Wellington, July 2 NZPA - Ports of Auckland expects to handle 96 percent of its containerised cargo at its Fergusson container terminal after a signalled operational change becomes effective from Monday.

At present container ship schedules and stevedoring staff are split between the Fergusson and Bledisloe container terminals, which are run semi-independently.

About 71 percent of containerised cargo is currently handled at Fergusson.

From Monday, most container ships will be berthed at Fergusson and all the port's stevedoring staff will be based there.

Staff numbers have been reduced by 33 through a combination of voluntary redundancies and internal redeployment.

General manager operations Grant Jorey said the change would help the company be more efficient.

Chief financial officer Wayne Thompson said the construction of a rail exchange inland at Wiri would increase capacity at the seaport.

The rail exchange was expected to be operational by the end of 2009.

The port has sold Queens Wharf, to be used as a party venue for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and as a berth for cruise liners.

"We will be transferring the cargo currently handled on Queens Wharf to Bledisloe, Captain Cook and Marsden wharves, and some container ships will continue to be serviced at Bledisloe," Mr Thompson said.