Shipping Proposals

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31866, 19 December 1968, Page 1

Shipping Proposals

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The Wool Flow Committee makes five major recommendations on shipping in its report released tonight.

It urges the New ZealandEuropean Shipping Association to maintain the closest possible liaison in programming vessels loading New Zealand wool. The report says the association carries about 65 per cent of New Zealand wool exports and these companies meet at regular intervals to programme vessels. “While cognisance is taken of the loading programme of other vessels in the conference which may be loading cargoes other than wool, there appears to be little or no effort made to co-ordinate the vessels serving other I trades.” The report says that with the present facilities in most ports delays to ships are inevitable if more than two large wool loaders require wool simultaneously. Because of the present programming difficulties the committee considered programming on a regular basis, without regard to wool sales. A fortnightly service was suggested but the committee considered it would extend the number of loading ports for each vessel and increase the cost of the service. “A further point noted by the committee was the number of loading and discharge ports served in common by more than one vessel from each sale. “While this offers shippers more opportunities the delays suffered by these vessels, and by others serving the port, results in increased costs to all

parties, which eventually are required to be met by the producer. “While it is difficult to calculate, there appears little doubt the marketing benefits derived from the more frequent service are far outweighed by increased handling costs.” The other recommendations on shipping are: Large wool-carrying vessels be not scheduled to load any earlier than 10 days after a wool sale.

All shipping agents give attention to the necessity for prompt advice to shippers, wool processors and dump stores of any changes in a vessel’s programme. Consideration be given by shipping companies and the various shipping associations to penalties for unused book space. Standard procedure be adopted at each port for ordering wool and tallying at ship’s side.