Aust, resumes sea link with Chile

Press, 13 November 1981, Page 1

Aust, resumes sea link with Chile

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Direct sea trade links between Australia and Chile have reopened after eight years. If New Zealand trade unions dropped their bans on trade with Chile three ships could be working the service, according to shippers. "We believe the route would stand three ships but it largely depends on New Zealand,” said Mr Ronald Titcombe, managing director of Ultra Marina Pty, Ltd, a managing agent for Kapal Pacifico in Australia. "One ship, and possibly later one other could sustain the Australian trade, but the

catalyst for expansion would be New Zealand. “We believe there is the potential for $2OO million worth of trade a year with Chile for New Zealand,” he said. Last week the Kapal Pacifico ship Luise Bornhofen berthed at Sydney to pick up cargo destined for Chile, the first ship to do so for eight years. The Luise Bornhofen, a 13,499-tonne general cargo ship, is West German-regis-tered but Mr Titcombe said it was intended that any additional ships, which would be the same as the Luise Bornhofen, would be Australian flag vessels with Austra-

lian cews, subject to satisfactory negotiations being completed with the Seamen's Union of Australia. The route being pioneered by the Luise Bornhofen is from Australia to the West Coast of South America, encompassing Equador, Chile, and Peru. The Australian Council of Trade Unions, the equivalent of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, has lifted its ban on trade with Chile but it was by a very narrow vote and the Seamen’s Union still has its, own ban opposing trade. The assistant federal secretary of the Seamen’s Union. Mr Patrick Sweetensen. said: ‘We have had a number of approaches from people seeking our blessing for trade with Chile but at this stage there has been no change to the Seamen’s Union policy.” Mr Titcombe has estimated that Australian trade with Chile could be worth $4OO million a year, which would create 10,000 jobs in Australia. But Mr Sweetensen described this as “obvious fantasy and totally false.” “South American countries are predominantly poor and Chilean cargoes usually of low value,” he said. The Waterside Workers’ Federation, whose men work the docks, had no ban on Chilean cargoes, said federal organiser, Mr “Tas” Bull. "We have followed A.C.T.U. policy and lifted our opposition but a couple of branches are openly opposed to trade with Chile.” One of these was the Sydney branch and its men were working the Luise Bornhofen “under protest.” said Mr Bull.