Ferry obstacles overcome

Press, 28 May 1983, Page 1

Ferry obstacles overcome

“The service will start on Tuesday,” said the head of Pacifica Shipping, Mr Brooke McKenzie, after the inter-island freight ferry Spirit of Free Enterprise arrived at Lyttelton yesterday morning. Developments yesterday backed up Mr McKenzie’s prediction of a May 31 start. The Waterside Workers’ Federation in Wellington said it had the basis for an agreement with the new shipping company, and Lyttelton Harbour Board workers said “there should not be any problems.” The way now seems clear for the 1204-ton Spirit of Free Enterprise to begin

the Lyttelton-Wellington run left vacant since 1977. A small crowd greeted the orange and white vessel as she berthed without problems on her maiden call to Lyttelton. She is at No. 7 East. Mr McKenzie said the freight ferry would make three return sailings a week. A watersiders’ spokesman said from Wellington later in the day that the union “had every reason to believe the vessel would sail on schedule.”

An agreement had been hammered out with Pacifica during the week and this would be put to the waterside unions in Lyttel-

ton and Wellington on Monday.

“Subject to their approval, the vessel will be worked,” the spokesman said.

However, he said he would not comment on the agreement until after the meetings on Monday. Representatives from the Lyttelton Harbour Board Employees’ Union met Pacifica at the port yesterday afternoon.

“It went quite well,” said the union secretary, Mr Paul Monk. “We both understand our relative positions. There should not be any problems,” he said. Harbour Board employees

would be involved in the operation in future, depending on the type of cargo handled. The ship would be worked conventionally as similar vessels had been in the past. The union was always keen to encourage any new shipping services, Mr Monk said.

The Spirit of Free Enterprise, which has a total capacity of 37 12m trailers and 100 cars, will not have an idle week-end. She is scheduled to have a small survey and run docking trials. Asked about the volume of cargo she would carry on her first voyage, Mr McKenzie said some

shippers had adopted a “wait and see attitude” until negotiations with waterfront unions- had concluded. However, he was confident of building up trade to the level the company wanted. The Spirit of Free Enterprise has an all-New Zealand crew of 19, and two masters, Captain P. Petherbridge and Captain A. Gilliland, who between them have more than 50 years experience at sea.

The vessel will compete with the Railways Cook Strait ferries as well as Union Steam Ship Company vessels, which call at Lyttelton and Wellington as a part of their Tasman runs.