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The New Zealand Company of Master Mariners Inc

Company Bulletin - APRIL 2021

This Bulletin is published bi-monthly on even-numbered months to keep members updated with items of general company news. A copy is emailed directly from the Company to each member for whom the Company holds an email address. Hard-copies are not distributed by the Company but may be available through Branch Secretaries.

Detailed items of news are published in the Company Website www.mastermariners.org.nz and the Tauranga Branch newsletter which is circulated widely.

We welcome your contribution - Deadline is 5th of even numbered months. Please forward news to the General Secretary.

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

We are pleased to welcome into membership Captain Bruce Seaman - Auckland Branch - Welcome Aboard!
Captain Michael Millar has transferred to the Auckland Branch.

We regret to record the deaths of Captain Bruce Galer (Christchurch Branch) and Captain Alister Forbes (Auckland), and Life Member (Wellington Branch) Captain Nic Campbell. Nic's funeral is on April 12th, 11am at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Levin.

We offer sincere condolences to Captain Gavin Dennison (Tauranga newsletter editor) on the death of wife Jill. Jill was a staunch supporter of the Company and wished to be remembered to all members. During the war she was sent from Glasgow to Aberdeen for safety and resided with her grandfather who owned a Tug and Barge Company. The company managed the Empire Jane for the government and Jill was a frequent visitor to it at their wharf. After the war Union Steamship purchased the ship and named her Taioma, consequently, Jill was able to board it again and relive her former memories. Jill has requested that her ashes be scattered over the Taioma's resting place in the Bay of Plenty close to Tauranga.

We send our best wishes to Wellington Branch Treasurer Cor Van Kesteren as he recovers from a heart attack which he experienced whilst on holiday in Paihia.

(L) The late Jill Dennison
(R) Bruce Seaman receives his membership certificate from Warden Chris Barradale

Membership as at 1 April 2021:
   AUCKLAND 87
   CHRISTCHURCH 23
   TAURANGA 22
   WELLINGTON 52
   TOTAL    184

Please ensure that any changes of contact details (address, email etc) are advised to your Branch Secretary - preferably by email with CC to the General Secretary.

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BRANCH MEETINGS

Members are welcome at all Branch and Company meetings.
Please contact Branch Secretary for details and to RSVP.

Auckland Branch - Meets at the Remuera Club, Ohinerau St, Remuera Auckland, 1830 hrs for meeting at 1900. Next planned meetings: 10 June, 7 August (@1200 - Ladies Luncheon), 7 October 2021.
For details of all meetings and events please contact the Branch Secretary.

Christchurch Branch - For details etc please contact the Branch Secretary

Tauranga Branch - Meets at the Mt Maunganui RSA. For details etc please contact the Branch Secretary

Wellington Branch - Meets at the Bolton Hotel, just off The Terrace in the CBD at Noon on the second Wednesday of each month (except January).
14 April - Branch AGM.
11 August - Company AGM

For details, RSVP etc for all these activities, please contact the Branch Secretary.

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NEWS & SNIPPETS

Members are invited to submit news items to the General Secretary for consideration (see note above re deadlines).

NZ Merchant Navy Association, and ANZAC DAY
Ted Ewbank Writes: "I'd like to advise members that, through correspondence with NZMNA Inc as the Master of the Company., I have become the de facto contact for Auckland members of the Association. In this capacity I approached the Auckland Council liaison officer for the coming ANZAC day commemorations at the Auckland War Memorial Museum with a view to confirming "invited guest" status at the 11 pm Civic Service. I had actually requested invited guest status at the Dawn Service last year (ultimately cancelled due to Covid), consistent with the Company's ongoing struggle to be accepted for "service membership" with RSA, the Auckland Branch of which actually makes all decisions relating to the AWMM commemorations, but my request was not granted.

HOWEVER in response to my enquiry on this occasion, the Auckland RSA advised that they were "More than happy to have the Merchant Navy represented at both the ANZAC Dawn Service & the ANZAC Memorial Service." This is, I believe, a major concession from the Auckland RSA. Capt Gerry Wright agreed with pleasure to attend the Dawn Service, considering his previous efforts in this regard, and I nominated myself for the 11am Service. Only 4 'official' wreaths will be laid at the Dawn service, but I shall lay a Flanders Poppy at the Civil service.

Lastly, I would like to encourage AKL members of NZCMM to join NZMNA. I can provide application forms. Also, are there any volunteers to run the AKL branch of NZMNA?"

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Auckland Branch - Lunch Meeting
In a new venture, the Auckland Branch held a luncheon at the Birkenhead RSA on the North Shore for members, guests and partners at the start of March. It was attended by around 40 people. Rev Bill Law, formerly the Branch Chaplain who retired from this position last year, also attended. Bill was presented with a certificate of appreciation for his many years of service to the Branch and to seafarers' welfare.

Top - Auckland Branch - luncheon,
Bottom - Warden Captain Barradale presents certificate to Rev Bill Law.

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Wellington Branch - February Meeting
Branch Secretary Ken Watt reports: A small number of members attended the February meeting after which we boarded a coach for a tour of the port area.

Derek Nind, CEO of CentrePort boarded the bus at the port entrance and proceeded to give both an engaging and informative commentary as we were driven on a route around the port land.

The need for the recovery programme was clearly evident. The number of buildings which have been demolished cleared the way see more easily the effect of the sinkage and uneven deformation of the reclaimed land.

It was clear that the demolitions following the earthquake has necessitated a rethink of where the port's future lies. The optimism and enthusiasm offered by Derek in his narrative certainly led to the feeling that the changes being undertaken would meet the the current perceived demands of the Wellington hinterland.

As always the mix of cargo moving through the Port fluctuates subject to world commodity demand and pricing.

Log shipments and associated business opportunities feature well and have a thirty year horizon. The importation of cars provides an acceptable contribution to income but the future of cruise ships calling at the port is much more problematic. If this industry does take off in 2022, as is possible, these ships will be berthed at an elderly refurbished shed towards the north end of Aotea Quay.

Container operations have been much more challenging. With only about 150 metres of usable berth being available and the nature of the surface of the back up area, has resulted in the use of straddle carriers being phased out.

Through-puts are slowly recovering and it is hoped that the port will enjoy some natural growth volumes. Serious, below ground engineering, piling and refilling were visible at the ends of the container berth.

In summary it appears that it has been the payout of structure and loss of income insurance, (circa. $0.6 billion NZ) which has not only prevented bankruptcy but is allowing CentrePort to resume activities with a clean slate and develop a satisfactory waterfront business suitable for the 21st century.

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106 years' history comes to an end.
The Sailors' Society Auckland completed operations at the end of March and is being wound up.

Established as the British Sailors Society (Auckland) in 1914, the society operated rooms in Sturdee Street close to the premises of the Missions to Seamen (now Mission to Seafarers - MtS), and the Sailors' Home.

In the 1960's when the area was being redeveloped, the society moved to purpose built premises within the port. These were occupied until 1974 when changing circumstances for both societies led to the Sailors' Society moving into partnership in the Auckland International Seafarers centre located in the MtS building which was now in Quay Street. In the early 1980's the catholics joined the partnership.

Over the years the Society - under various names reflecting changing times - employed a number of chaplains for ship-visiting and general seafarers' welfare work. In 2019 the Society employed a full-time chaplain, Rev Aaron Ironside, with funding support from the parent body in the UK. This funding was withdrawn at the end of 2020 and, coupled with an aging and reducing volunteer support-base, the Society elected to wind-up.

Covid restrictions have led to the introduction of a small government subsidy for seafarers' welfare work throughout NZ under a contract administered by the Seafarers' Welfare Board for NZ (SWBNZ). This subsidises the provision of welfare packs for ship-bound crews, mobile WIFI services (in the case of Auckland the POAL generously provide this service), a portion of the chaplains' costs and some part of the other costs.

The Auckland International Seafarers Centre continues its work under the two remaining partners, Mission to Seafarers (Anglican) and Stella Maris (Catholic) who each employ a part time chaplain. Rev Ironside has been employed by the Centre this year, under contract using funds from a Sailors' Society New Zealand (ISSNZ) grant and the SWBNZ subsidy. The Sailors' Society's remaining Auckland assets are being transferred to ISSNZ which retains branches in Dunedin and Bluff. ISSNZ has undertaken to provide such support as it is able to the Auckland International Seafarers Centre going forward.

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Auckland Branch Meeting - April
The Auckland Branch met at the Remuera Club on 8 April. New member Bruce Seaman was welcomed, along with Michael Millar and Jock Austin who had transferred from Wellington and were attending their first Auckland Branch meeting.

The after-dinner speaker was Richard Carvalho, Auckland Port Operations Manager with ISS Mckay. Richard spoke on the complex situation around crew repatriation under Covid restrictions. Richard pointed out some of the problems experienced by ship operators and port agents given unintended consequences around the guidelines for quarantine processes and various exemptions that had been issued.

It was encouraging to hear that crew changes are now happening thanks to co-operation between the shipping industry and Maritime New Zealand. However, sympathy was expressed by the meeting for the agents and others who are enduring angst and confusion and significantly greater workloads for little (if any) additional remuneration in a rapidly changing environment.

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Officers of the Company:

MASTER - Captain Ted Ewbank    ewbank@xtra.co.nz
Warden Auckland    - Captain Chris Barradale    barradale@xtra.co.nz
Warden Christchurch - Captain Darrell Daish ddaish77@gmail.com
Warden Tauranga    - Captain Ken Camp joykensea@xtra.co.nz
Warden Wellington* - Captain Eric Good RNZN (Rtd) ericgood338@gmail.com
Hon General Secretary - Cdr Larry Robbins RNZN (Rtd) l@rryrobbins.com

* Master Designate

Branch Secretaries:
Auckland - Captain John Frankland    jrfrankland@xtra.co.nz
Christchurch - Captain Geoff Swallow gjandvs@xtra.co.nz
Tauranga - Captain Gordon Rutherford    ghrpitau@outlook.com
Wellington - Captain Ken Watt wattsnews@nowmail.co.nz

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