SHIPPING AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 8

SHIPPING AT LYTTELTON

Congestion Now Lessening

Although railway trucks were in very short supply at Lyttelton yesterday, and there were vacancies for 146 men on the waterfront, there are signs of an improvement in shipping congestion. Only three ships were idle yesterday—the Babinda, the River City, and the Glanely. which has still much North American cargo to put ashore. Normal overtime was worked last evening, and the projected departure today ot the phosphate vessel. Cape Wrath, which has required many trucks, and the Dominion Monarch tomorrow, will make a big gap at -the wharves. A Japanese vessel, the Kowa Maru. sailed last evening, and the Dutch vessel Ven Neck will berth this morning, leaving only the Federal liner Cumberland, the Norwegian motor-ship Reinholt and the Union Company’s coaster. Karu, at anchor in the stream.

Shipping Balance

In spite of the heavy congestion of trucks at the city yards, the balance between ingoing and outgoing shipping is at present favourable. The shortage of railway trucks had worsened during the week-end, said the Railways district traffic manager (Mr E. C. Brittenden) yesterday. There were now 904 trucks waiting to be unloaded into the sheds, he said. There were 524 trucks unloaded at the week-end. which was a very good effort, but the situation was still “snowballing,” he said. All the overtime possible would be worked to catch up. The harbourmaster at Lyttelton (Captain A. R. Champion) said yesterday that now that shipping was on the move, the situation had every indication of rapidly improving.