CONGESTION AT PORT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 12

CONGESTION AT PORT

Bi" Number Of Ships Due

Congestion at Lyttelton is Increasing Heavy rain, which halted all cargo work on the waterfront yesterday except for an hour in the morning, has caused delays in the sailing of several vessels. All labour was cancelled for the day at 5 p.m. except for gangs to load wool aboard the British freighter. Mystic, and refrigerated cargo into the Svdney Star. Both these vessels are bound for Dunkirk and the United Kingdom, although the Svdnev Star will first call at Timaru and Bluff to complete loading.

The position is not quite as serious as it was some weeks ago but ships are arriving at the anchorage and the list of expected arrivals is heavy.

The inter-colonial freighter Komata, from Sydney, berthed yesterday morning but since then there has been a steady build-un at the anchorage. As well as three Union Company freighters the Konini. from Auckland the Waimea, from Dunedin, and the Kaituna, from Nelson, the British cargoliner. Sussex. is now anchored off the heads, after coming from Wellington The Indo-China Steam Navigation Company’s vessel. Eastern Argosy. with cargo from the East, was due to join the anchored fleet last evening.

There is little hope of new berthage space at the weekend unless there is an improvement in the weather Two Japanese vessels, the Kowa Maru and Susei Maru a Norwegian freighter, the S>mara. a British freighter the Galway, and a phosphate vessel from Makatea. the Cane Wrath, are all due to arrive at the anchorage today Two Dutch vessels, the Van Neck and the Friesland, ere also due this week-end. Uoastal vessels due are the Poranui. Mauneanui. Maranui. Motu. and the small inter-colonial trader. Babinda.

The Shaw Savill and Albion n.nssenger liner. Dominion Monarch, the largest regular trader to visit Lyttelton apart from cruise ships is due on Monday, but it is expected that a berth will be made available for her There were at least 250 men required for the waterfront at T.vfteiton yesterday at first, although rei n iossen»<j this Late yesterday afternoon it was thouvt't that some diversions might he necesr>ry hut nothing definite will he known about this until today