PORTS EVERYWHERE NEEDING MORE LAND

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30814, 28 July 1965, Page 20

PORTS EVERYWHERE NEEDING MORE LAND

The main problems confronting port authorities today were those brought about by the rapid increase in road transport of cargo, said Mr J. B. Bushell, the senior assistantengineer of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, who has just returned from an overseas visit. During this tour he visited 26 harbours.

*'ln many of the olderestablished ports severe congestion and consequent delays to ships and goods have been caused by insufficient Suitable flat land and good access roads adjacent and leading to wharf areas,” Mr Bushell said. “It is apparent that cargo handling and goods transport are in a state of transition, with rapidly-increasing utilisation of cargo enabling greater mechanisation in handling and consequently more rapid clearing of goods and faster turn-round of ships." “Roll-on. roll-off vessels of bow. stern and side loading types were increasing in number, as were container vessels. .Vs a result of these changes and -thers planned for the future, it was essential that maritime works having a life of more than 40 years should be built, so that they would be able to deal with whatever form of goods transportation and type of vessel developed, Mr Busheil said. Valuable Asset “Certainly one of the most valuable assets a port authority can have is flat open land to permit unobstructed loading, standage and flow of road traffic. Whereas the Cashin quay area comparevery favourably with othei modern berthage with more than 12 acres of land a berth reclaimed, considerable problems exist with the proposed modernisation of the inner harbour at Lyttelton.” The board sent Mr Bushell overseas to study the most modern methods of cargohandling operations, including the type of plant employed and arrangements made for roll-on, roll-off type vessels and the developing container traffic. Developments in harbour engineering, with particular reference to prevailing or future conditions in Lyttelton, were also studied In Stockholm His planned four-month trip was extended by about three weeks so that he could attend the twenty-first Permanent International Associa-

tion of Navigation Con- ! grasses held in Stockholm These congresses are held once every four years, and this one was attended by more than 1100 representatives from 62 countries. “It has been a particularly valuable experience for me to see and discuss at first hand the method of operation, layout and planned development of ports throughout the world, particularly in the light of the rapidly-changing i methods of goods handling i and transportation.” Mr I Bushell said. At each port he made a i report on a tape recorder and I sent it home. From this de- ; i tail he will prepare a report 1 for the board.