Stormy Start for North Sea Ferries
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THE inaugural voyage of the new North Sea Ferries' Hull-Rotterdam (Europoort) roll on/roll off ferry " Norwave " on Friday not only opened up a new, short route to the Continent from the North and Midlands, but served as an unexpected lesson for both the ferry company and the road operators whose vehicles took part in the exercise.
The vessel—unique so far as British ferries are concerned because it carries heavy vehicles on two deck levels—was given an impressive send-off by local hauliers, MPs and City dignitaries when she left the partially completed £1.4m. installations at King George Dock. Due to the rigid enforcement of regulations by Customs officials, however, several semi-trailers whose documents were held up in the Christmas mails were not allowed to embark—to the surprise of the many journalists who were on board for the maiden voyage. It was felt that special dispensation could have been given in the circumstances. Severe weather during the night run, brought about by a force 10 gale, made for a late and difficult arrival at Europoort. So violent was the motion that several trailers broke free of their shackles and shifted, while others had jumped their scotches. Fortunately damage was only nominal.
After inaugural ceremonies at Europoort, in which the Dutch Minister of Transport took part, the " Norwave " left Holland with returning British trailers, those of several Dutch operators and many containers mounted on the specially designed Boden trailers, 30 of which will eventually be used on the service.
The return journey was even worse than the outward run (indeed, Mr. Jan Churcher, general manager of the company, said that normally the vessel would not have sailed in such conditions, but it was decided to carry on in view of the many journalists on board). So severe was the pitching and rolling that eventually the vessel was forced to heaveto for four hours.
Fortunately, lessons learned on the outward run having been put into practice so far as lashing and securing of trailers was concerned led to minimal damage to the vehicles. Not so lucky was the owner of a container which, obviously loosely loaded with heavy steel castings, became unshipped from its slave because of the movement inside the container. It was noticeable that while the few empty trailers on board had hardly moved, those with loads had—an indication that great care must be taken by hauliers in securing loads.
Apart from the snags caused by the extreme bad weather there was nothing but praise for the service, which sets out to meet the haulier first and foremost. Until the " Norwave " is joined by her sistership " Norwind " (still completing) there will be a three-times-weekly service from Hull on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, returning from Rotterdam on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Departure time from each port is 6 p.m., arriving 8 am, the following day. Operators wishing to use the service should contact the UK Manager, Mr. J. L. A. Bowles, at Hull 74106.
N.H.T.
MI WATFORD GAP— CHRISTMAS CLOSING DRIVERS intending to use M1 over the Christmas holiday period should note that the Blue Boar (Motorway) Service Area at Watford Gap will be closed for part of the week-end.
The catering department will be completely closed from 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve to 9 am. on Sunday, December 26. A limited catering service will operate over Sunday until 7 a.m. on Monday, December 27, when the full catering facilities will be restored.
The petrol service station will close at noon on Christmas Day and re-open at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
TIR Security Rules for Swiss Drivers
ASPECIAL letter has been issued by TAG, the Swiss road haulage association, urging all its members to instruct drivers in the security procedure to be followed for TIR carnets. TAG highlights four security precautions:
1. Before leaving his depot, the driver should check that the goods actually loaded correspond with those listed on the TIR manifest.
2. At the destination, the driver should take care that the goods are taken in charge by a reputable agent or the accredited representative acting on behalf of the consignee and competent to give a guarantee as to the absolute discharge of the carnet. Where there is any doubt on the driver's part regarding the bona fidesof a person purporting to be the consignee's agent or representative, he should not hesitate to place the goods under the control of the Customs authorities .
3. Drivers should not hand over carnets for discharge unless they are fully satisfied that the discharge will be carried out in the proper manner by genuine Customs officials.
4. Customs' seals should be broken only in the presence of the driver and a person who can produce evidence to show that he is a duly authorized Customs officer.
The attention of members of TAG is drawn to the marked increase in smuggling in relation to the international transport of goods by road to Italy. References are made to the use of stolen and forged carnets for smuggling cigarettes, butter, coffee and other dutiable commodities into Italy.
Bogus Officials In certain cases drivers have been persuaded to hand over their carnets for discharge to bogus Customs officials or to smugglers masquerading as agents for the consign&. In other cases, drivers were directed by bogus officials to remote places where the loads were removed,
The problem is aggravated to a certain extent by the fact that in Italy Customs officials are not always in. uniform.
By issuing these special instructions, TAG is following the recommendations of IRU made at the October meetings of Section II and the Council of Direction in Geneva.
All member associations have been requested to ensure that hauliers in the TIR scheme take immediate steps to tighten up their security measures in relation to TIR, and issue suitable directions to their drivers.
It may, therefore, be expected that the RHA will be issuing guidance to those of its members who operate under TIR and send their drivers across to the Continent.
Turner's Double on AEC: Turner's Transport (Soham) Ltd., Cambridgeshire, who recently placed an order for 50 AEC Mercury 25-ton g.t.w. tractive units—the first of this make to join the fleet—have ordered another 50 AECs. Of these, 30 will be Mandator 32-ton tractive units with Ergomatic cabs, whilst 10 will be 6 x 4 and the remainder 6 x 2 Marshal rigids, also fitted with Ergomatic cabs.
MEW Dodge lorries with bodies 1 11 built by Lincoln Commercials Ltd. are now being operated by Midwest Turkeys Ltd., of Craven Arms, Shropshire, for the transport of live birds from growers' farms to the packing station.
There are fiveand six-tier versions of the containers whose design is claimed to represent an important advance on carrying methods in general use.
Because of the large amount of water used in washing down after every load, the container floor is of one-piece chassisply; the framework is of hardwood. Brass screws are used throughout.
Cages are separated by the use of galvanized expanded metal wire and on the rear of each cage floor chassisply is used for the first 6 in. to prevent dirt being washed into the centre gangway.
One-piece chassisply is again used for cage doors, with one door for every two cages, Sliding arms are fitted to the underside of the lorry platform and when these are nulled out and the doors
dropped on to the slide, a convenient loading platform is formed. Higher on the sides of, the container staples are used with special brackets on which the driver can place an 8-in. or 9-in.' plank to make a loading platform for all cages up to the top tier.
Lincoln Commercials state that all timber was treated with CuprinoI before painting and that their choice of chassisply was not only for water resistance but also to reduce weight.
The transport fleet at Craven Arms has also been increased by the recent addition of six Albions for delivery of quickfrozen Chukie chickens and Midwest turkeys throughout England and Wales. Five are Super Reivers with platform bodies and 1,137 Cu. ft. insulated containers and the other is a Chieftain Super Six with 738 cu. ft. Thermo-Kingrefrigerated body. J. H. Sparshatt (Portsmouth) Ltd. were the bodybuilders.