‘Alarming’ rise in loss of ships

Press, 15 August 1980, Page 10

‘Alarming’ rise in loss of ships

Losses of merchant ships are increasing at an alarming rate, according to the chairman of the Institute of London Underwriters, Mr G. Merriman. In the first four months of 1980. 887,684 gross tons of merchant shipping had been lost compared with 516,069 tons in the same period last year, he told a recent conference of marine insurers. Between midJanuary and the beginning of April 438,284 tons had been lost through the sinking of four large oil carriers. There had to be a thorough review of the basis for rating such big ships and regulations designed to minimise the risk of explosion in them had to be strictly enforced, especially when tanks were being cleaned. ARRIVALS Holmdale (6.13 a m.), 911, Chat-ham-Islands (U.S.S.). ■ DEPARTURES Union Lyttelton (6 p.m.), 4376, Dunedin (U.S.S.). . EXPECTED ARRIVALS Mercury, Wellington, today (to anchorage, shifting to oil wharf tomorrow). Union Lyttelton, Dunedin, tomorrow. Nedlioyd Adelaide, Asia, August • 17. Coastal Trader, Auckland. August 18. Dunedin. New Plymouth, August 13. Union Lyttelton, Wellington. August 19.

Coastal Trader, Dunedin, August 20. Cielo di Salerno, Bahrain, August 20. Kwangsi, Auckland, August 21. Strathmuir, Auckland, August 21. Freezer Queen, Auckland, August 22. Vishva Bindu, Dunedin, August 22. Coastal Trader, Auckland, August 25. Union Hobart, Sydney, August 25. Botany Bay, Wellington, August 25. Antares, Australia, August 25. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Union Lyttelton, Wellington, August 17. Mercury. sea, August 17. Coastal Trader. Dunedin, August 18. Union Lyttelton. Dunedin, Melbourne. August 19. Holmdale, Waitangi, Pitt Island, August 19. Coastal Trader, Auckland, August 20. Cielo di Salerno, Dunedin, August 20. Nedlioyd Adelaide. Wellington, August 21. Kwangsi. Tauranga, August 24. Strathmuir/ Australia, August 24. Coastal Trader, Dunedin, August 25. VESSELS IN PORT Holmdale, No. 3 West.