Dock closing ‘would cost service more’

Press, 6 April 1987, Page 7

Dock closing ‘would cost service more’

PA Wellington Impending closing of Wellington’s floating dock would cost New Zealand Railways Searail service an extra $450,000 every two years, according to a Ports Authority study. However, while the Cook Strait rail ferry service would be financially disadvantaged by the dock’s closing, all other regular dock users could be accommodated at other docks and slipways, the report said. The report, commissioned by the Minister of Transport Mr Prebble, said the dock was significantly under-used in recent years in spite of the closing of Wellington’s patent slipway. The Wellington Harbour Board has been considering closing the dock, one of the three largest in the

country, and plans to close it on March 31, 1988. While Searail would prefer a 24-hour service at the dock, and considers docking costs “far too great,” it claims a dock in Wellington is essential to maintain a vital link between the North and South islands.

Closing would mean that only the Arahanga and Aratika would be able to be docked in Auckland at additional costs of $78,380 and $90,380 respectively, the report said. Should Searail be unable to obtain bookings at the heavily used Auckland dock, the additional cost of Australian docking would be $218,000 and $224,000.

The larger railferry Arahura would have to be sent to Australia or Singa-

pore for future surveys which would cost an additional $286,000. The corporation was also concerned that ships could be away for up to four weeks at a time for overseas surveys which could "prove embarrassing should an accident or mechanical problems affect the remaining ferries.”

If a ferry became damaged and required a tug or tugs to tow it to Australia or Singapore for docking, the cost would be “enormous.”

The report concluded that other New Zealand shipowners had made diminishing use of the dock, and announcements of impending closing led to ship owners making alternative arrangements.

It said none of the Defence, Foreign Affairs, or Transport Ministries saw

a national strategic requirement for a replacement dock and it was clear that overseas shipping lines would be unlikely to use a New Zealand dock except in an emergency. Because there was no strategic requirement, Government funding would appear unlikely. However, the Government would be interested in any proposal for a dock which would involve overseas ownership or control although such a proposal would require Foreign Affairs approval.