First container ship loads

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32638, 21 June 1971, Page 1

First container ship loads

(N.I. Prtti Amctationf

7ELLINGTON,June2O.

More than 10,000 people flocked to Wellington’s new container terminal today to see the Columbus New Zealand, the first container ship to visit New- Zealand. In the eight hours that the ship was worked about 80 containers, each capable of carrying up to 18 tons, were loaded and unloaded. When work stopped at 5 p.m. the ship was opened to the public who poured on board and became hopelessly and happily mixed with guests of the Columbus Line being shown over the giant cargo liner.

Acting as host for the official guests .was the chairman of the COlumbus Line and head of the Columbus parent company, Hamburg - Sued Dr J. H. de la Trobe. Dr de la Trobe’s guests and the public met on the ship’s ultra modern bridge, from where the engines can be ,controlled directly and the temperature of every refrigerated container can be checked.

Later, Dr de la Trobe said he gratefully appreciated the co-operation the Columbus Une had experienced especially from the union concerned and the Federation of Labour.

’ Commenting on the first i day of working a container i ship in this country, a Colum- : bus Line spokesman said-they had been very pleased at how

• things had worked out. The ! rate of loading was better . than estimated even with only j one straddle carrier working the container park. , Four men from the Auck- , land container terminal and four from the Port Chalmers ' terminal had been brought to to Wellington to inspect the ship and cargo handling ' methods so when the ship called at these ports there would be men familiar with

the operation. / Tomdrrow, the balance of the 244 containers at Wellington will be loaded. Most of them contain wool, 37 are refrigerated and a few are loaded with general cargo. The Columbus New Zealand will probably sail for Auckland late tomorrow night.

The president of the Wel-

lington Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr J. W. Milne) said that the ship was worked as if it were a conventional vessel pending discussions at national level on an agreement to work container ships.

There was nothing unusual about watersiders working on a Sunday, he said. “We often work passenger ships, vessels carrying stock or other special cases.” He declined to comment on the rates paid for today’s work. “This is between us and the ship’s owners,” he said. Supplementary hours were worked tonight after the ninehour day finished at 5.30 p.m. he said. It was the first time supplementary hours, had been worked within the terms of the general principle order.