Here are some pictures of Dave Sowman loading food supplies onto the “Taharoa Express” at Taharoa using pre-loaded cage baskets which we designed for the job. This contract at Taharoa which is on the West Coast between New Plymouth and Auckland is for New Zealand Steel Mining.
The ships take black sand which is surfaced mined by dredge from the local sand hills and transported to the ship which is tied up to a buoy about one mile offshore. The sand is pumped out through a pipe line in water mix slurry. The water then is drained from the ship overboard.
Generally the sand goes to China or Japan to make steel. This contract is the longest running contract in the HNZ Group, initially starting 36 years ago on 21 October 1962. This vessel is the largest ship that comes into New Zealand waters. Kudos to Jim Wilson for providing the write-up and photos.
