SHIPPING NEWS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 19

SHIPPING NEWS

Man overboard in mid-Atlantic

(By

JOHN LESLIE)

The "Royal Mail” refrigerated cargo liner Durango (formerly Cymric) at Cashin Quay, has aroused considerable interest in the once-great Royal Mail Lines ior earlier Royal Mail Steam Packet Company). A. Mount Pleasant resident, Mr F. B. Campbell, yesterday recalled an earlier Durango, and a strange incident which occurred when he and his wife were travelling to Brtain aboard her. in February, 1948. What might have been a tragedy, ended happily, thanks to the splendid seamanship of the vessel’s master.

Mr Campbell, now a businessman, but once a ship’s purser and war-time naval reserve officer, recalled that the earlier 9301-ton, twin-screw. Belfast-built refrigerated cargo liner, laden with New Zealand produce for Britain was then in midAtlantic.

At breakfast time, a passenger standing near the Durango’s stern saw a large “laundry bag” flying past him. as though someone- had tossed it from the upper deck of the 18-knot vessel. Realisation suddenly dawned, and after throwing a lifebuoy overside. he raced to the bridge. Mr Campbell said the master handled the Durango rapidly and skilfully. In less than two hours. Hie “laundry bag.” which turned out to be a steward, was not only back aboard and at work, but the big. four-year-old cargopassenger liner was on her normal course for Britain. Mr Campbell said no lifeboat was used The Durango was

manoeuvred close to the Atlantic bather, and his lifebuoy, which had kept him afloat. He had to swim only a few yards to a Jacob’s ladder and climb aboard. People do this sort of thing at sea sometimes usually tTrough emotional disturbance. Normally such action proves fatal. Mr Campbell said the weather was fine, but there was a considerable swell. Further memories of the Royal Mail Lines fleet were recalled at Lyttelton yesterday, by two retired merchaiit seamen. Mr N. D. Anderson said that he was a seaman aboard the companys Highland Princess (formerly owned by the Nelson Line) when she called at Lyttelton with homeward-bound New Zealand servicemen, in April, 1940. Normally engaged m the South American meat trade, the Highland Princess left Lyttelton foi Port Stanley (Falkland Islands! to pick up the British Army Garrison the dav Germany sur itndered. according to Mr P. J Gallivan who joined the vessel here. She then loaded at Montevideo for Britain h®. called He believes the Highland Princess still sails under the Chinese flag

Guests aboard Jugoslavia’s motor vessel Voce, at Lyttelton vMterdav afternoon, were pupils from Mairehau High School, specialising in languages. One of the smoothest operations in international goodwill seen at Lyttelton has been exercised by this imaginative school. The languages master, Mr D. S. Walker, pioneered this activity over three years ago, always accompanies these groups. Mairehau High School pupils are taught (French. German. Russian. Japan ese. and Latin Last evening, by way of a change a group of staff mem htrs from the school wert

1 guests of the ship at a social; function. Shipboard visits by I groups need planning. Mr Walker I (has. since beginning this work. | developed a streamlined, shipshape. and water tigiit modus operands. He also arranges re-; ciprocal visits to Mairehau High: School, for sporting, linguistic, and cultural exchanges. His ad-1 . vice is worth while. The Press Association reports: : that the first two of the Navy’s; new patrol boats the Pukaki and the Rotoiti were formally named I and commissioned yesterday | morning in Auckland. Several hundred H.M.N.Z.S. Philomel dockyard workers watched Lady Blundell, wife of the Governor-General, and Mrs Fraser wife of the Minister of . Defence break the pennants, I commissioning the ships. The ships will begin their first (cruise on March 17 after further test runs on the Waltemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf. On this flag-showing cruise, (they will travel 2000 miles cir- | cumnavigating New Zealand, taking four weeks for the voyages, sk $ EXPECTED ARRIVALS | Union Sydney, Melbourne, today. Rangatira. Wellington, today. 1 Coastal Trader, Timaru. February 26. Japan Totara, Wellington, February 26. I Sinkiang. Wellington. February 26. Hupeh, Wellington, February 26. Hobart Star. Auckland, February 27. Rangatira, Wellington, February 27. Athelviscount. Wellington, February 28 (tanker). I Australia Bear. Auckland), February 28. (L.A.S.H.). Atrevida. Bluff, February 28. Alekseevsk. Timaru, February 28 (tanker). Vaucluse, Dunedin, February 28. I Norfolk Maru. Wellington, February 28. I Amalric, Bluff, February 28. Chevron Venice. Arabian Gulf, March 1 (tanker). Golar Fruit, Auckland, March 1. Novoaltavsk, Wellington, March 2 - PROJECTED DEPARTURES Rangatira. Wellington, today. Iberian Reefer, Napier, today. i Union Sydney. Wellington. February 26. Holmdale. Chathams, February | 26. Coastal Trader, Auckland, February 26. Rangrtira. Wellington, February Voce. . February 27. Medic, Bluff. February 27. Leuve Lloyd, Timaru, February 27. Forresbank. Port Moresby. February 27. Alekseevsk. Wellington, February 28 (tanker). Sinkiang. Tauranga, February 28. Australia Bear, Lae, February 28. (L.A.S.H.). i Durango Whangarei, March 1. i Athelviscount, Bluff. March 1 (tanker). ‘Chevron Venice, Bluff, March 2 (tanker). I Japan Rimu, Dunedin. March 3. VESSELS IN PORT Durango. No. 1 Cashin Quay. Leuve Lloyd, No 3 Cashin Quav Vfedic. No 1 B.W [ Iberian Reefer, No. 3 West i Japan Rimu. No. 4 West. ’ iolmdaie No d East 'laid up j vgapara. No. 6 West (laid up) voce, No. 7 East. I <'nrresbank. No 7 West.