,“afteralongandarduousrecruitmentprocess,Ihavefinallyfounda“worthy”partner! Iplayedthetournamentasa15-year-old25yearsago,towinthetrophynowisvery satisfying”

Otherprizewinnerswere:

Secondplace:KrisWalkerandScottFaithfull(SouthPort)

Thirdplace:HamishFitzgeraldandMattThwaites(RayonierMatariki)

Closesttothepin:JimRisk(BallanceAgri-Nutrients)andJacksonWilliams(SouthPort)

LongestDrive:JonoDaintith(SouthPort)

A NEW SHIP FOR AN OLD TRADE

InJanuary1982,berth8wasnearingcompletion;nearbywasa growingpileofwoodchips,whileoveratStewartIsland,ahugeship layatanchorwaitingforthewindtodrop.Eventually,thewinddid drop,andthe"Sendai,"forshewasthehugeship,enteredBluffand beganloadingwoodchips.Manyshipsfollowedinherwake,and, spinningtheclockforwardfortyyears,wefindthemostrecent addition,thebrand-newwoodchipcarrier“GTSelene.”Overthe interveningyears,littlehaschanged.Thenewshiphassixholds servedbythreecranesandfourhopperswithdischargeashoreby conveyorbeltthroughdoorsinthebowjustlikethe“Sendai”did, althoughthenewshipisbigger.Sheis2metreslongerand1.5 metreswider.Bothshipsoperate(d)forMitsui-OSKline.

FOUR INTO ONE WILL GO

Eversincethe“TakitimuII”replacedourfaithful,ifsedate, servant“Awarua,”pilotshavebeenwhiskedfromshipto shore,shoretoshiporshiptoshipatagoodlypace, reducingdowntimeaboardthepilotboatandincreasing theproductiveperiodavailableforpilotagewithinthe restrictionsofBluff’stidalwindow In“Awarua”daysone ortwoshipsonatidewasroutine,threecouldbedoneif weatherandships’draughtswerefavourable,butfourona tidewasmoreorlessunheardof

But,in“TakitimuII”times,fourshipscomingorgoingon

onetide,whilehardlycommonplace,isnotunknown

Themorningtideon17December2022,however,wasunique-twoships departedandtwoshipsarrived Unusual,buthardlyunique,youthink?Thinkagain-forallfourshipsweretankers,afirstforBluffand possiblyanyNewZealandportwithintheallottedtimespan

Twelvemonthsago,inourMarch2022edition,we featuredCoastalBulkShippingonourbackpageand includedtwophotographsofitsonlyship,thesturdy little“Anatoki”whichhasbeenplyingourwaters sincebeingboughtbyCoastalBulkin2008.Nowshe hasabigsister.

OurCoastalBulkarticlementionedthesearchfora secondshiptoexpandthecompany’sbusiness.The searchendedwiththeacquisitionofthe“Dorsten,” whichwasrenamed"Rangitata."BuiltinCroatiain 2007andmeasuring1,653grosstonneswitha deadweightof2,387tonnes,sheisabletocarryover 2,000tonnesofbulkcargo,2,000tonnesthatwould otherwisebetravellingonroadtransporttothe frustrationofthoseinvehiclesfollowingbehind.

THEN THERE WERE TWO

A HISTORY OF CONTAINERISATION AT SOUTH PORT PART TWO

In late 1998, due to changing shipping patterns and altered cargo flows, there was reduced utilisation of the Liebherr LHM 1300 Mobile Harbour Crane As a result, the machine was sold to Ports of Auckland and replaced with a P&H 625OTC Truck Crane With a lifting capacity of over 110 tonnes, the P&H Truck Crane was double that of the original. Loaded aboard a barge in Auckland and towed to Bluff, it was driven ashore in virtually a “ready to use” condition, and the LHM 1300 crane was driven onto the barge in its place.

On 26 November 1998 a new service was inaugurated with the arrival of the “NZOL Commander.” This new service was operated by the New Zealand Orient Line and called on a fortnightly basis handling both containers and break-bulk cargo linking Bluff to the South-East Asian markets This service dramatically complements the Tasman Express Line's weekly service to Sydney/Melbourne with the “Sydney Express” and the “Wellington Express” carrying both containers and timber masterpacks

In 1999 a merger between NZOL and Tasman Asia took place, creating the Tasman Orient Line This resulted in a North Asia service, which called into Bluff fortnightly, and utilised four high-specification multi-purpose ships with many reefers This service linked Bluff directly with Japan, Korea, and Northern China, replacing the New Zealand Orient Line service in South East Asia. The larger size of the North Asia vessels meant they had sufficient capacity to load South Asia cargo.

In 2000, a new service was inaugurated by Regional Parcel Carriers (a division of Cool Line Reefers Ltd) to take advantage of expansion projects in the timber processing and dairy industries in Southland This service began with the arrival of “Southern Man ” a multi-purpose vessel with a container capacity of 350 TEUs, linking Bluff with Sydney and Brisbane at the end of March. This stretch of water is very competitive and proved to be the downfall of this service lasting only three months.

In the same year, MSC introduced a Trans-Tasman feeder service with the established P&O Nedlloyd service, giving Southland exporters access to MSC's worldwide global network through the Port of Bluff The P&O Nedlloyd sailings were

3 "Tasman Discoverer" loading pre-positioned containers on Berth 8

4 Replacement P&H 625OTC Truck Crane arriving at Bluff on the barge

5 "Wellington Express," outbound from Bluff, heading for Australia

6 The Klamar 40-tonne forklift, operating on Berth 4

operated by their subsidiary Taman Express Line, using container vessels "Sydney Express" and "Wellington Express," with MSC's contribution being the "MSC Kiwi " In early 2003, the two partners of the existing trans-Tasman Service, P&O –Nedlloyd and MSC, announced the commencement of a weekly Bluff call MSC also introduced a direct fixed-day weekly service between New Zealand, Europe, and the Mediterranean, accessible via trans-shipping cargo through South Port

The Tasman Orient Line implemented a significantly enhanced shipping service in February 2003, introducing new more extensive, and faster vessels with a more significant container carrying capacity, plus an increased number of slots for refrigerated containers. This contributed to a 30 percent increase in containers handled in the 2003 financial year (11,000 TEUs) over the previous year (8,500 TEUs).

To handle the increase in containers passing through the Port and to provide an efficient option to load gearless vessels, a new mobile harbour crane, plus a third 'heavy lift' Kalmar container forklift, was ordered in August 2003. The total capital outlay for these two machines was $4M. The new crane, a Liebherr 320 with a lifting capacity of over 100 tonnes and a sophisticated container work programming system, arrived on site on 1 November 2003 The new 40-tonne capacity container forklift was also delivered via the Tasman Orient line "MV Tasman Pathfinder " At this time the paving of a dedicated container storage and handling terminal located by Berth 4 was completed, with refrigerated container powerpoints added

New container handling software, "Jade Master Terminal," was purchased providing staff with a powerful tool to expeditiously handle the receipt, delivery and placement of containers. An Electronic Data Interchange is possible with a vessel's previous or next Port The system's ship planning and control capabilities create a smooth interface between ship, terminal, and road or rail transport. In recent years MSC has been operating their weekly Capricorn Service at the Port. This service has been calling at Bluff since 2008, providing worldwide shipping destinations for exporters through the transshipment hubs of Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas Most of these vessels are gearless and the largest are over 260 metres long with a container capacity of nearly 5,000 TEU's.

SOUTHERN OCEAN SOLUTIONS

The local waterfront cognoscenti is a fairly knowledgeable group regarding maritime matters in Bluff, but just a few months ago they would have struggled if asked about the activities of Southern Ocean Solutions. Then the first designated ‘Fish Farm Support Vessel’ to visit Bluff, the “Eidsvaag Omega” managed by Southern Ocean Solutions, arrived on her first visit discharging pelletised fish feed here for Sanford’s salmon farms in Stewart Island Built in Poland as a general cargo ship, the “Eidsvaag Omega” was so named in 2020 following her sale to Norwegian company Eidsvaag Rederi A/S who had her converted into a fish farm support vessel. Her bridge and accommodation are right forward and abaft them is a single large, unobstructed hold closed by a hatch measuring 69 3 x 12 5 metres As the ship’s overall dimensions are only 92 2 x 15 0 metres, the hold occupies a good part of it Last year, she sailed out to Hobart via Peru, and is now employed by Southern Ocean Solutions loading pelletised fish food in Hobart for distribution to fish farming ventures in Australia and New Zealand - her New Zealand discharge ports for the early voyages being Bluff, Timaru, and Picton

Operating the “Eidsvaag Omega,” however, is just the latest string to the substantial bow wielded by Southern Ocean Solutions. The company is owned and operated in Australia and has a dedicated team of highly qualified professional mariners, naval architects and others with wide experience in all aspects of maritime endeavour and

management from developing the clients’ initial concept through design, construction supervision and delivery of the finished project.

No sooner had the “Eidsvaag Omega” departed after her first visit than the heavy lift ship “Coe Luisa” arrived from Hai Phong laden with examples of Southern Ocean Solutions’ design expertise consigned to Sanford's Four major items were discharged. First into the water were the 2 x 28 metre oxygenation/aeration barges BG1 and BG2 followed by the “San Little Glory” and finally the “San Storm”. Most impressive of these is the “San Little Glory,” built to Southern Ocean Solutions’ ‘Aquacat 18’ design but modified to Sanford's requirements While the standard design was eminently suitable to support daily operations at Sanford's salmon farm facilities in Big Glory Bay, Stewart Island, the “San Little Glory” would also be required to adjust the salmon farm mooring systems which are fitted with 12 tonne mooring blocks and to transport 50

tonnes of moorings on the cargo deck Southern Ocean provided solutions to these requirements and the “San Little Glory” was launched at Hai Phong on 30 June 2022. The smaller and less complex “San Storm” is designed for net cleaning operations at the salmon farms

Southern Ocean Solutions has a wide range of in-house designs ranging from a small aluminium workboat to a tanker of 5,300 tonnes deadweight, the latter designed as a bunker vessel but is capable of making coastal or even international voyages. Another substantial vessel is the LCT 80, 80 metres long and 20 wide with a deadweight of 2,200 tonnes and range of 4,000 nautical miles General cargo or containers are carried on deck while underdeck are cargo tanks for oil and fresh water. Bow and stern ramps provide ro-ro facilities while a 30 tonne crane allows conventional cargo work. Similar but smaller ships, designated LCT 35, 48 and 65 are also in the extensive portfolio of vessels which includes a pilot boat, steel and aluminium work boats along with aquaculture units – basically large floating feed stores and distribution systems moored adjacent to the fish farms.

With the “Eidsvaag Omega” a regular visitor and the Sanford's fleet a familiar sight the local waterfront cognoscenti is now well acquainted with the activities of Southern Ocean Solutions