N.Z. still has chance in shipping trade

Press, 23 August 1977, Page 16

N.Z. still has chance in shipping trade

New Zealand has not lost its chance to run its own shipping service to the Arabian Gulf States because of Blue Star Port Line’s announcement last week to introduce its own container service.

Shipping circles generally agree that the Gulf trade can support only one operator at the moment with help from charter vessels from time to time.

But the New Zealand Shipping Corporation’s general manager (Mr C. IL Speight), who recently returned from a tour of Europe and the Arab States, said there was a “tremendous potential” in the Gulf trade.

The corporation was assessing the trade flow to and from the Gulf and keeping the whole matter

under close examination, said Mr Speight.

Over the last six months the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) has hinted at both a New Zealand-owned container service and a joint venture with Australia on the Gulf trade. The Blue Star Port Line is committing about SSOM to the trade and is expected to have two 16,000tonne container ships, on the run within 12 months At the same time, a P. and O subsidiary, Laurit-zen-Peninsula Reefers, Ltd, has introduced three Tong-ariro-class vessels on the run.

It is believed that up to five other shipping interests, including Kuwait and American companies, are also keeping a close watch on the trade’s development.