Southern New Zealand ports encounter damage from massive earthquake

A massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked southern New Zealand Monday morning, resulting in marine terminal damage among ports in the region.    A massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked southern New Zealand Monday morning, resulting in marine terminal damage among the ports in the region.
   Derek Nind, chief executive officer of CentrePort Wellington, which operates the Port of Wellington and its container terminal, said his staff is conducting inspections of the port’s property and assets during the daylight hours today.  
   “We have sustained damage to buildings and the port and also some liquefaction and differential settlement in places,” he said in a statement.
   Wellington plans to keep its port closed for the next seven days, adding that select parts of its cargo operations may be re-opened in the interim as engineers determine they’re safe.
   Nearby Picton, which operates the Waitohi Wharf for roll-on/roll-off vessels, cruise ships, and fishing and cement vessels, and the forestry and cruise terminals at Shakespeare Bay have reported earthquake damage. 
   “A tsunami warning was withdrawn early this morning, with unusual tidal surges and currents continuing throughout the day,” said Inchcape Shipping Services in a notice. 
   The company said it assisted the evacuation of a number of ships to sea overnight after the tsunami warning was issued. However, it noted vessels have now returned back to the ports.
   Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Lyttelton/Christchurch port has already reopened and reports no structural damage. Railway and road access to the port has also been declared operationally safe.