Ships idle: 111 wharfies away

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 1

Ships idle: 111 wharfies away

Two bulk carriers have lain idle at Lyttelton for three days because of wharf labour shortages, and most other cargo vessels in Dort have been short of labour since Monday. The bulk carrier Continental Pioneer, with 6500 tonnes of sulphur to discharge from United States oorts, has been berthed at the No. 2 wharf since Sunday afternoon. Late yesterday it

was still uncertain whether she would begin unloading today. A second bulk carrier, Eastern Saga, arrived from Nauru Island on Monday with 10,000 tonnes of phosphate rock, but she was unable to be worked until last night. Idle time is believed to cost each vessel between $BOOO and $lO,OOO a day. Two other vessels have spent at least one day idle. The Main Lloyd was idle on Monday, and yesterday she was still being worked with

less than half the usual manning strength. The little Tongan freighter Frysna spent Tuesday idle after having a quantity of perishable fruit unloaded on Monday. The secretary of the Lyttelton branch of the Port Employers’ Association (Mr J. Twomey) said yesterday that the shortage was caused mainly by a heavy influx of ships since the week-end at a time when manv watersiders were on holiday. Of the port’s total manning

strength of 619, 62 men are on holiday. In addition, 11 men were off on “compo” yesterday, 18 were reported to be ill, and a further 20 had taken the day off, said Mr Twomey. The labour shortage was aggravated by the large cargoes being worked in some conventional vessels. The Cedric, with more than 5000 tonnes of general cargo to discharge from Liverpool, has tied up seven gangs — 160 men — for nearly two weeks.

The Straat Agulhas, loading 12,000 bales of wool and some Reefer cargo, has also made heavy demands on the port’s work force. However, Mr Twomey said, the port’s permanent labour force would increase almost immediately to 630 men, which should help relieve future labour shortages. Jobs on the wharf were much sought after, and priority would be given to men declared redundant at other ports.