BERTHS SCARCE AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27734, 11 August 1955, Page 16

BERTHS SCARCE AT LYTTELTON

ONE SHIP DIVERTED TO DUNEDIN

“PORT JAMMED FOR MONTHS AHEAD ” Last month had been a difficult one for berthage at Lyttelton, the harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion) reported to the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday. The oil wharf, usually used only for oil tankers, had been used considerably for berths for ships awaiting working berths, he said. The Radley, with phosphates for discharge, was sent to Dunedin after being berthed at the oil wharf without discharging any cargo. During the month, said Captain Champion, 98 trading vessels, representing a net register tonnage of 228,570 tons, entered the port, compared with 85 ships totalling 202,970 tons in July of last year. Was it likely that the congestion of shipping was the aftermath of the British strike?” asked MrP. J. Mowat, when the chairman (Mr F. E. Sutton) said he could not recall any more shipping in the port. “No, it would hardly be here,” replied Mr Sutton. “I can see the port jammed up for months ahead,” Captain Champion said. “The position will be worse when we get ships arriving after the strike.” Cargo handled at the port during the month amounted to 124,134 tons, compared with 91,109 tons in July, 1954. Imports rose from 62,766 tons to 89,168 tons, and exports from 27,967 tons to 34,966 tons. From the beginning of the board’s financial year last October to the end of July, 1,061,327 tons has been handled, compared with 862,198 tons in the comparable period of the previous year.