AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD TO PURCHASE NEW FLOATING DOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 July 1950, Page 6

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD TO PURCHASE NEW FLOATING DOCK

AUCKLAND, Last Night (P.A.)— The Auckland Harbour Board is considering purchasing a floating dock overseas and its engineer, Mr. N. L. Vickerman, has already begun inquiries. This was announced at the board meeting when it was stated that the dock was planned as a temporary measure to tide the port over difficulties tor the next “ten years or so’’ until additional permanent dockinghad been provided at the proposed upper harbour scheme. The announcement followed a request from the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation for additional facilities. The federation stated that increasing use of the Calliope Dock by the Navy was making the docking of merchant shipping difficult. It understood the Navy was occupying the dock for about half of each year. “We cannot stress too greatly the importance of an immediate inquiry for floating docks, which are now available in other parts of the world,” stated the federation. "The matter is one of urgency.’’ The board decided to inform the federation that discussions on additional docking had already been held with the Minister of Marine, Mr. Goosman, and his Department, and that Mr. Vickerman was inquiring overseas about a floating dock. > Mr. W. F. McCallum, chairman of the board, stated that the Auckland ! floating dock would not be as large 'as that at Wellington, which had a capacity of 17,000 tons, but it would be large enough to accommodate inter-colonial and coastal ships of up to 7500 tons and naval frigates.