23 Dec 2013

Company rejects claim port unsafe

9:02 am on 23 December 2013

The chief executive of the Lyttelton Port company is rejecting a union claim the port is unsafe due to congestion caused by quake repairs and heavy volumes.

The claim from the Maritime Union of New Zealand comes in the wake of two deaths in less than a month.

On Saturday, a watersider employed by Lyttelton Stevedoring, one of three companies contracted to load and unload vessels, died when he was struck on the head while unloading a ship.

His death follows that of a contractor who became wedged between a logging truck and a forklift on 26 November.

Lyttelton Port of Christchurch chief executive Peter Davie denies the two incidents point to problems at the port but says he's happy to meet with the union.

"I have heard people saying it's a congestion problem - well actually an accident on board a vessel has nothing to do with what's going on the land."

Maritime New Zealand staff will be interviewing port staff on Monday about the death at the weekend and is not commenting on safety at the port.

A meeting will take place on Monday between managers of all of the companies working at the port to discuss health and safety.