Port Emergency Service

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 7

Port Emergency Service

Lyttelton, with the formation of the Port Emergency Service last August, may tvell have pioneered a new civil emergency service.

The Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade’s chief officer (Mr J. Fogarty) says he is unaware of any other town in New Zealand having such a service — but he is convinced that every' town should have one.

This unique organisation was formed after the nearhurricane which tore through Canterbury on August 1, when the need for a service to provide immediate aid in the event of an emergency became obvious.

Representatives of the police, emergency services, Lyttelton Harbour Board, Lyttelton Borough Council, Civil Defence organisation, and service clubs got together to organise a body to meet situations falling short lof officially declared civil emergencies.

The new organisation was Iput to the test almost imImediately, when torrential [rain on August 20 and 21 [caused extensive damage to {many Lyttelton properties.

i Within an hour of an alert being sounded at 11.25 a.m., about 100 volunteers had reported to the Lyttelton Fire Station, and by 1 p.tn. groups of men were being ferried by car, bus, and truck to deal with the most urgent cases. By this time, the police had reports of 27 homes requiring assistance.

Much of the work involved the shoring up of threatened foundations and the rigging of tarpaulins over damaged roofs.

The spontaneity of the public’s response characterised the whole operation, said Mr Fogarty, and the emergency service intended to remain extremely flexible in its organisation.

“Every situation has to be played by ear,” Mr Fogarty said.

No person has been given the job of organiser. Directions and decisions are. made on the spot by whichever police or emergency service official may be available at the time.

Mr Fogarty said he was happy with the way the organisation functioned during the emergency in August, and no modifications to its structure had since been considered. Mr Fogarty denied that the emergency service was in any way a “vigilante” affair, as some critics have asserted. He said that, as the local fire chief, it gave him “a very good feeling” to know that he would “never be stuck for men.” ARRIVALS Strathlauder (6.51 a.m.), 10,070, Capt. F. Heard, Wellington (P and O). Rangatira (6.18 p.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). (Daylight.) DEPARTURE Rangatira (8.30 p.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Cosrnas, Marsden. Point, January 10. Turakina, Wellington. January 10. Frysna, Auckland, January 10. Wild Curlew, Auckland, January 11. Streefkerk, January 11. Coastal Trader, Auckland, Janu-

ary 12. Rosario Maim, Wellington, Jan-

uary 13. I Taupo, Auckland, January 13. iR.F.A. Resurgent, from sea,

January 13. H.M.S Llandaff, from sea, Janu-

ary 13. Coas’ il Trader, Timaru, January 14. Wooiabra, , January 14. Badenstein, , January 14. Hupeh. , January 14. Poyang, , January 14. Hawea, Wellington, January 15. Christopher S, Port Kembla, January 15. Iron Arnham, , January 17. Karepo, Dunedin, January 17. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Port Auckland, Napier, today. Japan Totara, , today. Cosmas, Timaru, January 10. Sinkiang, Tauranga, January 10. Frysna, Tonga, January 10. Coastal Trader, Dunedin, January 12. Strathlauder, Dunedin, January 13. Wild Curlew, ——, January 14. Streefkerk, s January 14. Turakina, Napier, January 14. Hawea, Dunedin, January 15. VESSELS IN PORT Strathlauder, Cashin Quay No. 1. Sinklang, Cashin Quay No. 2. Port Auckland, No. 2 East. Holmdale, No. 3 East. Japan Totara, No. 3 West. CONTAINERS Cargo from the following containers is available at E shed: Columbus California, voyage 17: SUDU 2401526. ACT 3, voyage 2280: ACT R 2303599, ACT K 2505601.