MANY SHIPS IN PORT

Evening Post, Issue 82, 6 April 1936, Page 10

MANY SHIPS IN PORT

BUT NOT A RECORD

AOTEA QUAY IN USE

AN IMPOSING LIST

Though not overtaxed, the Port of Wellington berthed an unusually large number of ships today, including twelve oversea vessels, 26 others, and three warships, a total of 41 ships. The gross tonnage was 143,347, and the net 84,020. The gross tonnage of the warships was 6905. This is not a record for the port, as on March 15, 1921, the number of ships in port was 50, the gross tonnage 182,500, and the net 120,636. The list of ships in port today, with the net tonnage in parentheses, is as follows:—Falkefjell, 7927 (4603); Tongariro, 8719; (5472); Sydney Maru, 5425 (3223); Canadian Scottish, 5334 (3242); Port Hunter. 8430 (5288); Tainui 9935 (6298); Middlesex 8703 (5460); Maimoa, 8011 (5000); Rangitata, 16,737 (10 315); Port Brisbane, 8739 (5474); Wanganella, 9576 (5625); Golden Coast, 5705 (3625); Waipiata, 2826 (1603); Wainui 1633 (822); Arahura, 1607 (796); Alexander, 377 (196); Tamahine, 1989 (803); Pakura, 719 (364); Waimea, 454 (207); Wingatui, 2378 (1344); Maori, 3488 (1567); Karetu, 3218 (1864); Kartigi, 2347 (1167); Canopus, 1337 (835); Kapiti, 249 (122); Echo, 132 (99); Kohi, 20 (20); Rata, 974 (375); Foxton, 224 (100); South Sea, 322 (127); Taupata, 268 (143); Paua, 1260 (472); Kaitoa, 319 (141)- Hawera, 188 (92); Marama, 6497 (3992); Rangatira. 6152 (2629); Storm, 749 (371); John, 339 (144); H.M.S. Dunedin, 4450 (—); H.M.S. Leith, 1200 (—); H.M.S. Wellington, 1255 (—). HARBOUR NOT CONGESTED. Looking at the wharves from Roseneath it could readily be seen that there was berthage for even more vessels, at Aotea Quay and Queen's Wharf, to mention only two berths. Not all of such accommodation would have shed and crane facilities, and at Aotea Quay, for instance ships would have to use their own gear for discharging. The Tongariro was berthed there, and was discharging, but whether her gear would permit of handling that part of her cargo which consists of steel rails is uncertain. The Rata was discharging coal into trucks there with her own grabs. This is not the first time that Aotea Quay has been used for discharging cargo. The whole of the 2650 ft of berthing space there has not been completed, but there is room for another ship or two even today. A tendency is apparent on the part of the larger vessels to berth further and further north, and many large vessels, which not so long ago were invariably seen at Queen's Wharf, now berth elsewhere. It is not that the facilities at Queen's .Wharf are in any way lacking, but that they have been more generally installed. One of the great advantages of the port is that everywhere there is a depth of water sufficient for large ships. The provision of cranes and sheds has not yet extended to all the berthing accommodation, but the absence of these facilities at some of the berths is not usually noted when the more fully-equipped wharves can handle all the shipping. It is only on occasions such as that of today, when the number of vessels in port is unusually large, that there are not enough cranes to go round. Even then the crane facilities offeree* by Wellington are slightly ahead of those of other central ports in the : Dominion. Where there are heavy lifts, such as of assembled machinery, and the port has not the necessary cranes, special gear has to be carried by the ships. Here the floating crane Hikitea does this, sort of work. It may- be mentioned that there are no cranes in Sydney. Sometimes ships coming to Wellington have a predilection for a particular berth.! owing to its facilities, and will stay in < the stream until' it can be secured.

The presence of an exceptionally large number of cargo vessels always makes a heavy drain on the organised supply of labour offering on the waterfront. Wet weather is something of a calamity to ships ' working to a schedule, and Saturday morning's rain did not help in this connection. There is nothing to warrant any statement, however, that the lack'of adequate labour has delayed shipping to an extent which would even partly account for a congestion of shipping.