U.S. ‘land bridge’ may offer N.Z. savings

Press, 22 February 1978, Page 23

U.S. ‘land bridge’ may offer N.Z. savings

A minor revolution in American overseas trade patterns has been sparked off by the “land bridge” tariff concept. This may mean big savings for New Zealand exporters and importers over the next few years.

This was the message of the four-man Port of Long Beach trade mission, in Christchurch this week. The mission’s leader (Mr H. E. Ridings, Jnr) said that the concept had been worked out several years ago between shipping companies and railway firms, and it was already having a marked impact on American overseas trade patterns — including a big drop in the number of ships using the Panama Canal,

The concept involves funneling trade through a few key West Coast ports, and then overland by rail to East Coast and Gulf ports. The “land bridge” is designed to cut four to five days off the ail-sea method Of transport, says Mr Ridings, and of course can also be used in reverse. The Japanese trade, which handles 58 per cent of the 30 million tons passing through Long Beach annually, is geographically in the best position to take advantage of the system, and several big Japanese shipping lines have abandoned their services to the American Gulf ports. New Zealand is in a position to take advantage of the system, especially in trade with American East Coast ports, although the mission admits there would be little time saved on the Gulf-port trade. ; New Zealand’s 300,000 'tonnes is only a drop in the ILong Beach trade bucket, but the mission sees substantial room for improvement. It is intent on “open-

ring channels of communication,” and promoting Long Beach among New Zealand traders as a staging post on the American West Coast. ARRIVALS Union Melbourne (7.07 a.m.), 4043, Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.). DEPARTURES Union Melbourne (10.10 p.m.), Wellington. Torrens ,4.58 p.m.), 8947, Europe (Scales). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Coastal Trader, Dunedin, today. Straat Clement, sea. today. Toyu Maru. Auckland. February I 23. Union Lyttelton, Wellington, February 23. Eastern Academy, from sea. February 23. Union Melbourne, Wellington, February 23. Hero.i Paic, Dunedin. February’ 26. Hupeh, Wellington. February 26. Evergreen, Wellington, February 26. Southland Star. Suva. February 26. Coastal Trader. Auckland, February 27. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Coastal Trader. Auckland, today. Union Melbourne, Dunedin, February 23. Union Lyttelton, Wellington. February 24. Straat Clement, for sea. February 24. Townsville Star. U.K.. February 24. Southland Star. U.S.A.. February Coastal Trader. Dunedin, February 27. VESSELS IN PORT Coastal Ranger, No. 2 West. Townsville Star. No. 7 West. CONTAINERS Cargo from the following containers is now available at the Lyttelton container freight station:— Flinders Bay. Voyage 7154. — KNLU 2016650, 2012660; NZCU 2105548: MMCU 2161015. Godwit, voyage 2112.—SS1U 2646307. Remuera Bay, voyage 8102.— SAMU 2084388. ACTU 7003057. All FCLs from the Remuera Bay, voyage 8102, which were stopped for quarantine inspection have now been passed -'nd are available at Lyttelton. Storage charges will start on Friday. The following containers are unpacked at Lyttelton:—

Flinders Bay. voyage 7154. — OCLU 1019827. KNLU 2200570. NZCU 2107920. 2107983. Godwit, voyage 2112.—NZCU 9005895. CTIU 0410788. LGF 01222. LGL 03229, NZCU 0002556.