NZDF to transport fuel by sea and road
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will help transport fuel around the country by sea and road to help ease a jet fuel shortage triggered by a damaged oil pipeline in Auckland last week.
Major General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said the Royal New Zealand Navy tanker HMNZS Endeavour would sail for Marsden Point Oil Refinery on Thursday morning to upload up to 4.8 million litres of diesel fuel for delivery to ports in New Zealand.
“Endeavour can provide the equivalent of 150 road tankers of fuel. Deploying the ship will free up commercial tankers to reconfigure and focus on moving aviation fuel,” Major General Gall said.
“This will help ease distribution issues in other regional centres.”
Twelve New Zealand Army drivers would be driving civilian tankers to transport aviation fuel to Auckland, Palmerston North and Napier around the clock from 21–30 September, he said.
Six Army drivers would be driving the tankers from Marsden Point to Auckland, while another six would be moving fuel from Wellington to Palmerston North and Napier, he said.
