OIL ESCAPES FROM SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 11

OIL ESCAPES FROM SHIPS.

TWO AGENT FIRMS FINED. HARBOUR BOARD PROSECUTIONS. Fines of £SO and £25 were imposed by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday on two defendants prosecuted by the Auckland Harbour Board under (he Oil in Territorial Waters Act. The proceedings were against the Shell Company of Now Zealand, Ltd.. and Henderson and Macfarlane, Ltd., tho offences being admitted. In the charge brought against the Shell Company for the discharge of oil in the harbour, Captain H. H. Sergeant, harbourmaster, stated that tho vessel involved was tho Andrea, a Norwegian ship. It was noticed that oil was escaping at six points beneath tho surface when the Andrea was brought alongside Western Wharf on February 6. A number of men had to be employed by the board to collect tho oil, the expense of £l6 incurred in this way being paid by the company. Cross-examined by the solicitor representing tho company, Captain Sergeant said annoyance had been caused by tho indifferent attitude of those on board the vessel, but tho company had given every assistance. Mr. Hunt imposed a fine of £SO. Ho remarked that the Andrea appeared to bo ill-found in that it was leaking in six places. The prosecution stated in tho caso against Henderson and Macfarlane, Ltd., that oil had escaped from tho Danish vessel Astoria, which berthed at Western Wharf on January 26. The discharge was tho result of a mistake, about 50 gallons of oil being forced out of tho .scuppers when a quantity was pumped into a full tank. It was fuel oil, not of tlie kind which affected small craft in tho harbour 011 a previous occasion. Captain Sergeant said that a Danish officer on the vessel evidently could not speak good English. When 110 had called out "Wait," those on the wharf thought ho said "Right," and mom oil was pumped. Tho solicitor for the company said the offence was due to a misunderstanding, but the magistrate, in imposing a fine of £25, said that masters of vessels should exercise the utmost care, although the present case was not bad.