No limit put on containers

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32702, 3 September 1971, Page 2

No limit put on containers

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Sept. 2. Although the Columbus New Zealand had room to load 22 general cargo containers left behind by the British container ship ACT 3, the additional containers were left out of the Columbus ship because of a shortage of time, and not because the Auckland Harbour Board had imposed draught restrictions on the ship.

Mr I. W. Gibson, the operations manager for the local agent of the Columbus Line, Maritime Services, Ltd, said the number of containers to be loaded into the Columbus New Zealand had not been discussed with the harbour board. Nor had the board placed any limitation on the ship. Mr Gibson said he wished to contradict a report that the number of containers loaded at Auckland had been limited by the board because of draught restrictions imposed by a sandbank. The ship sailed as soon as possible after the twilight shift last night to reach the United States before an expected longshoremen’s strike, he said.

While the Columbus New Zealand had room to load more containers, on her departure from Auckland, technical difficulties restricted the number of refrigerated containers which could be carried. Arrangements had been made with the Farrell Line for one of its ships to take the remaining general cafgo containers left Behind by the Act 3. In Wellington, talks on an agreement to cover the working of overseas container ships might continue into next week. Waterfront unions and employers met all day today, and the talks will resume tomorrow. It is believed that progress is being made, but that full agreement is unlikely to be reached before next week.