Launch eases plight of Indian ship

Press, 17 July 1979, Page 20

Launch eases plight of Indian ship

Shipping News

The plight of an Indian ship which left Lyttelton with no port of destination was relieved by an unusual charter mission carried out by the Diamond Harbour launch service.

The Jag Rekha terminated a charter at Lyttelton after discharging cargo, but left her berth with no established future arrangements or destination. While plans were being discussed the ship dropped anchor at Camp Bay, where advice was subsequently received for her to proceed direct to Australia with no other New Zealand ports of call.

The Lyttelton Borough Council was told last evening that a Diamond Harbour launch had to be chartered to freight about 1.5 tonnes of provisions to the ship for her Tasman crossing. Councillors were also told that the launch department had withdrawn the Ngatiki to replace part of the cabin roof and install a new bulkhead to strengthen the upper structure. The work is expected to take about two months. ❖ ❖ ❖

Lloyd's shipping advisory services are at present investigating marine safety in the transport of liquid natural gas, in a bid to allay growing concern. The investigation will attempt to determine the ability of ships’ structures to withsand collision and grounding. They have included a study of the elastic and plastic response of the side of a proposed LNG ship, and the strength of ballast wing tanks. Tanker and gas ship investigations are now dealing with plans for several segregated ballast tank arrangements for new and

existing ships. A comprehend , e set of guidance notes on the carnage ot dangerous chemicals in bulk will be produced.

The shipping industry has also sounded warnings about the over-population of the LNG shipping trade: one new carrier went straight from the builder's xaid to a four-year lay-up. The over-capacity is believed to have been caused by the industry's response to improved rates, particularly in the tanker market. Dozens of ships were immediately moved out of mothballs every time a slight increase occurred. ARRIVALS Coastal Trader (9.18 am.), 2500. Auckland, Capt. R. A. Date (S.C.N.Z.). Post Chaser (12.30 p.m.), 15,967, Auckland, Capt. E. 1. Grant (P and O). DEPARTURES Coastal Trader (4.30 p.m.), 2500, Dunedin (S.C.N.Z.). Post Chaser (midnight), 15,967, New Plymouth (P and O). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Union Lyttelton, Wellington, today. Holnidale. Chatham Islands, today. Coastal Trader, Dunedin, July 18. Union Hobart, Wellington, July 18. Nedlioyd Frazer, Singapore, July 19. Smolny, Wellington, July 21. Kolle D, Nauru Island, July 21. Toa Moana, Onehunga, July 26. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Union Lyttelton, Dunedin, today. Coastal Trader, Auckland, July 18. Union Hobart, Dunedin. July 19. VESSELS IN PORT