To and From Marine Studies                                                                                    

A Good View from the 18 Bus of Ships Across the Harbour.
9 December - Happinui, a fish factory ship (length 68m, width 11m; built 1987; New Zealand flag) was recently at Heron Shiprepair Whangarei.  The vessel is part of Sanford's fishing partnerships fleet1, 2, owned by JAICO Limited, based in Timaru; according to New Zealand Business Directory, and companyhub.nz the ultimate holding company is Juahm Industries Co., Ltd. based in Busan, Korea. 

1. From the Sanford website: "We contract well operated New Zealand fishing vessels to complement our own fleet, as it’s a sensible and economically viable way to catch some of our quota, given the variable and seasonal nature of some of our fisheries. We contract these vessels as part of our long-standing business relationships with Dong Won New Zealand Ltd, JAICO Limited and their parent companies based in South Korea. The fishing partnerships fleet consists of four trawlers targeting mainly arrow squid, barracouta and other species. The fishing partnership vessels range in size from 55 meters to 59 meters long. They typically have a crew of 40 and stay out at sea for up to 35 days."

2. The Department of Primary Industry manages the quota management system (QMS). which "guides the sustainable use of New Zealand fisheries."
9 December - Norse Innoshima, a bulk carrier (length 183m, beam 31m; built 2024; Panamanian flag) at Ravensbourne.  Next stop was Gisbourne.
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Not Pictured - LPG carrier Buena Bandera was in port 10-11 December.
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12 December - Happinui shifted to make way for the Pacinui.
12 December - Pacinui, a fishing vessel (length 58.2m, width 9.8m; built 1983; New Zealand flag).  Also owned by JAICO Limited.
12 December - Buffalo, a cement carrier (length 130.02m, width 18.43m) at the cement berth, arrived from Lyttelton and was next heading to Timaru.  Timaru-based Holcim recently sold the ship, laid off its crew, and sought to run a foreign flagged vessel in its place (see bottom of page).
12 December -TS Honour, a bulk carrier (length 182m, width 30m; built 2017; Marshall Islands flag) at the Leith berth, arrived from Timaru.  
12 December - Pacific Jade, an oil/chemical tanker (length 189.2m, width 32.2m; built 2020; Liberian flag) at the oil jetty, arrived from Nelson.  Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is headquartered in Singapore.
12 December - Fishing trawler Adelaide Pearl (length 24or25m, width 6m, NZ flag, Petromount Holdings Limited) at X/Y Berth.
Wingfoiling.
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15 December - Pacinui heading out from T/U Berth.  The red and white flag means "pilot on board."
15 December - Tugs position the Silver Philippa, an oil/chemical tanker (length 183m, width 32.2m; built 2015; Marshall Islands flag) at the oil jetty after its arrival from Bluff.
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Port of Otago: Arrivals & departures last 7 days.


HOLCIM'S BUFFALO PROBLEM
As noted above Holcim recently sold off the Buffalo.  In a letter reported by stuff, the firm explained, "The Buffalo’s lumbering performance is impacting our New Zealand cement operations, making it unprofitable. Buffalo is nearing the end of its useful life. It is too big, too slow, and inefficient for our requirements. The vessel requires $8m in repairs and maintenance over the next four years."  After the government declined to grant Holcim an exemption to run a foreign vessel, the firm suggested it would instead run 500 trucks a month.

Maritime Union of New Zealand
9 December 2025 news release:

 Victory for Kiwi jobs as Government rejects foreign cement ship exemption

The Maritime Union of New Zealand today welcomed the decision by Associate Transport Minister James Meager to decline NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers’ (NACC) application to operate a foreign-flagged vessel carrying Holcim cement on the New Zealand coast.

The failed application for an exemption under Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act sought permission for the Panamanian-flagged and overseas-crewed NACC Vega to replace the New Zealand-flagged and crewed MV Buffalo.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says the Minister has made the right decision.

He says the decision confirms New Zealand law cannot be ignored and side-stepped by multinational corporations seeking to destroy local jobs through Flag of Convenience shipping.

“This is a win for local jobs and New Zealand shipping.”

Mr Findlay says the situation was a clear test on protecting Kiwi jobs, and this decision sends a strong message to Holcim about its obligations to New Zealand.

In November, Holcim gave a month’s notice of redundancy to 32 skilled New Zealand seafarers crewing the MV Buffalo.

Mr Findlay says Holcim must now accept their plan to replace experienced New Zealand crews with foreign labour has failed.

“MUNZ calls on Holcim to commit to supporting New Zealand shipping and retaining local jobs. The highly skilled crew of the MV Buffalo is ready, willing, and able to continue serving New Zealand’s coastal distribution network.”

He says Holcim’s previous threat to use road transport for their cement if they didn’t get their way was a nonsense and a bluff.
The Maritime Union congratulates the crew of the MV Buffalo for standing strong throughout this protracted dispute.

Mr Findlay says the entire episode has highlighted the vulnerability of New Zealand’s maritime trade.

He says the Maritime Union is campaigning on a plan to rebuild New Zealand’s domestic coastal shipping.

“New Zealand requires a robust and permanent policy framework to rebuild a dedicated New Zealand domestic coastal shipping fleet, crewed by New Zealanders, ensuring security and resilience in our supply chains.”

This capability proved critical during national crises such as the Christchurch and Kaik?ura earthquakes and Cyclone Gabrielle, he says.

Mr Findlay says the Maritime Union looked forward to an ongoing discussion about the future of the maritime industry with Associate Minister Meager in the New Year.
 
Background information on Flags of Convenience
Flag of Convenience (FOC) shipping is a regulatory loophole where shipowners register vessels in foreign nations (such as Panama or the Cook Islands) rather than their home country, primarily to maximize profit at the expense of safety and workers’ rights.
This practice allows owners to sever the “genuine link” between a ship and its actual ownership, enabling them to bypass national labour laws, tax obligations, and safety standards.
Shipping companies can effectively operate “floating sweatshops,” exploiting vulnerable crews with poverty wages and minimal legal protections, which creates a race to the bottom that undercuts responsible operators.
For New Zealand, the encroachment of FOC shipping is a direct threat to our economic sovereignty, biosecurity, and local jobs.
Multinational companies use FOC vessels to displace New Zealand-flagged and crewed ships on domestic coastal routes, destroying local jobs and eroding our maritime capability.
Relying on FOC shipping compromises supply chain resilience and environmental safety, as fatigued crews on substandard vessels significantly increase the risk of maritime accidents.
Domestic coastal freight should be protected by strong laws, ensuring it is carried by New Zealanders on safe, regulated vessels rather than outsourced to the lowest global bidder.
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See also:
Rosie Leishman.  "Timaru-based Holcim workers face losing jobs as company looks overseas."  The New Zealand Herald, 3 December 2025.

Lloyd Burr.  "Cement giant warns of 500 extra trucks per month after foreign-run coastal shipping plan rejected."  stuff, 10 December 2025.