Barges, workboats boost

Ships

Barges, workboats boost Cook Islands services

Five barges and two workboats provided under New Zealand’s bilateral aid programme have brought a new dimension to ship and sea-cargo handling in the Cook Islands.

All five barges two for Atiu, two for Mangaia and one for Aitutaki have been built on Rarotonga, main island of the group. The two workboats, which have mainly tug functions, are stationed at Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Sister craft, the Avatiu (Rarotonga) and O-Rongo (Aitutaki) were built in Auckland by Vos and Brijs Ltd and shipped to the Cooks as deck cargo. Their overall length is

9.5 m and they are equipped

with 115 hp diesel engines which provide a speed of 8 1 /? nots - The Avatiu provides an improved tug service for the ships of up to about 300 m in length which call at Rarotonga, in-

eluding unit-load freighters Fetu Moana and Tiare Moana.

They are chartered from the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand to serve the Cook Islands and Niue. The pair also alternate on a fortnightly call at Aitutaki where they anchor in open roadstead. Cargo is lightered between ship and shore on barges towed by the O- Rongo whose engine is turbo charged to provide an extra 30hp for negotiating strong tidal currents in the passage through the reef.

The O-Rongo and her sister also have a search and rescue capability, The steel barge for Aitutaki is 15m long a bigger craft than the steel and wooden barges it is replacing. Unlike the other lighters it has a hold.

It is not self-powered, The other four barges for the outer islands are sister craft 10m long, steel, and powered

with twin 75hp diesel engines.

They carry 9-10 tonnes of cargo.

All five barges were built by Rarotonga Welding and Steel Construction Co Ltd over the past five years, with funding by the bilateral aid programme.

The two Atiu barges were the first to be built.

The firm was established nine years ago by Ross Hunter, formerly of Auckland, who has been living in the Cook Islands for the past 14 years. He employs a staff of 10.

The second Mangaia barge was recently completed and the Aitutaki lighter has already been towed to its destination.

Neville Peat.

PM&O’s new Concord Philippines, Micronesia & Orient Navigation Company (PM&O Lines) has announced

the addition of the MV Con cord to its fleet. The Concord replaces the Jade Bounty and joins the Broadsword in serving the islands of Micronesia.

The Concord has an over-the side gantry crane which permits a more rapid discharge of containers, and enables the handling of cargo such as buses and tractors which cannot be containerised.

The vessel carries a forklift which is put ashore in each port to work in the container yards.

Carrying capacity of the Concord is 352 TEU (20 foot equivalent units). It has a maximum speed of 20 knots, but cruises at 17 knots to conserve fuel.

PM&O operates the only containerised, direct service from the US West Coast and Hawaii to Micronesia.