Blue asbestos halts repairs on fishing ship

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 2

Blue asbestos halts repairs on fishing ship

PA Nelson Annual repair work on one of the largest New Zealand-owned fishing ships, Sealord Products Arrow, has stopped because of the presence of blue asbestos. The principal inspector of health, Mr Graeme Howes, said that interior panels in the 51-metre, 549-ton ship had been removed, exposing the asbestos, which was an insulating material. Work on the ship berthed at Nelson stopped immediately. Under the asbestos regulations, anyone working with the substance has to wear protective clothing, including respirators. The general manager of Sealords, Mr Graham France, said yesterday that an application had been made to the Director-Gen-eral of Health so work on the ship could continue. “We are not expecting any reply until at least the end of the week,” said Mr France.

“However, it is not quite as simple as that, so the Health Department tells us. Part of the approval to work on the ship again will require someone approved by the department to remove the asbestos. “We’ve got no idea if that person is readily available and can drop what he is doing to help us finish this survey.” The department is concerned that the panels were opened up without the consent of the Director-Gen-eral. Mr Howes said that the company might have breached the asbestos regulations, which were strict and even more stringent when blue asbestos was involved. Mr France said that while men on the job had been provided with protective gear, the company had not been aware that it needed the approval of the Direc-tor-General before starting.