Shipment From Turkey Of Salt for Japan

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 150, 28 June 1938, Page 8

Shipment From Turkey Of Salt for Japan

AN UNUSUAL CHARTER AUCKLAND, June 27. One of the most unusual charters undertaken by a ship visiting Auckland was recently carried out by the Bank Line steamer Deebank, which arrived yesterday morning with a phosphate cargo from Nauru Island. The Deebank reached Nauru from Japan after taking a cargo of salt from Turkey to Japanese ports. With China, her chief source of supply for salt, not exporting to Japan, Turkey has recently been called upon for salt cargoes and the Deebank was one of the early vessels to load a shipment. A full cargo of bulk salt was taken from Tschmalti, a port seven miles from Smyrna, for discharge at Yokohama, Hososhima and Osaka. Hososhima is a closed port to merchant shipping and tho Deebank was given entrance only after a number of special permits had been obtained. Because of fortifications in the port it is a rarity for any cargo vessel to enter Hososhima, and, although permission was given the Deebank, a time limit was set on her stay there. Ten days were allowed from the time she cleared Yokohama, the period including two days’ steaming, and work was completed at Hososhima within a few minutes of expiration of the permit. ’ After completing discharge in Japan, the Deebank proceeded to the coaling port of Aliike to bunker before leaving for Nauru Island and Auckland.