Antarctic ship diverted to port

Press, 18 January 1979, Page 17

Antarctic ship diverted to port

Shipping News

The United States Navy’s chartered Antarctic tanker Maumee, is due at Lyttelton on Friday • after a diversion from her original course direct to McMurdo Sound.

The Maumee was to have called at Wellington on the re-1 turn voyage for bunkering before her return to the United States, but a delayed ice-clearing . programme at McMurdo hast prompted the diversion to Lyttelton, where she is expected ■ to take about 12 hours taking on 1 fuel-oil bunkers.

She is now expected to sail direct from McMurdo Sound to the United States after delivering fuel-oil supplies and possibly general cargo loaded at Lyttelton.

One of the Maumee’s most notable visits to Lyttelton was on February 10. 1976. She arrived with a big section of her bow stove in after encountering an unchartered ice pack in the Antarctic.

The 26,875 (deadweight) tonnes tanker is an old ship by tanker standards—she was commissioned ii 1956—and she is officially wned by the United States of

America Department of the Navx. run by the Military Sealilt Command. Three container ship* due at Lyttelton over the week-end and parly np.xt week have spaced themselves out to avoid congestion. The container terminal manager (Mr P G Morgan) said that the Discovery Bax was due on Saturday, the Wellington Star on Mondax. and the ACT II on Wednesday. Onlx about 1200 container movements are expected from the three ships. Mr Morgan said that greater volumes were sought for the terminal this year, and the emphasis would be on marketing. “We have virtually finished development and 1979 will be the year of the big push,” he »aid. “Our figures show that we do need that little extra volume.”; It is believed that the Union Steam Ship Company still has about a year’s lease with the Harbour Board before the expiration of the Lyttelton-Wellington ferry terminal building agreement at Lyttelton. I Phosphate cargoes have taken I II heir toll on the abandoned build ' ing inside and outside. ARRIVALS Holnidaie <9 p.m.), 911. Chatham : Islands. Capt. G. S. Kaye (U.S.S.). 1 DEPARTURES Coastal Trader (3 p.m ), 2500. 1 Auckland, Capt. D. Watt (S.C.N.Z.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS August Moon, Wellington, Janu-' ary 19. Wellington Star, Suva, January 19. Union Hobart, Dunedin, January i 20. Discovery Bay. Wellington, Janu-; 1 ary 20. Josef Wybicki, Tauranga, Janu-’ ary 20. ; PROJECTED DEPARTURES Ngahere, Bluff. January 18. Hermina, Auckland. January 19. 'Wellington Star. Wellington, January 19. Union Hobart, Wellington, January 20. VESSELS IN PORT Hermina. Cashin Quay, No. L Coastal Ranger, No. 2 West. Coastal Trader, No. 4 East. Ngaherc, No. 7 West. Holmdale. No. 7 East. Milburn Carrier, dry dock.