The biggest ship to enter the Port of Tauranga is expected alongside Sulphur Point on October 4.

The 347m long container ship Aotea Maersk has a cargo capacity of 9,640 TEU, and weighs in at 110,387 tonnes deadweight. It was built in 1999 as Svend Maersk.

A 9500 TUE Maersk container ship similar in size to the Aotea Maersk, scheduled to arrive Tauranga October 4. Photo: Supplied.

Maersk is the first shipping operator to take advantage of the increased Port of Tauranga capacity resulting from a $350 million investment programme the port has undertaken in recent years; deepening harbour channels, buying new tugs, new container cranes and straddle carriers.

Away from the container terminal the port company has pursued agreements with exporters and cargo carriers to provide the cargo volumes to make the larger ship visits worthwhile for its owners.

It's all coming together mid-morning on October 4 with Maersk Line Oceania Managing Director Gerard Morrison, Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns, Kotahi chief executive, David Ross, and Transport Minister, Simon Bridges among those at the official welcome.

The three CEOs Gerard Morrison-Maersk, David Ross-Kotahi, and Mark Cairns-PTL. Photo: Supplied.

Aotea Maersk is one of 11 ships deployed on Maersk Line's newly announced services which will offer New Zealand businesses direct import connections from the West Coast of South America and nonstop export access to Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan.