Hovercraft For Ferry Planned

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31169, 20 September 1966, Page 3

Hovercraft For Ferry Planned

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, September 19. The chairman of Cook Strait Hover Ferries, Ltd., Mr P. J. Chubb, is optimistic that two Government stipulations will be fulfilled for the purchase of a £1.5 million SRN4 Hovercraft.

The newly-formed company hopes to operate one of the 100-seat machines on a service linking Paraparaumu, Plimmerton, Nelson and Picton.

In a telephone interview from Paraparaumu this morning Mr Chubb said he had “no worries getting a traffic licence to operate the Hovercraft.

“But the main thing is the granting of an import licence,” he said. The granting of both licences would depend on the availability of overseas funds in 1969-70—the period when the company hopes to start operations—and the acceptance of the SRN4 as a proven machine after sea trials in the English channel next year. The company recently had talks with the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) about licenses. “The Government wanted to know how the overseas funds could be spread over several years," Mr Chubb said. The Government would prefer the company to sign a contract for the delivery of the SRN4 after the machine’s sea trials late next year. “The Government didn’t seem worried about a traffic licence as long as the machine is feasible and the country

has sufficient overseas funds. “We can’t complete arrangements till these things are done.”

If the licences are granted the company hopes to run the version of the SRN4 which will carry 100 passengers and 35-40 cars. The 75 m.p.h. machine will be shipped to New Zealand in three sections for assembly.