Oil rig prepares to move despite ban

Press, 26 January 1984, Page 2

Oil rig prepares to move despite ban

PA Wellington The Benreoch oil-drilling rig off Taranaki’s coast was being prepared for release from the Taimana site, said one of the consortium of exploration companies, Diamond Shamrock New Plymouth, yesterday. A manning dispute has prevented the rig from moving to a new drilling site and the delay is believed to be costing its operators about $200,000 a day. The action centres on whether seamen should serve on the rig when it is moving from one site to another. The Arbitration Court is expected to rule on this today or tomorrow. The' Seamen’s Union wants four seamen a shift aboard for the move. The union has directed the crews of the rig’s two supply vessels, Toanui and Takapu, not to lift anchor. This prompted the consortium, which includes Petro-

corp, Tricentrol, Diamond Shamrock, and Stewart Petroleum, to seek an injunction requesting that the seamen resume normal duties. The union’s secretary, Mr Jim Woods, said on Tuesday that anchor-raising had not started. He declined to comment yesterday on Diamond Shamrock’s statement. The Court earlier ruled there was no need for seamen to work on the rig while it was drilling but left open the question of their serving aboard while the Benreoch moved between drilling sites.