SHIPPING NEWS

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33609, 10 August 1974, Page 18

SHIPPING NEWS

Conventional or container ships

Because this Is the age of container streamlining, unit cargoes, and jumbo lets, the Imporfence of conventional merchant shipping, still a powerful factor in seafreighting, is sometimes overlooked. Lyttelton is well served by modem conventional vessels, notably the versatile refrigerated pocket-liners favoured by large maritime nations. They bring bananas from Ecuador and take meat and other produce to Japan and elsewhere. world-ranging Bank Line, has no immediate plans for fully containerised vessels. ' No British line has more allround experience than the Bank Line, founded by Andre* Weir (later Lord Inverforth) in 1885. This company has limited container capacity, but has not rushed into fuU containerisation. "Convenience Flag” operators snap up the cream of the world’s second-hand conventional tonnage, and use it to advantage. Conventional vessels will not counter the ultimate victory by bigger and better container ships, but this day is still far away. Flexibility is one advantage conventional vessels have over the container (cellular), giants. " The most immediate threat to conventional vessels comes from local roll-on vessels. It could also come from larger world-ranging roll-on (container) vessels, such as Scandinavian PAD ships. Another advantage of conventional vessels is that they do not have the same industrial snags of container (cellular) vessels and cranes. At Lyttelton yesterday, the only vessels in port, were conventional vessels — Hupeh, Rio Bravo, and Dragor Maersk. Recently the largest vehicle shipment to arrive in New Zealand came to Lyttelton in a conventional Greek motor-vessel, the Aegis Spirit. According to Captain R. Fast, the Christchurch manager of the local agent, Geo. H. Scales, Ltd. the discharge rate for the Lyttelton quota of this cargo (all Japanese completely knocked down vehicles), in only three working days, was com-

mendable and a credit to all concerned. # ♦ # ARRIVALS Rio Bravo (6.58 a.m.), 9073, Capt. Hernan Cervera, Wellington (N.S.S.). DEPARTURES Hupeh (4.20 p.m.), 5616, Capt. J. H. B. Aldiss, Tauranga (P. and O (NZ.) Ltd.). Dragor Maersk (????? p.m.), 4722, Capt. J. B. A. Nielsen, Fremantle (U.S.S.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Rangatira, Wellington, today. Union Sydney, Wellington, today. Neder Linge, Wellington, August 11. Caltcx Kumell, Sydney, August 11 (Tanker). Rangatira, Wellington, Aug. 11. Coastal Trader, Auckland, August 12. Rangatira, Wellington, August 13. Menam Maru, Auckland, August 15. Katea, Napier, Aug. 15. Venabu, Ocean Island, Aug. 16 (bulk). Botany Trader, Melbourne, Aug. 16 (tanker). Yewbank, Wellington August 16. Silver Fern, Wellington, August 17. Japan Totara, Wellington, August 7. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Union Sydney. Sydney, today. Rangatira Wellington, today (daylight). Rangatira, Wellington, Aug. 11. Caltex Kumell, , August 12 (Tanker). Coastal Trader, Dunedin, August 12. Rio Bravo, Dunedin, August 12. Rangatira. Wellington, August 13 (daylight). Silver Fern, Napier, August 14. Neder Linge, Bluff, August 15. Botany Trader, Lautoka, Aug. 17 (tanker). VESSELS IN PORT Rio Bravo, No. 3 West. CONTAINERS Cargo from the following container is now available in E shed.—Columbus Capricorn: SUDU2I4I3IO.