End Of The Run

Near For Bp

Passenger Ships

After having provided a pas senger service between Australia and the Islands for more than 80 years, Burns Philp & Co. Ltd.

has adopted a policy of disposing

of its passenger ships and con centrating on cargo services.

THE company’s chairman, Mr. James Burns, said this at the company’s annual meeting in Sydney on August 20.

He also said that the ageing Malaita and Bulolo, both of which are well known in New Guinea, would be sold.

The Malaita looks as though it will be the first to disappear as a replacement is under construction.

Reviewing the company’s shipping activities, Mr. Burns said: “A few years ago, we were the only shipping company running regular services to all main ports in

Png.

“But, unfortunately, that day has now passed and there are many overseas vessels calling in at island ports, especially New Guinea, to and from their voyages to the East.

"Congestion"

“In fact, at the main New Guinea ports like Port Moresby, Rabaul and Lae, there is a regular congestion of ships, and very limited accom modation so that at times there are long delays before our vessels can get alongside to complete discharge.

“Considering the Australian rates of wages, with overtime and double overtime for working on Saturdays and Sundays, it becomes very ex pensive, especially as notwithstand ing this high overtime, crews of our ships have to be given additional holidays when they arrive at their main port for every Saturday and Sunday they have spent at sea.”

A BP spokesman told PIM the day after the annual meeting that it could be another four or five years before the Malaita and Bulolo were disposed of.

Both had recently undergone their Lloyd’s survey, which was good for four years.

“Of course if someone comes along and offers us half a million for the Bulolo and quarter of a million for the. Malaita I think we would sell,” he added.