Moving the container port away from Auckland would be a disaster for the city and likely lead to massive job losses, a leading logistics expert believes.

Professor Tava Olsen, of the University of Auckland's Business School, says talk of shifting the Fergusson Wharf terminal away from the Auckland waterfront makes no sense financially or logistically and fears it could result in thousands of jobs being slashed.

"I am strongly of the view it should stay," she says. "Maybe it is something to talk about in 20 or 50 years but right now it seems a very premature discussion to me."