New Crane Dredging Barge to Boost Access and Resilience for NZ’s Small Ports

New Zealand is investing $8 million through the Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund to co-fund a purpose-built crane dredging barge aimed at improving access to smaller ports that are often cut off during natural disasters. This new, cost-effective equipment will enable timely dredging of regional ports, ensuring essential supplies can be delivered by sea when road and rail links are disrupted. The $12.9 million barge, co-funded by Johnson Bros Limited, will be operational by late 2027 to enhance nationwide resilience and support community recovery.