Mr. Jim Williamson

Port Nelson chief executive Jim Williamson said drug and alcohol testing was introduced as a health and safety precaution because much of the company's work involved heavy equipment and machinery.

A person who tested positive would not be employed by the company, he said.

Port Nelson Ltd Chief Executive Officer Jim Williamson says the system will be an important step forward for the company. 'Our industry is a very competitive one and although the province has endemic trade, it is the service we provide at the margin that is critical - if we don't compete effectively we will lose out to surrounding ports.

We need the ability to be able to exchange information electronically with customers and have the ability to plan our resources before a ship arrives, to maximise the efficiency of unloading. 'After searching the marketplace it became apparent to Port Nelson that nobody except Cardinal had produced an integrated solution.3D-Port runs on JADE's object-oriented database, a key to the system's competitive advantage over other products in the container management market.

Port Otago Limited was believed to be the first port operation in the world to run the complex business of container management over a PC-based system on a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week basis and partnered with Cardinal to pioneer this world leading container management solution.

Port Nelson Ltd Chief Executive Jim Williamson has announced that he is retiring at the end of this year.

In making the announcement Mr Williamson said that by the time his retirement date came he would have spent close to six years in his position at Port Nelson.He said he could look back with some satisfaction at the progress made by the team at Port Nelson in that time.

"Cargo volumes have grown by 25%, containers have grown by 50%, there have been some very significant capital projects, including the layup berths and reclamation, Main Wharf South replacement, purchase of the second Liebherr crane, and the development of the container yard and Quay Pack business units," he said."A feature of the period has been the successful quest to acquire some desperately needed land which has allowed the port's operational site to be significantly rationalised.

The port is a much tidier operation now than it was when I started, notwithstanding significant growth in the interim."

Mr Williamson said that he was looking forward to having more time for some personal projects and activities that have been on the back burner for some time.

"One thing I will miss is the companionship and support of the other people in this workplace," he said.

Port Nelson chief executive Jim Williamson said the review represented a "barometer of what's happening in the region".
...
Mr Williamson said processing capacity at sawmills around Nelson meant more than 60 percent of the forestry cut was now being processed - a better rate than most other regions.
...
Mr Williamson said there had been an increase in the amount of cargo being sent by container and a decrease in chartered shipping.

While the number of ships visiting the port had not increased, container ships were larger with the capacity to carry more cargo.

Port Nelson was just managing to meet its international shipping requirements, but the planned port extension would be a welcome addition, he said.
...
Mr Williamson said the shed would measure up to 10,000 square metres and be built on the old milk treatment site on the corner of Graham St and Wildman Ave.

Port Nelson chief executive Jim Williamson was among those marching, but said he was there in a "personal capacity".