Columbus Line service grows

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33806, 1 April 1975, Page 18

Columbus Line service grows

SHIPPING NEWS

About 1 I years ago. the Columbus Line, of West Germany, sent its attractive, “pocket refrigerated cargo liners” to Lyttelton. The first was the yacht-like Cap Corrientes. followed by the Cap Domingo. There were many more.

I Most oi the white hulled | vessels earned a tew passengers I Although Lyttelton lias set to I see a Columbus Line container * vessel the port has at least had * a sample of what it can produce in the conventional callers The Germans are thorough and efficient. Their vessels neaiix always sail on time, being de- < laved only by external causes. II Columbus was the first line L to bring a container vessel to | New Zealand, and the first to I proxide a container service to [ North America, reports the | Press Association It has long- | term plans to put more vessels into the North American trade i in which it now employs three vessels of 20,000 tons and three jof 8350 tons. A trial shipment of 93 tons of lamb cuts from Port Chaimers to Hamburg has been so successful that 1100 tons have been ordered Within four hours of 'the cargo being discharged. ! women were lining up to buy the meat. Th„ onntninor I narf c U’AFP

The first container loads were ■carried by the Columbus Caribic. i the only vessel to run a direct : container service between New I Zealand and Continental ports. An experimental shipment of meat to Switzerland will be ; made. It is expected that the ' goods will be in the buyers’ hands 12 hours after unloading. The lamb shipment was arranged by Maritime Services, and was prepared and packed by the Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Company. The Columbus Line began its 5 service about a year ago. It 1 was the first to provide the South Island with such a service; the British lines which call at J Wellington and Auckland do not - have full container vessels call- » ing at Continental ports, or the South Island. The Columbus New Zealand, f which suffered engine-room dami'age, is being repaired at Ham- ' burg. The opportunity is being * taken to install slots for a further 70 refrigerated contain- . ers, bringing the total freezer , capacity to 9000 tons. ’ The Columbus New’ Zealand i will be back on the run in late June or early July. A hint that some of the sec- ■ ondary ports of New Zealand might be served by vessels of the Columbus Line was made by the governing-director of Maritime Services (Mr J V. M. Keam recently A second vessel, a sister to the Columbus Caribic. will enter the: New Zealand-Europe trade in i September or October. Maritime Services is the New Zealand agent for the Columbus ■ Line, which itself is a subsidlary of H A.P.A.G. Lloyd. “If the trade requires it. a i third vessel will come into service,” said Mr Kean. Columbus Line vessels are not I dependent on shore-based eon Stainer cranes. They have theirjj own equipment for handling con- { tainers. It is because of this that the third vessel on the European !run could call at intermediate! ! ports that do not have conStainer services.” said Mr Kean. There had been a break-| 'through in the service between f New Zealand and Europe, he said. This was largely because t of the New Zealand Meat Board’s promotion at the recent Munich Fair. ARRIVALS Coastal Trader, (4.22 p.m.), ! 2499, Capt. T. E. Partridge, 1 Auckland (U.S.S.). t DEPARTURES r Hamilton, (6.27 p.m.), 13.186, ( Capt. F. A. Kelner, Nelson (U.S.S.S.). (Tanker.)

Coastal Tradei. 9.15 p . 2499. < apt L E. Pari edin (V.S.S.t. EXPECTED ARRIVALS Hawea, Wellington, todax Rangatira. Wellington, todax Coastal Trader. Dunedin April Rangatira, Wellington. April ?, Wild Fulmai \u. kland v ■ Straat Clarence. Suva \pri| r PROJECTED DEPARTURES Hong Kong Surctx Bluff, todaj . port B- shanc Pitcairn island I today.

Hawea. Dunedin, todax H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti Oamaru. toda\ [Rangatira. Wellington, todax Coastal Tradei. Auckland. April ißangatira. Wellington. April 3. ! Holmdale. Chatham Islands. April I Recife Maru. Dunedin. April 5. ’Wild Fulmar. . April 8. VESSELS IN PORT ■Woosung, No. 1 Cashin Quax i Recife Maru No. 2 Cashin Quav. ’ lloiffc Kong Surety. No. 3, Casino Quay. Port Brisbane, G.P E I Hoimda’e. No. 2. Fast. H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti No 4 East. Ngatoro. No. 4 West (laid up .