Waitaki N.Z.R. ventures into coastal shipping

Press, 5 October 1977, Page 43

Waitaki N.Z.R. ventures into coastal shipping

Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating, Ltd, will acquire the majority interest in Maritime Carriers, 'New Zealand. Ltd. when negotiations are comple.-d with Mr T. V. Rosenfeld of Belgium, the sole owner of I the company.

i Maritime Carriers will be,come a New Zealand comj party.

Maritime Carriers operates two small bulk-carriers on bareboat charter from Deep Sea Shipping Company, Ltd, which is also owned by Mr Rosenfeld.

For the past five years the i ships were on an employ-ament-agreement to the Union

Steam Ship Company; Ltd, and have been primarily used for the past two years in the carriage of bulk wheat from the South Island to the

North Island. The ships are presently I named Union Australia and Union New Zeadand but the names will be changed.

Waitaki New Zealand Refrigeration is making a very limited investment, in cash only, in shipping, and the possibilities from the entry into this new field by the company may be considerable. I The early success of the

, venture will depend on the ! support given, as the i efficiency of the ships and the management of Maritime ! Carriers is not in doubt. It is proposed to continue i using the ships as bulk carriers, but, in addition, it ’is; proposed to equip the ships to carry containers between, the main container ports andi (secondary ports, and also belt ween ports in the North and South islands. It is also proposed that, the ships provide a liner! service where so little exists' now and an element of competition in the movement of (freight will be introduced.