Tug-and-barge bid again

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 21

Tug-and-barge bid again

Another attempt is being made to start a tug-dan-barge service on the New Zealand coast on a much larger scale than the previous attempt by the Dillingham Corporation. An American company is again involved in the attempt and films of the proposed service were shown to transport interests and Lyttelton Harbour Board members in Christchurch last week. The service provides for the cartage of 40ft articulated-road trailers and freight on barges ranging from 139 m to 193 m long and three decks high. The barges have a beam of 35m. Satellite monitoring of sea temperatures is helping New Zealand fish biologists to gauge fish stocks and growth rates. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has been using charts of sea surface temperatures around the New Zealand ?oast to estimate the growth rates and movements of important fish species. The charts are produced veekly by the United States Naional Environmental Satellite Service and have so far been ised to interpret and under -tand skipjack tuna seasons. Annua] mean air temperatures .round various parts of the New Zealand coastline are being used , o predict good spawning years or the more popular type of ish. Climatic records are said to iso give indications leading to n assessment of the growth rate nd population age structure of he fish.

Information is also being ought from fishermen, which he Ministry regards as an essential part of the programme.

Special attention is being paid to silver warehou off the southeastern areas of the country and the fish are reported to be strongly influenced by measureable changes in the environment. Hydrological studies will be necessary before scientists can properly understand the variation in species abundance of the silver warehou which are eagerly sought by the Japanese. ARRIVALS Saturday Holmdale (8 a.m.l, 911. Chatham Islands, Capt. H. C. F. Hunt (U.S.S.). Sunday Tenko Maru (8.52 a.m.), 4995, Wellington, Capt. M. Ohaml (P and O). DEPARTURES Saturday Nil. Sunday Nil. EXPECTED ARRIVALS Coastal Trader, Auckland, today. Nedlloyd Fremantle, Asia, today. Union Hobart, Wellington, July 3. Coastal Trader, Dunedin, July 4. Union Hobart, Dunedin, July 5. Wild Avocet, Bluff, July 5. Nedlloyd Franklin, Auckland, July 6. Strath Meigle, Auckland, July 7. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Moreton Bay, Sydney, today. Coastal Trader, Dunedin, today. Union Hobart. Dunedin, July 3. Coastal Trader, Auckland, July 4. Union Hobart, Wellington, July 5. VESSELS IN PORT Tenko Maru, Cashin Quay No. 2. Moreton Bay, Cashin Quay No. 3. Holmdale, No, 7 East.