Russia’s merchant fleet 'a threat’

Press, 13 August 1979, Page 15

Russia’s merchant fleet 'a threat’

By

JOHN LESLIE

Concern is felt among European maritime nations about the potential of the Eastern bloc merchant fleet to damage the interests of the merchant shipping industry, according to the latest newsletter of the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners. Today the Soviet Union has merchant shipping tonnage exceeding 10 million tons deadweight with 240 cargo liners, working as “cross traders” on regular international routes. These are in direct competition with the established Conferences and are charging lower rates. The main trades affected are the trans-

pacific routes and as a result cargo is lost — and Conferences — to a point where it is almost uneconomic.

For its part, however, the Soviet Union contends that its merchant fleet is growing only half as fast as the rest of the world’s merchant shipping tonnage and that its merchant ships account for only a small (14 per cent) fraction of ‘‘cross trading” Russia also says that this percentage is decreasing.

Yet, as most of the West’s great passenger liners have been swept off the world’s oceans for economic reasons, the Russians now have magnificent passenger liners, some cruising out of other countries, including New Zealand. In recent years Russia has modernised its ports and shipyards but the demand is so great that Soviet satellite countries, such as East Germany, build ships for the Soviet Union, too. Orders are also placed with countries such as Italy and France.

During World War 11, Russia lost 380 merchant vessels. After a big rebuilding programme, it is now a giant among shipowning nations. Today the naval might plus the merchant service of the Soviet Union spans the globe numerically apd strategically. There might well be concern among democracies. The growth of Russia’s maritime Colossus is a fait accompli and has to be accepted. Soviet merchant ships are mostly modern and highly efficient. Whether they make a profit is irrelevant, but it is readily

apparent that their running costs are less than ours — much less.

After travelling as a passenger aboard French, British, and Russian passenger liners and visiting numerous Russian cargo vessels at Lyttelton over the years, I am convinced that Russian vessels do not have to pay. I am convinced, too, that New Zealand seamen would never forgo their comparatively luxurious mode of seafaring life for the hours, conditions, and wages which Soviet seafarers must accept. We cannot have it both ways.