Tears over sewage

Press, 6 October 1977, Page 6

Tears over sewage

I PA Auckland I The Greek liner Ellinis berthed at Auckland yesterday with sewage water 2ft deep in a baggage hold — and as a result several passengers have lost most of their belongings. People were in tears when they were confronted with their sodden, rotting, and stinking clothing and personal effects in wrecked crates and trunks. Others were furious that ‘the Chandris Line had not tried to save their goods sooner. They said the ship’s officers had been aware that liquid waste had leaked into the No. 1 hold when the Ellinis was two days out of Fremantle, Western Australia.

Amongst those affected was Mrs H. Cubbage, who was moving house from Britain to New Zealand. She had 29 sewage-contaminated crates — all her household possessions. Mrs Cubbage’s husband died two months ago and, after living in Britain for 10 years, she decided to return home.

Many of the damaged goods had had great sentimental value, she said, and were "irreplaceable.” A young married couple, Mr and Mrs M. Hapgood, also lost most of their possessions and all the gifts from their wedding in Britain a few months ago. They had about 11 pieces of luggage in the waterlogged hold. About 60 passengers disembarked at Auckland. Mr Hapgood said that almost all had some damaged luggage. A young Australian girl, Miss D. A. Wallis, of Melbourne. was left on the wharf with little more than the clothes she stood in. “I had one trunk, with everything in, which cannot be found,” she said. “I packed very little in a bag I had with me. because it was only a six-day voyage from Melbourne.”

Port health officials were called in when the mess was discovered in the hold, and about 60 pieces of luggage had to be left on Princes Wharf for further examination and disposal. Auckland watersiders said that the personal effects had been badly stowed in the ship, and there was about 2ft of water still in the hold when the liner berthed. Other cargo, including rolls of carpets, was very badly contaminated. The Chandris Line called in cargo insurance assessors to estimate the cost of the damage. According to Captain N. Volovinas, the passengers will be compensated

; for their losses. He said that insurance officials would report to the : Chandris Line’s Auckland office about the matter. Australian passengers who disembarked at Sydney also had damaged goods, he said: about 100 lots of personal effects in all were involved. He said it would have been too dangerous to try to move the goods when the leak was first discovered at sea. The Auckland goods were stowed at the bottom of the hold because Auckland is the final call on the outward voyage. The Ellinis will now begin a cruise season out of Auckland. |