Ferry sailings will be disrupted today

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 8

Ferry sailings will be disrupted today

PA Wellington Ferry sailings across Cook Strait will be disrupted today because of the arrival of an oil tanker in Wellington. No freight was carried on Cook Strait ferries yesterday because the National Union of Railwaymen in Picton refused to allow a change of roster necessary because of a gang shortage. An oil tanker was due to berth in stream in Wellington Harbour at 8 a.m. today and will be held .there to allow the departure of the Arahura at 10 a.m. The tanker will then take over the Arahura’s berth and start a nine-hour discharge of cargo. This will mean that the

2.20 p.m. sailing of the Arahura from Picton, and the 6.40 p.m. sailing of the Arahura from Wellington will be cancelled. The Arahura’s next sailing will be at 10 p.m. from Picton. The Aranui, which was due to leave Wellington at 4 p.m., will be held until 6.40 p.m. to take on cars and passengers which would normally have gone on the Arahura.

Railways expect that most Picton passengers bound for Wellington should be able to travel on the rail freight ferry Arahunga, leaving at 4 p.m. Those unable to go on this sailing will have to travel to Wellington on the Arahura at 10 p.m.

People travelling by train from Christchurch intending to catch a ferry from Picton in time to connect with the Northerner rail service will either have to make alternative travel arrangements or sail on the Arahura at 10 p.m., which will be too late to catch the Northerner. Cook Strait ferries sailed most of yesterday without rail freight, affecting 280 waggons. The N.U.R. in Picton refused to allow a fill-in for a shunting roster after one of the men on the roster reported sick. The yard foreman in Picton asked eight or nine men to fill in.but, acting on union instructions, they refused.