SHIPPING NEWS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33805, 31 March 1975, Page 13

SHIPPING NEWS

Those elusive shipmasters

i By

JOHN LESLIE

“The Press,” as far as is known, is the only metropolitan newspaper in New Zealand which publishes the name of the shipmaster against a vessel's arrival or departure. Matters in this regard were brought to a head about 14 years ago by a British shipmaster, Captain D. A. G. Dickens. At that time, the arrivals of prominent aircraft at Christchurch Airport were listed in “The Press.” and the pilot’s name recorded alongside: Captain so and so. ‘ Shipmasters were merely rei cdrded thus: Rangatiri, Meatyard, for Wellington; or Hinemoa, Millward, for Weiilington. Captain Dickens [noted this, and •wondered i why no handle for merchant captains? Strictly speaking, “capI tain” is a military or naval i title, but by common use I has become the normal term in the Merchant Service all this century, at least. Captain Dickens (of the former i New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd) got his wish, and rightly so. The inter-island steamer Rangatira now changes her master, on normal roster, fortnightly. This may sound simple, but sometimes the pattern is broken for special reasons, not only annual leave. One can normally be certain, by looking at the Rangatira and seeing the Blue Ensign, that her master will be Captain R. E. PughWilliams, of Christchurch. If the Red Ensign is flying, it should be Captain J. D. Cleaver, of Lyttelton. A third shipmaster. Captain A. F. Mclntyre (Red Ensign), who brought this vessel out from the shipyard, comes into the act occasionally. On rare occasions someone chidingly telephones the Lyttelton office of “The Press” to query a ferry master’s name, or that of the master of some other vessel. It happened last week. The position is that unless the normal pattern is being followed, and even though the Union Company supplies a daily list with the Rangatira’s master’s name, there are times when even the company’s local branch does not know exactly who is in command on a certain day. The helmsman who goes to the bridge when the Rangatira is leaving port may not always know. A steward can cross to Wellington and back and not even know. The writer to be sure, has had to develop his own system, apart from ensign identification.

d Because one sees Captain ■ Mclntyre in Lyttelton, it , does not mean that he has suddenly returned to the Rangatira. He might be master of another caller then, or just down for the Riccarton races, or even a passenger on holiday. As the writer has known him for more . than a quarter of a century , afloat and ashore, he is no stranger. H Most local knowledge i comes from daily contact — ;yet to board every vessel in Lyttelton to ascertain a master’s name or even to telephone. is physically impossible and certainly time consuming. especially when the writer knows only two languages. The time taken today in evaluating shipping data, j masters’ names, and so on outweighs daily newsgathering The Lyttelton 1 Harbour Board, Customs Department, and all shipping agencies have telephones running hot these days. They help as much as pos- • sible and so do those patient i “shock troopers” in the shipping business, the telephone girls. About 50 telephone calls a day in and out. would be a modest average for this office. But people do like their shipmasters’ names right. For example, any friends of Captain Lin Chin Hung of the Hong Kong Surety, Captain Hui Tun Hon of the Grand Opal, or Captain Chung Jong Kun of the Bowoon would have known: last week where they were by reading “The Press." ARRIVALS Saturday Rangatira (6.38 a.in.), 9387. Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.I. Sunday Rangatira (6.45 a.mJ. 9387. Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams. Wellington (U.S.S.). Hamilton <8.34 p.mj, 13,186. (apt. F. A. Kelner, Marsden Point (U.S.S.) (tanker). DEPARTURES Saturday Rangatira <9.14 a.m.i, 9387. Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wei lington (U.S.S.) (daylight). Grand Opal <6.18 p.m.i, 14.017. Capt. Hui Tun Hon. Timaru (Br. Phosphate Cnimrsj (bulk). Sunday Rangatira (8.3 p mJ, 9387. Capt R. E. Pugh-Williams. WeiIlington (U.S.S.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Coastal Trader. Auckland, today. Hauea, Wellington. April 1 | Wild Fulmar, Auckland, April 4 Straat Clarence. Suva. April 8. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Coastal Trader, Dunedin, today. Hamilton, Nelson, today Hanker) Hong Kong Surety, Bluff, April 1. Port Brisbane, Pitcairn Island. April I. Hawea Dunedin. April 1. H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti. Oamaru. April 1. lloimdale. Chatham Islands, April 4. Recife Mani, Dunedin, April 5. Wild Fulmar. , April 8. VESSELS IN PORT Woosung, No. 1 Cashin Quay Recife Maru No. 2 < ashin Quay. Hong Kong Surety, No. 3. Casiun Quay. Port Brisbane, G.P.E. HoimdaU No 2. Bast lIMN.ZS Rotoiti. No 4 East. Ngatoro. Nd. 4 West (laid upi. ui