DELAY TO IBERIA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29682, 28 November 1961, Page 2

DELAY TO IBERIA

Passengers’ Diversions

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 27. While 1100 passengers on the Iberia are patiently cooling their heels, ships’ engineers are working round the clock. 10 at a time, to repair a new fault—in the turbogenerator. The fault is a result of the trouble the ship had with impure water in its boilers. The Iberia, of 29.000 tons, was forced to return to Auckland after sailing only 18 miles towards Suva on Friday night, and will not sail before noon tomorrow. Three passengers have left the ship to go on by air. A few passengers are taking harbour trips in ship’s launches, while others are relaxing in the sun, as though the ship was at sea. Tire bars on the ship are open but its shop is closed. If passengers take a passport and identity card from the ship with them, they are allowed ashore, but visitors are not allowed on board, because the Customs Department regards the ship as being at sea. P.N.P. Line’s technical superintendent, Mr W. Butcher, flew from Sydney during the week-end, and is supervising the repairs. The ship has not heard yet whether its schedule will be altered.