Vessel’s diversion puzzles port

Press, 10 July 1979, Page 26

Vessel’s diversion puzzles port

No official explanation was available late yesterday afternoon for the sudden departure of the vessel Nordkyn from her berth at Lyttelton yesterday morning to Camp Bay for anchorage.

The bulk carrier was due at 7.30 a.m., from Mount Maunganui carrying 7000 tonnes of soda ash.

Soon after approaching the wharf, the ship’s movements appeared to vary’ from the pilot’s instructions and she headed for Camp Bay. The Nordkyn finally berthed at No. 2 East wharf almost three hours later. The Lyttelton Harbourmaster (Captain J. A. Barbour) said that he had not been told of the details associated with the incident.

The pilot (Captain J. F. E. Crawford) had started early, in the morning and finished at noon. The master of the Nordkyn was not available for comment.

A big question mark hangs over the Pacific Forum Line at the tenth annual conference of the South Pacific Forutn at Honiara today. The New Zealand-assisted shipping line Is expected to put forward another case for more assistance.

Over-tonnage problems with the Pacific Islands service are expected to be added to with an announcement by a nonconference Japanese shipping line which has plans to enter the New Zealand-Pacific Islands service.

The Daiwan Line will place three 9000-ton part-container ships on the run; the Union Steam Ship Company will be its New Zealand agent. The Shipping Corporation of New Zealand is the agent for the Pacific Forum Line. The Japanese service plans direct links from Auckland to New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, Papua New Guinea,

the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Bougainville, and Rabaul. Connections are also planned for shipping cargoes to and from Hong Kong and SouthEast Asia. The line already services the South Pacific and Sydney from Japan. The Daiwan Line is now owned by the NYK Line, one of Japan’s biggest shipping groups. ARRIVALS Strathmeigle (6.27 a.m.), Auckland, Capt. P. M. Pitcairn (Scales). Nedlloyd Franklin (7.10 a.m.), 8236, Auckland, Capt. E. Pells (Guthrey). Coastal Trader (10.03 a.m.) 2500, Auckland, Capt. 11. A. Date (S.C.N.Z.). Nordkyn (11.25 a.m.), 19,685, Mount Maunganui, Capt. D. Jebsen (Seatrans). DEPARTURES Coastal Trader (7 p.m.), 2500, Dunedin (S.C.N.Z.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Union Lyttelton, Wellington, today. Kotuku, tanker, Marsden Point, today. Taikai Maru, from sea, today. Coastal Trader, Dunedin, July 11. Kangourou, W’ellington, July 11. Union Lyttelton, Dunedin, July 12. Fossarina, tanker, Singapore, July 13. Alinda, tanker, Persian Gulf, July 14. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Union Lyttelton, Dunedin, todayStrathmeigle, Newcastle, today. Nordkyn, Bluff, July 11. Coastal Trader, Auckland, July 11. Kotuku, Timaru, July 11. Union Lyttelton, Wellington, July 12. Nedlloyd Franklin, Mount Maunganui, July 13. VESSELS IN PORT Strathmeigle, Cashin Quay No. 1. Nedlloyd Franklin, Cashin Quay No. 2. Nordkyn, No. 2 East.