Alternative fuels considered

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 12

Alternative fuels considered

The Lyttelton Harbour Board is investigating using alternative fuels for its vehicle fleet and for the dredge Peraki. The board’s mechanical engineer, Mr W. G. Croll, reported to the works committee meeting on the merits of three alternative fuels: compressed bio-gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and pulverised coal. Mr Croll said that compressed bio-gas, which is produced from the Christchurch Drainage Board’s plant in Bromley, was unlikely to be economic because of the cost >f transporting it by road anker to Lyttelton. Board staff were interested n converting at least one zehicle in the fleet to L.P.G. as t test case, said Mr Croll. Significant savings on fuel ril costs could be made by converting the Peraki to burn pulverised coal, he said. Pulverised coal is a fine powder which burns inside a boiler in the same way as oil spray. Mr Croll will prepare a report over the next few months on the possibility of converting the Peraki to pulverised coal. Small-boat forecast Today’s inshore weather marine forecast for Lyttelton Harbour to the Waimakariri River mouth, as received from the Weather Office last evening: 20-25 knot northerly winds, gusty, moderate to rough seas becoming slight later today. Two metre north-west swell, good visibility.

ARRIVALS Union Sydney (7 a.m.), 9330, Wgtn (U.M.S.). Spirit of Free Enterprise (7 a.m.), 1204, Wgtn (Pacifica). DEPARTURES Spirit of Free Enterprise (4.45 p.m.), 1204, Wgtn (Pacifica). DEPARTURES Spirit of Free Enterprise (4.45 p.m.), 1204, Wgtn (Pacifica). Star Canopus (5 p.m.), 19,866, Tim (Seabridge). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Spirit of Competition, Wgtn, today (7 a.m.). Prinsengracht, Bluff, tomorrow. Pacific Reefer, sea, August 12. Coastal Trader, Auck, August 12. New Zealand Mariner, Europe, August 12. Union Sydney, Dndn, August 13. Spirit of Competition, Wgtn, August 13. Esperance Bay, New Plym, August 13. Coastal Trader, Dndn, August 14. Spirit of Free Enterprise, Wgtn, August 14. Nedlloyd Bangkok, Bluff, August 14. Forum New Zealand, Auck, August 14. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Union Nelson, Onehunga, today (11 a.m.). Full Moon, Taur, today (12 p.m.). Union Sydney, Dndn, today (10 p.m.).

Spirit of Competition, Wgtn, tomorrow. Beauteous, Japan, tomorrow. Coastal Trader, Dndn, August 12. H.M.A.S. Brisbane, Sydney, August 12. Union Sydney, Wgtn, August 13. New Zealand Mariner, Wgtn, August 13. Spirit of Competition, Wgtn, August 13. Esperance Bay, Australia, August 13. VESSELS IN PORT Beauteous, Cashin Quay No. 1. Union Sydney, Z berth. H.M.A.S. Brisbane, No. 4 East. Ibuki Maru, No. 4 West. Spirit of Competition, No. 7 East. Holmdale, No. 7 West.

Essi Gina, Sea, August 18. Pacific Reefer, Lytt, August 19. Jebsen Tauranga, Nap, August 21. Oceania Glory, Lytt, August 26. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Star Canopus, Bluff, August 12. Caribbean Maru, Iran, august 13. Trinta, Bluff, August 16. Thea-S, Bluff, August 17. Samoan Reefer, Asia, August 17. VESSEL IN PORT Caribbean Maru, No. 1.

DEPARTURES Today Qantas QFS6 (Boeing 747), 9.15 a.m., Brisbane. Air New Zealand TE43 (Boeing 747), 12.05 p.m., Sydney. Trans Australian Airlines QF392 (Boeing 747), 4.35 p.m., Hobart. ■! Qantas QF46 (Boeing 747), 5.30 p.m., Sydney. Tomorrow Qantas QF46 (Boeing 747), 7.45 p.m., Sydney.