TURN-ROUND IMPROVES

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31832, 9 November 1968, Page 46

TURN-ROUND IMPROVES

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 8. There was a substantial improvement in the turn-round of British Conference Lines refrigerated ships last year, says the annual report of the Waterfront Industry Commission.

Compared with 1966 there was a reduction of 6.71 days in the average time spent on the New Zealand coast by vessels which discharged and loaded, and a reduction of 3.02 days for vessels which loaded only. The report, which was tabled in Parliament today by the Minister of Labour, Mr Shand, says: “The turn-round on the New Zealand coast is the best we have had since the war years, when vessels were worked round the clock under a shift system seven days in the week.” The report says there has been further marked improvement in 1968, but this improvement has been offset by strikes and slow turn-round in the United Kingdom, which has increased shipowners’ costs and could affect freight rates payable on overseas imports and exports. The report says that the improvement was a result mainly of:—

More efficient programming of vessels by shipping companies and better organisation of stevedoring operations by all interested parties. Better rates of work by waterside workers. A reduction in the average number of ports of call and a reduction in the number of vessels discharging or loading less than 1000 tons of cargo in one port. Reduction in time lost awaiting berths and awaiting labour or working with a

restricted number of gangs.

The report says that there was a big reduction in the level of watersiders’ employment, because of: — A fall of 1,072,832 tons of imports. A decrease of 264,999 tons of coastal cargo handled in New Zealand ports and an increase in coastal cargo carried by Railways Department railroad ferries where no waterside workers were employed. An increase in tonnage carried by the Union Steam Ship Company’s roll-on inter-island vessels, where also few waterside workers were employed.

A decrease in wool exports. Conference Lines refrigerated vessels spent an average of 48.36 days discharging and loading at New Zealand ports in 1967, compared with 55.07 days in 1966. Ships which loaded only spent 28.45 days on the coast In 1967, compared with 31.47 days in 1966.

There was a small decrease of i).19 ports visited by discharging and loading ships and for loading only there was a decrease of 0.32 ports.

There was. a decrease of 3.08 days in the average days when cargo, was not worked. There was a two-ton increase, from 434 to 436 tons, in the tonnage handled per ship working day. Loading per day rose from 322 tons to 366 tons.