Wharf watchmen on duty all night

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32846, 21 February 1972, Page 5

Wharf watchmen on duty all night

A large seaport never sleeps, and at Lyttelton a signalman is on duty 24 hours a day, a dutypilot is always on call, and three watchmen, employees of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, are on continuous duty from 4 pm. daily until 8 a.m.

The watchmen have their F headquarters in a small, domed ] building near the steamer ex- ( press terminal, and make regular patrols from Cashin Quay to ( the oil wharf. They log all arrivals and departures, and pay J .special heed to the comings and I going of coastal vessels. i When oil tankers are discharge ] ing bulk cargoes they also watch for spillage. They maintain regular surveillance on ships' moornings, particularly , during unsettled weather, watch , for anything unusual or unfamiliar, such as vandalism, and communicate regularly with the ' signalman on duty in the tower. ; The three regular watchmen, : all former seamen, are at home in their surroundings. Thier work is interesting and sometimes amusing, and the night hours pass fairly rapidly. Their correct title is wharf attendants, but to all and sundry at the port they are known as watch- . men. They come directly under the control of the harbourmaster. > ARRIVALS i Saturday I Mataura (5.22 a.m.). 9504. Com- < modore K. Barnett, R.D., R.N.R., 1 Wellington (P. and O. (N.Z.), Ltd). ( Maori (6.35 a.m.), 7490. Capt. « R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington i (U.S.S.). 1 Sunday Maori (7.9 a.m.), 7490 Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams. Wellington ! (U.S.S.). Holmiea (7.16 a.m.), 1106. Capt. D Henigan, Wellington U.S.S.). i Neder Lek (8.25 a.m.., 9627, Cpt B. F. Van Dosten, Napier I (Guthrey). < Bernhard (9.3 a.m.), 10.863, Nauru (Br. Phosphate Cmmrs.). (Bulk.) Erne (12.25 p.m.), 14,244, Marsden Point (U.S.S.). iTanker.) ' DEPARTURES Saturday Maori (9.15 a.m.), 7490, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). (Daylight.) Turakina (5.15 p.m.), 7707, Capt S. G. Robinson, Nelson (Crusader). Sunday Maori (8.31 p.m.), 7490, Capt. i R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.SS.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Hawea, Auckland, today. Japan Kowhai, Nagoya, today. Maori, Wellington, Feb. 22. Buchenstein, Wellington. Feb. 22. Soljean, Napier. Feb. 24 Pateke. Onehunga, Feb. 24. Port Montreal, Wellington, Feb. 25. Holmdale, Onehunga, Feb. 25. London Maru, Tauranga. Feb. 25. Kaitoke. Newcastle. Feb. 28. Zaida, Napier, Feb. 28. Moanui, Auckland, Feb. 28. Cape Wrath, Port Sulphur, early March. Kowhai, Wellington, March 1. Rockhampton Star, Wellington, March 1. Straat Luzon, Wellington, March 2. Maheno. Wellington, March 3. Cedric, South America, March 3 Hupeh. Wellington, March 5. Mirrabooka, Nelson, March 6. US.C.G.C. Northwind. McMurdo Sound, March 6. Waikare, Wellington, March 8. Carpentaria. Singapore, March 8. Adelaide Star. Napier. March 8. Parera. Dunedin. March 9. Port Nelson, New Plymouth March 9. Neder Linge, Wellington, March Port Townsville, Wellington, March 12. Westmorland. Wellington, March 17 PROJECTED DEPARTURES Erne, Dunedin, today. Holmiea, Wellington, today. Maon. Wellington, Feb. 22. (DayUght.) Garland, Bluff, Feb. 22. Bernhard, , Feb. 23. Hawea, Auckland, Feb. 23. Japan Kowhai, Timaru. Feb. 23. Neder Lek, Timaru, Feb. 23. Mataura, Dunedin, Feb 24. Buchenstein, Bluff. Feb 25. Pateke, Dunedin, Feb. 25. Soljean, Dunedin, Feb 26. Holmdale Chathams. Feb. 26. Moanui, Auckland. Feb. 28. Cape Wrath, New Plymouth, early March. Zaida. Japan, March 1. Port Montreal, Wellington, March 1. London Maru, Dunedin. March 1. Kaitoke. Dunedin. March 2. Maheno, Sydney, March 3.

Rockhampton Star. Dunedin, March 4. Kowhai, , March 4. Ngatoro, , March 6. Straat Luzon, Timaru, March 7. Hupeh, Tauranga, March 7. Cedric, Napier, March 8. Waikare, Tauranga, March 9. Parera, Onehunga, March 11. Mirrabooka, Timaru, March 11. Carpentaria, Wellington, March 12. (J.S.C.G.C. Northwind, Hobart, March 13. Neder Linge, Bluff, March 14. Port Nelson, Hamburg, March 14. Adelaide Star, Piraeus, March 15. Port Townsville, Timaru, March 15 VESSELS IN PORT Neder Lek, Cashin Quay No. 1. Mataura, Cashin Quay No. 2. Bernhard, G.P.E. Holmiea, No. 2 West. Garland, No. 3 West. Mawhera, No. 5 East (survey). Erne, Oil Wharf. Ngatoro, Graving Dock.