ROUGH SEAS AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume C, Issue 29570, 20 July 1961, Page 15

ROUGH SEAS AT LYTTELTON

Work Interrupted; Ships Delayed

Rough seas and a heavy north-easterly swell, which have pounded Lyttelton harbour this week, have caused shipping delays. Some spoil at the eastern end of the harbour reclamation area was Jost yesterday. Turbulent conditions caused a temporary halt in the launch services to Diamond Harbour yesterday morning, and a heavy sea was running most of the day. The 12.329ton Norwegian tanker Maridal, which has been discharging bulk kerosene and turbine fuel from Singapore, was piloted down the harbour late yesterday morning, but another Norwegian tanker, the Jaracenda, which had been anchored in the harbour since Tuesday, proceeded to open water off the head*. Although the present conditions are the worst for Kime time, the weather is expected to improve to allow the Jaraconda, the Cairnforth, now cruising off the heeds, and the new cargo liner, Amalric, to enter harbour early this morning. Four fishing vessels from Bluff have been sheltering in the inner harbour since Sunday afternoon. The inter-island steamer Rangatira met gale force winds when she arrived off the Moles of the inner harbour yesterday morning. The Rangatira’s berthing ‘was delayed by the condition* and it was 8 am. before passengers were able to go ashore. The Lyttelton Harbour Board tugs were alerted by the harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion) but the Rangatira, after several attempt*, berthed under her own power. Yachts and small craft were buffeted yesterday, and some moorings had to be renewed, but no real damage had been reported last evening Waterfront work was interrupted all day by intermittent rain which further delayed the departure of two coast*! vessels, the Poranui and River City.