Preston-Larne Ferry Link May be Maintained by Coasters
Page 39
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ALTHOUGH the five 4,291-ton converted tank-landing craft used by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., on the Preston-Larne ferry have been chartered by the Government (for possible use in the
Middle East) the company are striving to maintain traffic by obtaining coasters. These can carry containers and trailers.
Two vessels employed on the Tilbury-Antwerp service have also been requisitioned.
The Preston-Larne vessels carried about 1,000 vehicles a week. At present they are being fitted out, a process which may occupy two to three weeks, and a similar period may elapse when they are eventually released by the Government and reconverted.
First intimation, at the beginning of last week, that the ships were under notice of withdrawal had a strong reaction among operators using the service. British Road Services ordered the non-acceptance of goods for the ferry, but this instruction was countermanded within 24 hours when it was clear that the service had not been stopped immediately and the craft would operate until the end of the week.
B.R.S. were the biggest single users of the ferry, 25 per cent. of the traffic being theirs. From 80-100 tons of goods were consigned weekly from London, but this dwindled to nil because of customers' reluctance to risk delays to consignments. B.R.S. ate sending trailers by the railways' Stranraer-Larne service and containers on the Fleetwood-Belfast route.
Additional services from .Stranraer and Fleetwood started last Sunday. All traffic offered has been shipped and the railways are confident of fulfilling demands.
Evan Cook's Packers, Ltd., Peckham, London', who sent a 1,600-cu.-ft vehicle
daily from Preston to Larne, have advised customers that they will endeavour to find alternative routes for the traffic and that, for the time being, no extra cost will be involved. Previously the delivery of goods took only three days, but the use of other services may not be as quick.
Curtailment of the Preston-Larne facility has seriously hit Pye, Ltd., who operated seven special semi-trailers and four tractors between their factories at Cambridge and Larne. They may use the route via Stranraer.
Routes from Preston of AngloContinental Container Services, Ltd., are unaffected. These arc worked by Dutch vessels and only containers are carried. Many inquiries have been received by the company.
Development of the Preston-Dublin route by Atlantic Steam Navigation has been postponed. B.R.S. had applied to the North Western Licensing Authority for 20 10-ton articulated vehicles to use on the service (The Commercial Motor, July 27).
Some consignors were considering chartering aircraft to take urgent loads across the Irish Sea. Skyways, Ltd., were prepared to handle a minimum of 25 tons a day, using York 8-ton aircraft. The cost of chartering such an aircraft between Blackpool and Belfast for a minimum of six return flights is £185 per return journey.
Haulage Back-pay Test Case
A RECOMMENDATION of the r-t National Joint Industrial Council for the road haulage industry that hauliers should put into effect from February 21, 1955, a 10s. wage increase, which took statutory effect only on May 9, 1955, is to be tested before the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, in London, on September 11.
The respondent is Mr. J. R. Adams, St. Thomas' Garage, Back Union Road, Newcastle upOn Tyne, He is one of about a dozen hauliers who refused to accept the Council's recommendation that the increase should be paid for that period.
The other employers affected operate from Milnethorpe, Arnside, Beccles, Norwich, Lowestoft, Southwold, Stowmarket, Ipswich and Barrow-in-Furness.