Wanaka begins new service

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 11

Wanaka begins new service

In addition to handlint an enormous cargo tonnage since their inception* the Union Steam Ship Company's roll-on vessels have shown the advantages of flexibility in their sailing programmes.

Yesterday, the company’s rollon vessel Wanaka, formerly on the Auckland-WeUington-Dunedin service, arrived at Lyttelton direct from Auckland.

The Wanaka is now on the vice. The Hawea began service with this run, but later changed to the Auckland-Lyttelton service.

The Hawea has been switched to the South Island-Australia service and will trade between Dunedin (where she is now docking before loading), Lyttelton, ana thence Melbourne and Sydney alternately. As a result of this new programming, the Hawea will arrive at Lyttelton on Thursday to load and sail the same day for Melbourne, Until recently’, the larger Maheno has called at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Sydney fortnightly. The Union Company recently announced that it would not entirely withdraw the Maheno from the Lyttelton run, but would keep her on a four-weekly basis as an interim measure.

Dunedin will still be linked with Wellington because of transhipment facilities by the steamer express service at Lyttelton. The Maheno’s sisUir ship Manama will continue to maintain her North Island-only service from Auckland and Wellington to Melbourne. Broadly speaking, the over-all pattern for Lyttelton, with the Wanaka calling twice weekly, the Hawea once fortnightly, and the Maheno once four-weekly in the meantime, is encouraging.

Hi # # Yesterday was a busy day for the Union staff at Lyttelton. Seven of the company’s ships, and the chartered tanker Erne, which is managed by the company, were in port. The ships were the Holmlea, Ngatoro, Storm, Parera, Kaitoke, Wanaka, and Pukeko. As well, the company’s Waikare was expected last evening.

There was a big demand for labour on the waterfront yesterday, and a shortage of 129 men, so that the Storm, Parera, Hupeh, and Kaitoke were all short-manned. The bulk carriers Venabu and Baron Forbes arrived yesterday afternoon. The port is likely to remain busy this week.

The chartered tanker Erne (14,244 tons gross), which has a dead-weight capacity of 20,090 tons, is expected to complete discharging furnace oil and bitumen, from Marsden Point, at Lyttelton this morning. She will then ballast, and sail for Brisbane to undergo her annual survey. No New Zealand graving dock is large enough to handle such vessels. She is New Zealand-manned. * * * ARRIVALS

Parera (6.7 a.m.), 823, Capt. G. L. Porter, Gisborne (U.S.S.). Wanaka (6.16 a.m.), 2769, Capt. R. H. Stewart, Auckland (U.S.S.). Erne (7.45 a.m.), 14.244, Capt. J. P. Marshall, Wellington (U.S.S.). (Tanker.)

Venabu (11.25 a.m.), 12.748, Ocean Island (Br. Phosphate Cmmrs.) (Bulk.)

Baron Forbes (2.14 p.m.), 12,649, Vancouver (Bri. Phosphate Cmmrs). (Bulk.) Waikare (6.43 p.m.), 3839, Capt. J. Stoddart, Melbourne (U.S.S.).

DEPARTURES Wanaka (4.40 p.m ), 2769. Capt. R. H. Stewart, Dunedin (U.S.S.). Pukeko (7.5 p.m.), 1026, Capt. E. R. Warner, Napier (U.S.S.).

EXPECTED ARRIVALS Rangatira, Wellington, today. Rangatira, Wellington, July 26. Straat Luzon, Wellington, July 26. Bulk Explorer. Port Sulphur, July 26. Holmlea, Wellington, July 26. Wanaka, Dunedin, July 26. Cumberland, Wellington, July 27. Hawea, Dunedin, July 27. Essen, New Plymouth, July 27. Dido, Auckland, July 28. Athelviscount, Marsden Point, July 29. Natko Nodilo, Auckland. July 30. Frubel Europa, Bluff, July 31. W. H. Parr (tug). Port Chalmers, late July. Holmdale, Chathams, August 1. Kashima Maru, Nauru, Aug. 2. Maheno, Wellington, August 4. Zaida. Wellington, August 4. H.M.N.Z.S Canterbury, Pago Pago, August 4.

Taupo. Wellington, August 6. Canopic. South America, August 7. Star Taro, Nauru. August 7. Timaru Star, Wellington, August 8. Shansi, Wellington, August 8. Ness bank, Wellington, August 9 Straat Clarence. Napier, August 9 Britannic, Wellington, August 10. Japan Totara, Wellington, August Holmburn, Brisbane, August 16. Rosario Maru, Wellington. August H.M AS. Vampire, sea. August 18. Colombo. Wellington, Aug. Protoapostolos, Wellington. Aug. 19. Suevic. Wellington. August 20 Caroline, Christmas Island, Aug. 22. Straat Clement, Napier, Aug. 22. Regent Cosmos, Napier, Aug. 24. Montreal Star, Wellington, Aug. 24. Wenchow, Wellington, Aug. 24. Carpentaria, Singapore, Aug. 25. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Rangatira, Wellington, today. (Daylight.) Holmlea, Napier, today. Rockhampton Star. Dunedin, today. Ngatoro, Wellington, today. Antaios, Venezuela, today. Parera, Dunedin, today. Gladstone Star, Dunedin, today. Erne, Brisbane, today (survey). Rangatira, Wellington, July 26. Storm, Raglan, July 26. Holmlea, Wellington, July 26. I Wanaka, Auckland, July 26. Hupeh, Auckland, July 26. Venabu, New Plymouth. July 26. Kaitoke. Dunedin, July 26. Hawea, Melbourne, July 27. Dido, Auckland. July 28. Baron Forbes, Dunedin, July 28. Straat Luzon, Dunedin. July 23. Bulk Explorer, Dunedin, July 28 Waikare, Auckland, July 29. Cumberland. Port Chalmers July 29. Athelviscount, Dunedin, July 30.