L.P.G. unloading

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 20

L.P.G. unloading

Sir,—Mr J. E. Mannering, chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, takes exception to my assertion that board members treat their Harbourmaster. and pilots with “contempt,” (October 2Q), but carefully avoids saying whether they were approached in assessing the danger of berthing an L.P.G. tanker at the innerharbour oil wharf, which was the whole point of my original letter. The Liquigas pamphlet (October 7), widely circulated locally, states the intention of berthing an L.P.G. tanker at the oil wharf, with the support of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, on the advice of experts. Do these experts include the Harbourmaster and pilots? Unlike Lyttelton Harbour Board members, they are accountable at law in the event of an accident or disaster. Surely the board’s omission to solicit the opinions of its own professionals and apparently preferring' the opinion of unnamed “experts,” is a form of contempt.—Yours, etc.,

STAN HEMSLEY. October 20, 1981.

[Mr J. E. Mannering, chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, replies: “I have already answered Mr Hemsley’s assertions and can only repeat that the board has complete confidence in its harbour master and pilots.”]