Shipping News

Press, 2 April 1979, Page 12

Shipping News

Boats may get push in port

The Lyttelton Harbour Board is expected to act on the growing problem of shipping movements being hampered at the port by small craft. In th» latest incident a yacht under power went across the bow of the Russian ship Novozybrov as it was leaving the port. Two masters of overseas ships in the port at the time said the problem in Japanese ports had forced a drastic system to stop small craft crossing the path of bigger vessels. A tug, or a similarly designed and power vessel, moves ahead of the ship being piloted and “nudges’’ other craft, out of the way by deflecting their bows. V M Two phosphate vessels are jostling for positions at Lyttelton this week; they have a total of 10,500 tonnes of phosphate to discharge. The Star Madonna is due from Vancouver with 3500 tonnes but a decision was expected late last evening or early this morning on whether she would be diverted to New Plymouth first. This would clear the way for the Baron Pentland, due in today from Christmas Island with 7000 tonnes. Other cargoes due for discharge include 45,000 cartons of bananas and oranges from the Ragni Berg. :i5 * * Fuel-oil bunkering charges will be increased this week for ships serving the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong, according to the New Zealand Eastern Shipping Committee. An increase of 4.51 per cent will be applied to the Nedlloyd Franklin at Auckland and the Kweichow at I Mount Maunganui. Because of the fuel crisis, I bunkering reviews will be

made each month, the committee has advised. * ♦ • Long-term plans for the development of the New Zealand Eastern Shipping Committee’s service to Japan provides for a possible third container ship. The service, now calling at Port Chalmers only in the South Island, uses the container vessels Godwit and Aotea. Committee members recently said that while long-term plans provided for a third vessel, it was too early yet to consider the huge outlay involved. ARRIVALS Saturday Union Lyttelton (9.50 a. mJ. 45(Ki, Wellington. CapL R. Stewart (U.S.S.). Sunday Ragni Berg (9.23 am.), 4429. Auckland (Scales). Dunedin (10.30 a.m.), SIM, Tauranga, Capt. C. Spencer (U.S.S.). DEPARTURES Saturday Southland Star <lO4O a.m). 7786, Auckland, Capt. R. K. Baton (Blp/ACT). Sunday Union Lyttelton (2 Pda.), 4500, Wellington, Capt. R. Stewart (USS J. EXPECTED ARRIVALS Amokura, Wellington, today. Baron Pentland, Christmas Island, today. Coastal Ranger, Auckland, today. Union Lyttelton, Wellington, April 3. Westmoreland, Wellington, April Star Madonna, New Plymouth, April 5, Nedlloyd Amsterdam, Wellington, April 7. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Holmdale, Chatham Islands, today. Alucom, Bluff, today. Union Lyttelton, Wellington, April 3. Ragni Berg, Napier, April 3. Amokura, Nelson, April 3. Major Sucbareki, Papeete, April Baron Pentland, Timaru, April VESSELS IN PORT Alucom, Caabln Quay No. 1 Tauioto 11, Cashin Quay No. i Holmdale, No. 3 East , Ragni Berg, No. 3 West Pukaki, No. 4 East. Major Sucharskl. No. 7 West. Dunedin, No. 4 West.