Over the past couple of days, the fuel network has continued to function much as expected, although if you're watching vessel movements closely, you'll notice everything seems to be moving at a slower pace than normal.
My own feeling is that weather has played a part. I was recording wave heights yesterday ranging from around five metres to over ten metres in some areas, and that sort of sea state can certainly affect vessel schedules and port operations.
The good news is that fuel is still moving. The less encouraging observation is that fewer vessels are continuing around the country, with more cargoes appearing to be concentrated through fewer distribution routes.
June Vessel Activity
At Marsden Point, PS Sydney finally departed on the morning of June 11 after spending a full week alongside following its arrival from Daesan, South Korea.
The next vessel in line is Forever Glory, arriving from Malaysia, with several more cargoes scheduled through June including Gordons Bay, CL Xunyang, Shan Hu Zuo, and Grand Winner 3.
Further south, TP Endurance continued its familiar run through the network, moving from Tauranga to Napier before departing for Wellington.
Meanwhile Chang Hang Fei Yue completed its Tauranga discharge before heading to New Plymouth, where it remains alongside.
In the South Island, Esteem Houston completed operations at Lyttelton and has now continued south toward Dunedin, while Oriental Aquamarine departed Lyttelton for Timaru.
Overall, there are no immediate signs of supply disruption.
The system remains active and functioning.
Where Our Fuel Is Coming From
The latest June data shows just how concentrated New Zealand's imported fuel supply remains.
Origins of June Fuel Cargoes
- Daesan, South Korea – 2 vessels
- Papeete, French Polynesia – 1 vessel
- Singapore – 1 vessel
- Anegasaki, Japan – 1 vessel
Notably absent are cargoes from many of the traditional regional suppliers.
South Korea continues to dominate as a primary source of refined fuel products entering New Zealand.
Distribution Around New Zealand
The latest vessel mooring figures show:
- Tauranga – 3
- Lyttelton – 3
- Marsden Point – 2
- Nelson – 2
- Timaru – 2
- Wellington – 2
- New Plymouth – 1
Several ports have seen little or no fuel vessel activity during the current reporting period.
It's worth noting that some vessels arriving this month were already operating within New Zealand waters during May, which partially explains the higher distribution numbers compared with import arrivals.
The Aratere Question
Away from fuel, the departure of the Aratere has generated considerable discussion.
The vessel departed Wellington on June 6 bound for Bhavnagar, India — home to the world's largest ship-breaking facilities.
For many New Zealanders, Aratere was more than just another ferry.
It was the country's only rail-capable roll-on roll-off vessel and formed a critical part of New Zealand's freight network.
Personally, I find the silence around its removal quite astounding.
Four very memorable sailings for me over the years, and who could forget some of those rough Cook Strait crossings.
Or Barry Saunders' classic "Sailing on the Interislander."
The reality is that road freight is now carrying additional pressure that Aratere once absorbed, and its replacement remains years away.
What Readers Are Saying
Jeremy questioned whether a partial refit could have extended the vessel's life by another couple of years.
His view was that even if additional tug support had been required, the cost would have been minor compared with the billions now being committed to replacement infrastructure.
Alan shared similar concerns, commenting that many major decisions seem to be made without sufficient consideration of their long-term consequences.
Several readers also questioned whether additional fuel deliveries to Marsden Point might be connected to expanded storage capacity and upgraded tank infrastructure.
While those questions remain speculative, they reflect growing public interest in how New Zealand manages its strategic fuel reserves.
When I spoke with Karl, he suggested there is considerably more to the Aratere story than most people realise, including previous vessel plans that were ultimately abandoned. Unfortunately we couldn't establish a live connection this week, but we'll try again soon and hopefully get a more detailed explanation.
Looking Ahead
One thing that stands out from the latest schedules is that relatively few vessels are continuing around the country after their initial discharge.
Marsden Point will receive several cargoes during June, but many appear destined to unload there and depart rather than undertake extensive coastal distribution.
Outside of Morning Sparrow, there are relatively few vessels scheduled to continue moving fuel between multiple New Zealand ports.
That's not necessarily a concern yet, but it is something I'll be tracking through the remainder of June.
I will also put together a forecast chart and a "one-port-only" vessel list to see whether the pattern is becoming more pronounced.
International Watch
One development worth monitoring closely is the latest claim from Iranian military sources that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to shipping following recent hostilities involving the United States.
At the time of writing, commercial shipping activity and official international reporting remain fluid, and the situation will need ongoing monitoring.
What is certain is that oil markets reacted immediately.
Oil Price
- Open: US$92.60
- Day Range: US$90.77 – US$95.00
- Current: US$93.10
After a relatively quiet period, global oil markets have suddenly become something worth watching again.
Bottom Line
For now, New Zealand's fuel supply network continues to function normally.
Vessels are arriving.
Fuel is moving.
Ports remain active.
However, the combination of fewer distribution vessels, ongoing geopolitical tension around the Strait of Hormuz, and growing questions around strategic infrastructure such as Aratere all point to a bigger picture.
The system is working.
But it's also reminding us just how dependent we remain on a relatively small number of vessels, routes, and overseas supply chains.
And that's why we keep watching.