Tasman, U.S.S. reach agreement

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 19

Tasman, U.S.S. reach agreement

CA’.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, Ltd, has reached agreement with the Union Steam Ship Company for the shipment of newsprint Ito Australia in a move ithat should provide the jgo-ahead for a new $2.3 [million terminal at the port of Tauranga.

The new arrangement was announced in a joint statement by the two companies apd will involve newsprint exports from the Tasman mill of about 200,000 tonnes a year. Specialised roll-on-roll-off unitised ships will be used in the Trans-Tasman service, and the first of two new vessels are expected to start the run in July. The announcement con-! eludes months of negotiations and study by the Tasman company to arrange a shipping deal that would handle ihe extra output from the new No. 3 paper machine — which was commissioned toward the end of last year. Included in the arrangements is the shipping of newsprint to the South Island. Commenting on the ship-1 ping negotiations last month, !

i the general manager of Tas- ■ man (Mr W. W. Olsen) said ; the company was vitally . concerned with being able to i ship its newsprint at the lowest possible price. “We’re up against fierce competition,” he said. The Bay of Plenty Harbour Board has been”sitting on $2.5m of authorised expenditure waiting for the (Union Steam Ship Company 'to give the go ahead for fully developing a unitised terminal. Work on the terminal has been delayed 12 months awaiting a satisfactory agreement to be finalised by the two companies. A vital part, of roll-on-roll-off shipping is the marshall-' ing of unitised cargoes and!

part of the development cost!, will include the construction of storage sheds at the new terminal. The announcement of the new service was made in a joint statement issued by Sir' Peter Abeles, chairman, and! Sir Reginald Smythe, deputy j chairman, on behalf of Union! Steam, and Mr J. C. Flet-J cher, chairman of Tasman' Pulp and Paper Company,' Ltd. “This agreement has been; made after full consultation; with, and assistance from,! New Zealand Government! officials, and will ensure" continuation of a rationalised and efficient service for' all Trans-Tasman shippers,” [they said. I The agreement was welcomed by the Minister of! [Transport, (Mr McLachlan). I In a written statement he; ; said he noted with satisfac-l I tion that the companies had (broadly overcome their [differences on the issue. “I am confident that detailed agreement will be; .reached in the interests both' of the companies involved’ and the future of the trade,”' Mr McLachlan aid.