Shipping News

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 22

Shipping News

Spillage exercise had realism

A realistic chemical spillage: ; exercise at Lyttelton recently ' nearly caused some problems,; I according to a debriefing on the; , exercise reported this week. The Lyttelton harbourmaster; I (Captain J. A. Barbour) told Lyttelton Harbour Board members that he arranged the exercise, and then went on holiday. j “I did this to ensure that all ; staff members coping with extra responsibilities during the period could handle things just the same—and they certainly j did.” he said ; The only problem, the harbour-; master said, was that some tug I crew members had to be re-; 1 assured that it was only an exer-. I else when they were directed j from the scene. The simulated chemical spillage I I was done on the chemical tanker! ! Champion Post at the oil wharf, i ! The ship discharged methanol | i and sounded emergency signals' i indicating a chemical spillage. Christchurch firemen joined the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade, and the ship’s monitors turned on vast spraying areas. The port’s emergency precautions were brought into action, and the tug Canterbury sprayed the affected area from the ship’s side. A ship’s officer immediately brought a satchel ashore with particulars about the vessel’s stability, the position of her storage tanks, and emergency! equipment on board. Captain Barbour said that! ; while the chemical tankers con-! I tained some “pretty awful pro-1 duets” the ships’ crews were! highly trained. One nroblem was that • some, companies used different names for chemicals, and international motes were being made to! standardise the naming system. Captain Barbour said tliat a: Nuclear Energy Commission code described procedures for handling nuclear spills, and pro-’ . tective clothing would he available. j The code covered all likely

si malfunctions associated with nuclear reactors. .! One board member. Sir Robj|ert Macfarlane. said: “I take it j that we still do not anticipate •'a visit by a nuclear ship.*’ ARRIVALS »' Messiniaki Idea <9.28 a.mJ, J 17.718. tanker. Melbourne, (apt. 1 A. Palladas iU.S.S.i. DEPARTURES Westmorland <3 p.m-•. 8230 Biuff. (apt. J. Weston (Scales). Nedlloyd Amsterdam (5 p.m.'. ; 7787. Wellington, ( apt. P. Cox ■ ' (Guthreysb I EXPECTED ARRIVALS i H.M.A.S. Jervis Bay. from sea, today, ’! Olympic Dream, tanker, Gee-' long. April 8. !, Khudozhnik Deyneka, from sea, ' April 9 . Coastal Trader, Auckland, April 1 9. ’ Sinaia, from sea. April 10. 1 Union Hobart, Wellington, April 10. ‘ Coastal Trader, Dunedin, April ’ 11. Holmdale, Chatham Islands. 1 April 11. Hankasawicka, Wellington, April 11. 1 Union Hobart, Dunedin, April 12. PROJECTED DEPARTURES ; Star Madonna. Gladstone, today. I Messiniaki Idea. Wellington, to- ■ day. ,| Olympic Dream. Auckland, April 9. Coastal Trader. Dunedin. April 9. J Union Hobart. Dunedin. April 10. J H.M.A.S Jervis Bay, for sea. J April 10. jCoastal Trader, Auckland, April :! H. J Union Hobart. Wellington, April ’I 12 VESSELS IN PORT Star Madonna. No. 2 East 'H.M.A.S. Jervis Bay, No. 4 West.