Shipping News Coal-burners may make comeback

Press, 25 February 1980, Page 14

Shipping News Coal-burners may make comeback

Coal-fired . merchant vessels may be makinK a comeback, according to the chairman of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping tMr R. A. Huskisson) who made a brief • visit to . Lyttelton last week. ! Mr Huskisson said that because of the oil crisis certain Japanese and • Swiss marine engine builders were busily working on development of diesel engines which could be powered by pulverised coal. “We shall see a very substantial development in coal burners and a move awav from oil," he said “This will certainly be true for big bulk carriers moving coal from its source to distant destinations.” The coal-pulverising process was still highly confidential; he said. Research 'was also under way into new coal-fuelled steam turbine engines. Mr Huskisson said that a number of Australian shipowners were contemplating a change from oil to coal, but he was not at liberty to disclose what systems were being contemplated. The use of pulverised , coal at sea had certain disadvantages, even though there were cost advantages, he said. One serious disadvantage was that pulverised -coal was subject to spontaneous combustion. Conventional and container vessels were most likely to slay with fairly orthodox marine diesels for the next decade or so. Several biff lines are already converting oil-burning turbine vessels to more. economical diesel power. ARRIVALS Saturday Union Lyttelton (7.05 a'.m.l, 4500. Dunedin (U. 5.5.1.- ' Marama <8.22 a.m.l, 4510, Wellington (U.S.S.). Sunday Nil. DEPARTURES. Saturday Marama <2.37 p.m.l, 4510, Tauranga (U.S.S.). 1

s Aurtra! Lightning <10.32 p.m.l, • 26,000, Auckland (Dalgety). f . ' Sunday i- Union Lyttelton' <3.15 p.m,), < 4500,. Wellington (U.S.S.). r EXPECTED ARRIVALS - Coastal’ Trader, AUcklahd, today i (Gladstone Pier). >. Forum Samoa, Nuku’alofa, today z (Cashin Quay No. 3). ; C Saleve, Noumea, today (No. 3 ! East). Union Lyttelton, Wellington, tomorrow. > Smolny, Wellington, tomorrow. >' Coastal Trader, Dunedin. February 27. ; Union Lyttelton, Wellington, ; February 28. Marama, Dunedin. Febriiarv 29. ) Holmdale, ' Chatham Islands, March 1. ’ - Emanuel, Bluff, March 1. . Nedlloyd Frazer, Auckland, March 3. Coastal Trader, Auckland, March .3. Major Sucharski, Wellington, March 3. Southland Star, Los Angeles, March 4. Union Hobart, Dunedin, March = 4. Union Hobart, Dunedin, March 6. ; Strathmay, Auckland. March 6. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Coastal'Trader, Dunedin, today. Forum Samoa, Napier, today. Union Lyttelton, Wellington, tomorrow. -. Khalij Star. Napier, tomorrow. Coastal Trader, Auckland, February 27. Union Lyttelton. Dunedin, February, 28. Smolnv.’Peru, February 28. America Star, Iran. February 28. Wild Gannet, Timaru, February 28.'--. Marama, Wellington. February - * 29 .T Coastal Trader, Dunedin. March . 3, .. . . ■ - ’ •< -VESSELS IN PORT America Star; Cashih , Quay No. Khaii.t Star. Cashin. Ou ay No. 2.’ Wild Gannet, No. 3 Wept.