Business / Environment

Taranaki freight business turns to coastal shipping

09:30 am on 12 October 2022

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Photo: 123RF

A New Plymouth based freight trucking and warehousing business is entering the coasting shipping market - with a cargo ship capable of running on methanol - if and when the biofuel is available.

MOVE Logistics Group - formerly known as TIL Logistics - is one of the country's largest freight and warehousing businesses.

It has received $10 million in co-investment funds from transport agency Waka Kotahi, and is in the process of procuring a roll-on, roll-off cargo vessel to be in use by November next year.

The company says even without switching to so-called "green fuel", the ship will reduce MOVE's carbon emissions by 2000 tonnes per year.

The vessel will initially sail 3 times a week between Nelson and New Plymouth but will be able to access at least 13 New Zealand ports, without the need for any new infrastructure to be built. Kathryn speaks with MOVE executive director Chris Dunphy. 

Photo: MOVE Logistics Group