Marstel Terminals, a New Zealand company that specialises in the storage of bulk and packaged hazardous and non-hazardous products, has invested $2 million installing a bulk liquid terminal at the southern port.
Last May, the company shipped a 75-tonne holding tank to Bluff Island Harbour from Wellington to store the chemical, which will be used to clean plant at Fonterra’s Edendale factory. A pipeline has also been installed to pump the caustic soda from the ship to the tank, from where it will be transported, as needed, by road to Edendale. Two more shipments, each weighing about 2300 tonnes, are expected this year.
Marstel Terminals group projects manager Brent Weston said the product had been shipped into Timaru and then transported by truck to Edendale, but taking shipments straight to South Port was more economical.
Port manager Russell Slaughter said the port company was pleased to accommodate the new venture.