Ferry fanfare marred

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 18

Ferry fanfare marred

NZPA staff correspondent London Amid a show-piece reception the former New Zealand inter-island ferry Rangatira returned to Britain yesterday to an uncertain future and a stark message from her crew to the British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher.

For the Navy top brass the day was somewhat marred as the longest-serv-ing ship in the Falklands berthed at Devonport after 486 days at sea, to become a platform for disgruntled seamen who fear that the Rangatira will be laid up, putting many of them out of work.

Banners dropped over the

ship’s side carried slogans such as “Maggie welcomes us back to the dole,” and “Margaret Thatcher — 20th century vampire,” as a Royal Marines band played patriotic tunes and escorting tugs sounded their hooters and sent plumes of water skywards from their fire hoses in salute.,

The 9400-tonne ship, which was built in 1972, was chartered by the Ministry of Defence on May 24, 1982, and sailed to the Falklands after hostilities ended on June 19 to become a floating hotel for thousands of British troops. The roll-on ferry is expected to be furbished and returned to her owner, the

Union Steam Ship Company (U.K.), Ltd, before Christmas.

But the company’s chairman, Lord Geddes, admitted there was a possibility that the Rangatira might be laid up. It was hoped she might play an offshore support role for the exploration industry, in either oil or gas, but he could give no assurances about the future of the vessel.

One seaman was quoted as saying, “We have nothing against the company. It is a change of Government policy we want. This makes me very sad because I have been with the ship for seven years.”