WHARF ACCOMMODATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1942, Page 3

WHARF ACCOMMODATION

ENGINEER’S OPINION.

On the instruction of the Chairman (Mr. ,). A. Murdoch) the Engineer of the Greymouth Harbour Board (Mr. D. S. Kennedy), at last evening’s meeting, tabled a report on the question of providing an extra berth for the larger type of ship to lie at after completion of loading, in which he submitted an opinion unfavourable to the proposition. His report, which was adopted, was as follows: — “The question falls under two headings: (a) Provision of a suitable berth at the lower end of the wharf; (b) provision of a suitable berth above the timber berth. Dealing with (a): At the present time ships, having completed loading and awaiting suitable sailing conditions, are at times dropped down to this lower berth, which has a suitable depth, and swinging room. The greatest drawbacks to this, however, is that usually a ship going to this berth has to drop back astern outside other ships loading at the coal berths, and this entails a risk that ship masters do not like. As lor making this an extra loading berth, the Railway Department, in a report dated October 13, 1936, have already indicated their objections. For the Board this would mean extra crane tracks and hydraulic pipe lines if the cranes were required to serve this berth, and probably a shifting of the main leading green beacons ahead to give better visibility from the bar,, with a ship lying at this berth. This latter cost would be considerable, as the timber in the existing beacons has considerably deteriorated and could only be used in part again. The Marine Department and Railway Department would have to.be consulted on such a change, I think the existing arrangements, though not ideal, help to relieve the berthage position on the few occasions that such have been required. “Dealing with (b): It seems that an attempt was made some years ago to provide a deep water berth and swinging depths at the top end of the wharf, but proved unsuccessful owing to the constant shoaling of this portion, and thus consequent heavy dredging costs. This shoaling is bound up" with the deterioration of half-tide training walls below Cobden Bridge. It will be realised that maintenance of deep water is a function of a river training system and proposals were before the Board many years ago to extend the walls above Cobden Bridge to assist the maintenance of suitable depths. The mooring pile system in this portion of the wharf is only suitable at present for the smaller class of trading vessels and would require much strengthening and additions to bring it up to the standard of, say, the coal berths. As for a loading berth, the railway system would entail considerable alterations to serve the larger ships, and crane rails are out of the question over this portion, owing to the spacing of the railway tracks. While such could be done, there would be a considerable cost, attached to an alteration of this kind with problematical benefit.”.