Ship Owners’ Concern At Port Delays

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 16

Ship Owners’ Concern At Port Delays

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 16. Delays to overseas shipping at New Zealand ports since November have cost the owners at least £500,000. Several delays have had the effect of requiring the provision of two more refrigerated ships than are necessary with a capital cost of £sm. The Overseas Shipowners’ Committee quoted these figures to the Wellington Harbour Board in a letter dated April 27 and released for publication tonight. A reply was received dated May 5 which said: “Doubtless you will agree that the questions raised are, in addition to local conditions, of a national character, and to this end the matter is being taken up through the Harbours’ Association of New Zealand from whom you may expect to hear in due course, with inclusion of specific reference to the Port of Wellington.”

The chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board <Mr B. E. Keiller), telephoned tonight at Palmerston North, said: “I have not seen the correspondence and I am not prepared to comment.” The full text of the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee's letter was: — “The lines associated on this committee are extremely concerned at the serious delays their vessels have experienced on the New Zealand coast since November last and are likely to continue to suffer probably for at least another month. "During December 1960March 1961 alone, the delays represented a loss of 383 working days or, in other words, an average of seven days and a half a vessel. Figures are being taken out for the month of April which we are sure will show an even greater average delaj' a vessel than suffered during December-March last. “In the aggregate, the total

delays represent a loss to the lines of probably not less than half a million pounds and also have the effect of requiring the provision of two more refrigerated vessels in the traffic than are necessary—with a capital cost of £5 million. “Inadequate Facilities” “Apart from shortage of labour, these delays in turnround are mainly the result of inadequate port facilities —that is, a shortage of berthage and wharf shed accommodation. coupled with the lack of availability of sufficient suitable mechanical equipment. At Lyttelton there is also the very real shortage of railway trucks and a shortage of shed accommodation at Christchurch. “These delays are a major factor in claims for increased freight which play no small part in the economy of the country. “The lines feel that this matter is well known to your board and apart from the

steps again being taken to relieve the matter at the source by endeavouring to alter the end of the import licensing period from December 31. they feel that they are bound to ask what steps are being taken by your board to cope adequately with the present volume of import and export cargoes.”