Roll-Off Ferry Great Success

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30937, 18 December 1965, Page 1

Roll-Off Ferry Great Success

Although there were a few minor hitches through unfamiliarity with new equipment and first use of new facilities, the roll-on roll-off steamer-express Maori was discharged in record time at Lyttelton on her first scheduled trip yesterday. Many holidaymakers in cars were through the road tunnel and on their way south before the boat train left the wharf.

This was a “light” trip which pleased all concerned because they needed one normal run to overcome any snags which might arise on the new type of service. The boat carried 486 passengers, although she has accommodation for 786 and 70 vehicles.

The novel feature of rollon roll-off and the great acceleration in speed of handling everything carried was dramatically demonstrated at both ends of the trip. In Wellington, instead of having to have cars on the wharf by about 3.30 pjn, for loading by crane and up to four hours walking the streets .afterwards, holiday parties ar-

rived from northern centres by car up to 7 p.m. They were directed to make a turn to the right, and then back on to the Maori. Most took less than two minutes from the time they entered the wharf gates to the time they were leaving their cars in the “garages” on the vessel and mounting the short flight of stairs to their cabins. “Really Something”

"This is really something,” said one Auckland family. They ted left home very early, motored all day to Wellington with three children, camping gear, and luggage well packed in and on the car. They had had an evening meal in Wellington, drove to the, Maori just before 7 p.m., "rolled on” in one “package” (people and possessions) with one set of documents, and the young children were alseep In their cabin before 7.30. Such groups took only night attire and sponge tegs from their cars.

In Lyttelton the change was even more spectacular. With all cars in the ship’s "garages” pointed toward the stern doors, they came off at the rate of one every two seconds at one period. Drivers and passengers were called by public address system to sit in their cars as the ship berthed. The doors were opened, the link span placed, and off they went.

There were some other time-savers. Eight race horses in floats rolled on and rolled off without changing their quarters. Union Steam Ship Company "trailers” with 42 tons of general cargo rolled on and rolled off without any handling. Trucks of mail and checked luggage came on under their own power at Wellington and at Lytelton moved swiftly off to the Christchurch Poet Office and the Christchurch railway station. Covered Terminals In both Wellngton and Lyttelton the new inter-island service terminal buildings were in use for the first time. The Wellington one was gratefully welcomed by pedestrian passengers who got out of the wind, collected their thoughts, said their farewells in comfort, and then went aboard by easy-grade Indoor ramps. In Lyttelton the new terminal, not quite finished, was also used, but there upper-deck passengers descended by stairs. From the terminal they either walked up the wharf to Lyttelton or moved into the train alongside. At both terminals passenat Lyttelton moved swiftly off of the improvement the new buildings would give in the event of rain. Hydraulicallyoperated gangway links have

replaced the manually-placed equipment. This last caused Qe only snag at Lyttelton. The upper gangway link snaked out to meet the ship with a man pushing buttons near its lip. A prominent notice said no passengers should step on It until a big red light was off. The light stayed on. An “expert” was sent for and bequickly explained that not until the control motor was switched off would the light go off—“an additional safety measure.”