Sunshine and Spaniards

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33786, 7 March 1975, Page 17

Sunshine and Spaniards

(By

JOHN LESLIE)

A glimmer of sunshine which filtered through the clouds at Lyttelton yesterday was welcomed not only by those struggling with congestion but by the Spanish officers and crew of the Golar Fruit.

But first of all, the daily con-, gestlon “score.” The shortage at 7 a.m. was 37 gangs (502 men;. 1 Engaged were 452 unionists, 15 non-unionists, and 32 crew mem- ; bers by day, and 34 unionists for - evening hours. Although the Holmdale sailed, the Ngakuta came in from the stream to replace her. The Straat Colombo Ngakuta. and Atrevida were idle, and other vessels were short-manned. The Golar Fruit, a 5687-ton refrigerated motor-vessel owned by Gotaas-Larsen Inc., and registered in Liberia, is now discharging, with limited labour, Ecuadorean bananas, before heading for Australian ports to load meat for the Atlantic coast of North America. . Tire Golar Fruit is one of eight company vessels —three refrigerated, three tankers, and two bulk carriers—completely manned by Spaniards. Commanded by a Basque. Captain Angel Arechabalda. who flew out from Madrid onlv a week ago. she is an immaculate vessel, a credit to her I officers and crew. She is spick; land span, inside and out. Both Captain Arechabalda and his chief officer, Mr Antonio; Onaindia. do not particularly' mind the weather here, as Basque country. in northern -Spain, was not like the warmer south, they said - ' Gotaas-Larsen has a merchant; fleet of about 30 vessels, many Norwegian-manned, and also. iNorth Sea oil rigs, according to i Captain Arechabalda. Everyone aboard the Golar Fruit has his (own cabin. Captain Arechabalda, I fluent in English (learned at inavigation school), said tliat I higher wages under “flags of ; convenience” attracted Spaniards. I About 40,000 of them served under foreign flags, and of these about 5000 were officers. Spain’s Merchant Service totalled about three million tons. In 1973. Spain, with a population of about 34 million, was visited by as many tourists. Cap- - tain Arechabalda said. But things were not so cheap now; and many people were going to Balkan countries for holidays. Gotaas-Larsen was a splendid employer, he said. The company’s ; beautifully illustrated house magazine indicates this—a masIterly effort in public relations land staff liaison.

“Even this excellent cook is a Basque.” said Captain Arechabalda proudly as he took the writer through the immaculate galley and past a pleasant aroma of Spanish fare. An invitation to lunch had to be postponed, because of time, but it Is obvious that this Spanish complement lives exceedingly well. It was thoughts of sunny Spain which lured the writer to this particular vessel yesterday. And speaking of sunshine, the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s traffic manager (Mr J. B. Graham), an optimist, said yesterday that provided the weather improves, there Is some hope that congestion may ease. »’« -ISeventy members of the Royal Instiute of the Blind travelled to Lyttelton yesterday afternoon by buses. After a harbour cruise in the Diamond Harbour launch they were entertained at afternoon tea by members of 4he waterfront section of the Lyttelton St John Ambulance Brigade, iat the Centennial Hal), and were addressed by Mr B. N. Norris. Among the visitors were Mr A. I Harper who is 99 and Mr W. H. Hall, who is 96. ARRIVALS Hawea (6.28 a,nW, 2926. Capt.i ■C. R. Gay Dunedin (U.S.S.). ■ Rangatira (6.44 a.m.), 9387. leapt A. F. Mclntyre, Wellington ‘(U.S.S.i. DEPARTURES Holmdale <ll.B a.m.), 911. Capt. E. R. Warner, Chathams (U.S.S.). Hawea (6.10 pan.), 2926, Capt. C. R. Gay. Wellington (U.S.S.). Rangatira <8.6 p.m.), 9387, Capt. A F. Mclntyre, Wellington (U.S.S.).

EXPECTED ARRIVALS Teesta, Wellington, today. Union Wellington, Auckland,

March 8. Rangatira, Wellington, March 8. Tekoa, Wellington. March 8. Amelia Platte, Auckland, March 9. Rangatira, Wellington, March 9. Woollahra. Nelson, March 9. (Semi-container.) Coastal Trader, Auckland, March 10. Union Sydney, Dunedin, March Golden Bear. Auckland, March 13. (L.A.S.H.) Badenstein, Wellington, March 14 Port Brisbane. Napier, March 14. PROJECTED DEPARTURES 'Durango, Whangarei, March 8. Golar Fruit, Adelaide, March 3. Japan Rimu, Dunedin, March 8. liangatira, Wellington, March 8. (Daylight.) Union Wellington. Wellington, March 8. Rangatira, Wellington. March 9. Coastal Trader. Dunedin, March 10. Union Sydney, Wellington. March 11. Atrevida, Dunkirk. March 11. Vaucluse, Napier, March 11. Slnkiang, Tauranga, March 11. Japan Totara, New Plymouth, March 11. Hupeh Bluff March 12. Ngakuta. Wellington, March 12. Golden Bear, Lae, March 13. (L.A.S.H.) VESSELS IN PORT Durango. No. 1 Cashin Quay. Limpsfield, No. 2 Cashin Quay. Atrevida, No. 3, Cashin Quay. Japan Rimu, G.P.E. Hupeh, No. 1 B.W. Ngakuta, No. 3 East. Vaucluse, No. 3 West. Norfolk Maru, No. 4 East. Golar Fruit, No. 4 West. Straat Colombo, No. 6 West. Sinklang, No. 7 East. Japan Totara, No. 7 West.