SHIPPING NEWS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33779, 27 February 1975, Page 5

SHIPPING NEWS

Shipmaster on a bicycle

(By

JOHN’ LESLIE)

Anyone Mho has visited Amsterdam will recall bicycles, skilfully manoeuvring through Traffic. Christchurch was once like that, too. Thus, it was with pleasure that the writer at noon yesterday noticed a familiar LvTtelton visitor. Captain B. van der Hoeven, dismount from his low-slung, Dutch bicycle outside the Lyttelton ■office of “The Press."

Formerly master of NedUoyd’s Neder Lek, a sister vessel to the Leuve Lloyd, which has been berthed at Cashin Quay, Captain van der Hoeven believes in exercise. He rode over Evans Pass to Sumner and back on Tuesday. He “came alive" long ago, and uses his bicycle in all New Zealand ports.

Another interesting personality aboard the Leuve Lloyd is Mr J. Muiser, the chief engineer. Today a family man, Mr Muiser was once a junior engineer aboard the Dutch hospital ship Oranje, well known to many New Zealanders who travelled in her during wartime years, not least former nurses whom Mr Muiser has I met in several New Zealand ports, notably Auckland. ❖ Sjc &

The New Zealand Merchant Service Guild has released a statement on safety for New Zealand harbour pilots. Lyttelton’s skilled, pilots are particularly involved, as they handle large vessels in abd out in all weathers. The harbour entrance is wide open to the vast South Pacific, and their job is often dangerous. Their work involves considerable agility with rope ladders, and steep climbing, especially when vessels are in light condition. From March 1 to 8, New Zealand harbour pilots will participate in a world-wide survey of safety regulations regarding the embarking and disembarking of pilots.

Over the years, the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (1.M.P.A.) has become increasingly alarmed about the difficulties and accidents experienced by pilots when boarding and leaving vessels with high freeboard. On occasions, pilots have been required to climb a height greater than nine metres (about 30ft). This is a contravention of Pilot Ladder Regulations and a cause for grave concern.

Although shipowners have endeavoured to overcome this problem during container development by supplying mechanical hoists, pilots throughout the world have become increasingly concerned about the unsuitability of certain designs. Communication between the boarding pilot and the hoist controller 30ft above is most

unsatisfactory; and as has happened overseas, a pilot may well find himself “stuck" halfway up a ship’s side because of mechanical failure. Many pilots have reverted to the older but tried and traditional method of rope ladder and wooden rungs. I In conjunction with the I pilots’ safety survey, ships causing pollution and not provided with safeguards against pollution, such as the fitting of holding or septic tanks, will be noted It is estimated that perhaps 80 per cent of shipping trading to New Zealand may fall into this category.

As a member country, all' records gathered by Newi Zealand pilots will be for-. warded to I.M.P.A. headquarters in London. Depending! on the amount of negligence,] shipowners may be required, to ensure that safety regu-1 lations are brought up to| standards before a pilot isprovided. ARRIVALS Coastal Trader (5,10 p.m.), 2499,1 Capt. R. Tindall, Tirnaru (U. 5.5. departures Iberian Reefer (6.21 p.m ),,4366,1 Capt. K. Christensen, Napier S Coastal Trader (9.6 p.m.). 2499/ Capt. R. Tindall, Auckland, (U.S.S.). expected arrivals Japan Totara, Wellington, today Sinkiang. Wellington, today, Hupeh, Wellington, today. Rangatira, Wellington, today. Union Sydney, Wellington, today. Athelviscount, Wellington, today (tanker). Wanaka, Wellington, February 28 Atrevida, Bluff, February 28. Alekseevsk. Tiniaru, February 28 (tanker). Vaucluse, Dur.edin, February 28. Limpsfield, Nelson, February 28. Australia Bear, Auckland, March 1 (L.A.S.H.). Chevron Venice, Arabian Gulf, March 1 (tanker). Golar Fruit, Auckland, March 1. Rangatira, Wellington, March 1. Novoalta.vsk, Wellington, March 2. Norfolk Maru, Wellington, March 2. Rangatira, Wellington, March 2. Hawea, Wellington, March 4. Amalric, Bluff, March 5. Ngakuta, Dunedin, March 5. Teesta, Wellington, March 6. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Rangatira, Wellington, today. Medic, Bluff, today. Forresbank, Port Moresby, today. Union Sydney, Melbourne, today. Voce, Wellingtor., today. Athelviscount, Bluff, February 28 (tanker). Holmdale. Chathams, March 1. Australia Bear, Lae, March 1. (L.A.S.H.). Rangatira, Wellington, Starch 1 (daylight). Chevron Venice, Bluff, March 2 (tanker). Rangatira, Wellington, March 2. Vaucluse, Napier, March 3. Alekseevsk, Wellington, March 4. (tanker). Japan Rimu, Dunedin. March 4. Golar Fruit, , March 4. Hawea, Dunedin, Marcli 4. Durango, Whangarei, Mardh 5. Hupeh, Bluff, March 5 Sinkiang, Tauranga, March 5. VESSELS IN PORT Durango, No. 1 Cashin Quay. Japan Rimu, G.P.E. Medic, No. 1 B.W. Holmdale,' No. 3 East. Ngapara, No. 6 West. Voce, No. 7 East. Forresbank, No. 7 West.