Car imports to keep coming

Imported vehicles will clear the wharves at Ports of Auckland (POAL) as normal despite the changing alert levels over the coronavirus pandemic. 

Auckland is moving to alert level three from noon on August 12, while the rest of the country will shift to level two. The restrictions will remain in force until at least midnight on August 14.

Port spokesman Matt Ball says the shifts will make little difference to operations at POAL and it will continue to keep freight moving.

Three roll-on, roll-off vessels carrying imported vehicles are due at Ports of Auckland (POAL) during the alert level three period. 

Trans Future 7, pictured, is due to arrive at the port at 7pm on August 12 and leave for Wellington the following day. Meanwhile Triton Ace is set to dock in the early hours of August 13 and be in port for nearly two days. A third ro-ro, Valiant Ace, is set to arrive at 3pm on August 14 and depart late on August 15.  

Ball says: “We will simply continue operations with Covid-19 controls in place as we have done throughout much of this year. 

“There’s no change at the border. Covid-19 controls have always stayed at the waterside of operations, the only difference will be at the landside where we will have to make sure all contractors are wearing masks, washing hands and following safety protocols –  exactly as we did previously.”

David Vinsen, chief executive of the Imported Motor Vehicle Association (VIA), says imported vehicles can be unloaded at ports as usual following rules put in place as the nation shifted out of lockdown measures in April this year

“Vehicles are considered essential goods following a determination by the NZTA earlier in the year,” he explains. “As a result, the ports will work and discharge imported cars as normal and those cars will go into storage prior to processing where necessary.”

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