OVERSEAS SHIP FUMIGATED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28253, 15 April 1957, Page 12

OVERSEAS SHIP FUMIGATED

Rats Found On The Suffolk

Because rats had been found on board while the Federal Steam Navigation Company’s cargo vessel Suffolk was discharging at Wellington, the ship was fumigated with cyanide gas at Lyttelton during the week-end. The work was done by a Christchurch firm of chemists. AU members of the crew—4o men and 23 officers—had left the ship by midday on Saturday and were accommodated in Christchurch hotels. The staff then set to work placing receptacles in all compartments of the ship. The receptacles varied in size according to the space in which they were placed and the largest were used in the holds. After donning and testing respirators, the men. working speedily and methodically, placed the cyanide powder in the receptacles- and at once closed the doors, sealing them with paper pasted around the edges. Warning notices that the ship was being fumigated were placed on the wharf and a watchman was on duty at the gangway. Crew Returns The work of opening up the hip and allowing the gas to disperse began at 7 o’clock yesterday morning. The operators worked from the stern, opening all doors, hatches and ventilators and the warm, northerly breeze helped to blow the ship clear. Before the crew was allowed to return to the ship last evening, the contractors issued a certificate to the master (Captain J. E. Bury) that the ship was free of gas. Several ships are fumigated at Lyttelton in the course of each year and the operation is regarded as routine. Ships carry an International Certificate of Deratting, valid for six months, which can be renewed if the ship is still free of rats. According to the port sanitary inspector (Mr B. Murch), derattin*’ may be ordered at any time.