Port

 
The Port of Greymouth is situated on the West Coast of the South Island at the mouth of the Grey River. The commercial port began life in the 1860s gold rushes, but in the 1880s investment in breakwaters, wharves, cranes and railways transformed Greymouth into a major coal shipping port to supply the growing New Zealand economy. As utilisation of indigenous forests developed, Greymouth also became a major timber exporter. Coal and timber exports peaked at 600,000 tonnes per year in the early 1900s, but declined to about 250,000 tonnes a year after the opening of the railway to the east coast in 1923. Timber exports diminished from the 1950s as indigenous timber exports were restricted. With the discovery of natural gas in the North Island in 1969 the coal trade almost disappeared, but recommenced with tug and barge services in 1988.

Coal and aggregate are now the major cargo exports, mainly to the North Island, but also to Lyttelton Port of Christchurch and Port Kembla, Australia, for loading on export vessels.

The fishing industry developed in the 1970s, and Greymouth is home to 35 local vessels, up to 60 visiting vessels in the tuna season (January –April), and significant landings of hoki by 20 to 40 metre length vessels in the July-September season.

Greymouth’s history makes it an important heritage port on the New Zealand Maritime Heritage Trail. It is also important for local and visitor recreational activities, and in 2005 the game fish resource off-shore attracted international attention and this industry is expected to grow significantly.