Ferries in doubt today

Press, 24 September 1980, Page 1

Ferries in doubt today

PA Wellington Cook Strait rail ferry sailings will be disrupted again today. It will be the second day in three that sailings have been affected by industrial action over the nuclear-powered U.S.S. Truxtun’s visit to Wellington. Railways Department officials have warned that the 7.20 a.m. sailing from Wellington and the 11.40 a.m. sailing from Picton, will be delayed. ,

Seamen’s Union members will, meet this morning to decide if they will take any action in protest against the Truxtun’s presence. The ferry sailings have been delayed because of the meeting. If the seamen decide to stop work, there will be no Strait sailings. The Aratika and Aranui

are scheduled to make four crossings of Cook Strait in each direction today and the .Railways* air sea services manager, Mr B. Lundy, said that bookings for the sailings were “reasonably heavy.” Ferry sailings ran on time yesterday after they had been abandoned on Monday when harbour board workers stopped work. If the ferries do not sail today, the Government will probably reactivate “operation pluto” and fly people and their cars across Cook Strait in Air Force planes. A spokesman for the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) said last evening ! that a decision on the air- j lift would be made by a • special Cabinet committee ! after it had reviewed the ; matter in the morning.