A.P.-Moller Maersk (Maersk) has confirmed that Tauranga Container Terminal (TCT) will introduce stricter discharge requirements for dangerous goods containers from 1 July 2026.
Under the established conditions, DG containers will only be discharged if all clearance and transport requirements have been completed prior to vessel arrival.
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These include customs clearance, approval from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI),  shipping line release, and confirmed transport arrangements to remove the container within the permitted dwell period.
According to Maersk, DG units will only be discharged where there is clear assurance that all legal dwell-time requirements can be met.
As a transit depot, TCT is subject to strict regulations governing the storage of hazardous cargo. Most DG classes are limited to a maximum dwell time of three days, while certain categories, including Classes 1, 5.1, 6 and 7, face more restrictive controls.
The Danish carrier noted that TCT does not have the authority to approve storage beyond these regulatory limits.
From July 2026, DG containers that do not satisfy the required conditions will either remain on board the vessel or require alternative off-site storage arrangements to be organised by the shipping line.
The move is intended to reduce the risk of hazardous cargo exceeding allowable dwell periods within the terminal and ensure ongoing compliance with safety and regulatory obligations.
TCT stated that dangerous goods containers will not be discharged where there is a foreseeable risk of breaching legal dwell-time limits.