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20th July 1973, Page 42
20th July 1973
Page 42
Page 42, 20th July 1973 — european scene
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Bill Godwin Ro-ro relief to Continental roads

The original concept of operating roll-on/roll-off services primarily to provide a short sea route between ports has given way to a new operating philosophy offering an alternative to using the crowded roads of the Continent.

Ro-ro links between Rouen and Le Havre and Scandinavia which also eliminate three to four international frontier crossings.

The introduction of additional ro-ro services has enabled some manufacturers to take advantage of the easier availability of labour in certain countries outside continental Europe by establishing assembly plants supplied by truck routes which are then used to return manufactured goods to the Continent.

Growing activity by German industry in North Africa is strongly supported by a surface and ro-ro link, with point-to-point times well below those of conventional shipping routes. Lower labour costs have attracted Dutch clothing manufacturers to Malta, and the combined efforts of a consortium of Netherlands hauliers have now resulted in the opening of a new lorry route for hanging garments between the island and the Continent.

ZIM Shipping, of Israel has acquired the first of a fleet of semi-trailers for a new ro-ro service between Israel and Trieste whence the trailers are taken to destinations in Austria and Southern Germany.

Another sphere in which ro-ro traffic may show promise is in domestic use in Sweden where clouds on the political horizon threaten such impositions as weekend restrictions. Market research by Nike Line Shipping indicates the possibility of a marked return to coastal shipping of the prewar pattern when practically every Swedish port was linked by general cargo vessels.

To extend the ro-ro principle to indivisible loads on an international basis, the ms Starman being built at a Lowestoft yard for joint operation by Blue Star Line Ltd, of London, and a German company has bow and stern loading ramps suitable for a gtw of up to 1000 tons, It will be able to enter shallow water and to discharge or to pick up heavy lift trailers directly from shore,

°German LDoY

Largely inspired by the successful organization of the British LDoY event the German professional lorry drivers' association, BDBK is arranging a similar contest with the final round to be held in the spring of 1974.

Practical tests in eliminating rounds will include a driving session on a vehicle of a type not normally handled by the contestant, the detection and rectification of small faults "built in" to the test vehicle and an examination on technical know-how of modern commercial vehicle practice.

There are no entry fees for the event sponsored by a major tyre company and held under the patronage of the BDF, the German long-distance hauliers' association.

Bunch breaker

A new detection and warning system to prevent the formation of close columns of high-speed traffic was introduced last week on the Rotterdam — Breda road (E10). The new installation monitors the traffic density, vehicle speed and distance between following vehicles and automatically signals advisory speed limits to stop bunching with the risk of end-on collisions. Computercontrolled speed signals vary from 20 mph to 55 mph; if vehicles continue to follow each other too closely the nearest police patrol point is automatically alarmed.

El Branching out

Although the Neoplan bus plant in Stuttgart was only recently extended to increase production capacity to 400-450 vehicles a year, shortage of skilled labour is beginning to affect delivery dates. However, a branch works is now nearing completion in Lower Bavaria where a different employment pattern has enabled the recruitment of an initial labour force of 130. The new branch will share production of complete vehicles with the Stuttgart works.

LINew midi psv

Deliveries now in progress of the Magirus Deutz 120 R 80 midicoach follow one of the longest gestation periods in European psv development. Exhibited as a prototype "feeler" at the Frankfurt Show of 1969 the concept preceded the emergence of the now-established demand for vehicles of this size by at least two years.

Based on a separate channel-section chassis with welded cross-members, so that it can be used for other makers' bodywork, the Magirus Deutz 120 R 80 is currently supplied by the Mainz works of KHD as a fully built-up bus or coach seating up to 29 passengers, With an overall length of 24ft 3fin. (7.4m) the vehicle is powered by a rear-mounted transverse F 6 L '912 air-cooled 5.65-litre in-line diesel engine developing 120 bhp at 2800 rpm. The ZF S 530 five-speed transmission is hydraulically operated by remote control.

The steel-framed body, integrated with the chassis members, is distinguished by wide fixed windows on each side. Fresh-air ventilation is by a system of ducting with intakes above the windscreen, two electric roof fans and glazed, adjustable roof lights. Power-operated outrigger doors are optional. Gross vehicle weight in coach trim is 7900kg.

Another contestant for this slice of the market is the new Steyr-Ikarus midicoach. Of similar design to the Magirus Deutz vehicle the Austro-Hungarian vehicle had its first public presentation at the Nice Rally and is currently being evaluated by a number of European operators.

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