Shipping congestion at Lyttelton

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 18

Shipping congestion at Lyttelton

Lyttelton at present is suffering from a minor shipping congestion. As a result, the port has a shortage of waterfront labour.

Wet weather has delayed the departure of several vessels, causing a demand for working berths. When work began at 7 a.tn. yesterday there was a shortage of 507 men (33 gangs). A total of 615 men was engaged and this included 18 nonunionists. In addition 62 men were called on to work supplementary hours last evening. Vessels idle at Lyttelton yesterday were the Othon, Avonbank, Ngapara, Capitaine Wallis, Parera and Squall. The Manapouri anchored in the stream awaiting a working berth. The Turakina, Waikare, Holmdale, and the Northumberland were under-manned. CONGESTION IN 1961 Yesterday’s congestion pales into insignificance when compared with the situation on May 15, 1961, when there were 25 vessels within the port limits —15

I berthed at the wharves (Cashin Quay was not completed then), six anchored in the stream, and another four anchored off the heads. On that occasion, the Shaw Savill passenger liner Dominion Monarch (26,000 tons) boosted the tonnage, so that there was a record 158,799 gross tons of shipping within the port limits. Other ships are due this week-end, and the congestion will not ease immediately.