New Zealand's Lyttelton Port Launches NZ$821 Million Expansion Tender

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 1, Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) of New Zealand initiated preparatory work for the Te Awaparahi Bay expansion and resilience project, issuing an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the market for the construction of a new deep-water terminal. The project has a total investment of NZ$821 million and plans to build a 388-meter deep-water berth and a 5-hectare container terminal, equipped with 4 ship-to-shore container cranes and semi-automated yard cranes, with completion scheduled for 2031.

Upon completion, the project will accommodate container ships of up to approximately 15,000 TEU, increasing the port's annual berth handling capacity to approximately 850,000 TEU. The new terminal will be built on land formed by the existing Te Awaparahi Bay reclamation project, which is still underway, and the expansion project will not require additional reclamation area.

LPC has begun engaging with specialist construction contractors, crane and other equipment suppliers. The terminal design is nearing completion, with berth area dredging scheduled to commence at the end of 2026 and major marine construction works planned to begin in mid-2027. The design of refrigerated container towers is progressing in parallel, and the port's high-voltage power grid will be upgraded to supply electricity for subsequent electric handling equipment.

The port is also establishing a 24-workstation project office at the Woolstore in Te Ana Marina for the project team and engineering participants. The technical team is advancing the design of the on-site data center, the expansion of the port's dedicated 5G network, and the integration of new handling equipment with the existing terminal operating system. The port's marine department is simultaneously evaluating options with suppliers for the procurement of a third tugboat.

Project funding will be shared by LPC and its shareholder Christchurch City Holdings Limited, with CCHL planning to invest approximately NZ$300 million in equity, while the remaining funds will be raised by LPC through debt financing.