New, long reach for Moresby Chief

Moresby Chief

Moresby Chief, flagship of the Papua New Guinea Mainport Liner Service, recently carried I a record load of timber from PNG ports to Darwin in the Northern Territory of Aust

[ ralia.

The load of more than 2400 I cubic metres of sawn timber I and plywood was taken on at Kupiano, Lae and Vanimo dur ing a routine coastal voyage, I which also took in Port Moresby, Madang and Wewak.

Shipping officials said the oper . ation demonstrated a remark able versatility from the ship, one of a series of newer vessels now changing the whole nature of PNG coastal and overseas services.

The ship is the largest ever to come alongside for loading in Kupiano and Vanimo. Because accurate information about the approaches was not available, the shipping line used its own officers to make navigation sur veys in Kupiano and Vanimo before attempting to berth in these ports.

The Darwin service is con sidered as an extension of the PNG coastal liner service, and was established just over a year ago. In that time timber loads to Darwin have risen almost threefold from an initial con signment of 880 cubic metres.

There are prospects of develop ing PNG exports on the route, possibly including beer, pipes, coffee and tea.

Interest in the link was in creased recently following a visit to PNG by a trade mission from Northern Territory. In its report the trade mission said: ‘The efforts of the PNG Ship ping Corporation to establish a regular service to Darwin jus tify the fullest possible support of all concerned at the North ern Territory end. There are prospects for greatly increased cargoes in the longer term and possibly some significant im provement immediately. Mem bers of the mission were im pressed, even inspired, by the enthusiastic and businesslike approach of the company’s officials at all levels.’

Tokerau to

Funafuti

A new shipping run for the Cook Islands freighter Tokerau which is expected to bring the country extra overseas revenue has been announced by John Dam, a shareholder in the vessel.

The Tokerau will sail to Funafuti, Tuvalu, calling at Wallis and Futuna on the way.

Mr Dam said that Funafuti suffers from a chronic lack of shipping services, which would be eased by the Tokerau 's calls.

Plans were that the three ports would be visited every five to six weeks.

Ultra-modern

ship for Fiji

A 30m resource assessment and development vessel, the last part of a 5F2.5 million Japanese aid package to Fiji, has arrived in Suva.

The fibreglass Tui ni Wasahula (‘King of the High Seas’) was built by the Yamaha shipbuilding company at a cost of more than $4OO 000.

Its laboratory contains com puterised equipment which, it is hoped, will increase under standing of the behaviour and migratory patterns of tuna. It should also be of assistance in locating schools of tuna and identifying other marine re sources.

Other aspects of its functions

Top: Waterfront scene at Aviatu Harbour, Rarotonga, with one of the new barges (see story P7l) slipped for repairs. Above: New Zealander Ross Hunter at the Rarotonga workshops which he established. Construction of two new barges is in progress there.

Below: Moresby Chief, flagship of the Papua New Guinea Main port Liner Service.