VOLUME 25 — OCTOBER 2023
The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND
KOKAKO NEW BUNKER BARGE FOR WELLINGTON
BY PAT HARCUS AB (6591) WELLINGTON BRANCH DELEGATE
On 31 August the first crew of the new Wellington bunker ship Kokako (formerly Destine) met at the Atura Hotel in Thorndon for a seminar and induction prior to joining the vessel. Company officials gave an overall explanation of the operation that Silver Fern Shipping, ASP Shipping and BP wanted to achieve. Firstly, they explained the operation was here for a five year contract with 2 year x 2 year extension. First up the vessel will load 3500 cubes of diesel as the vessel is constrained by its draft to berth at Burnham Wharf as its home berth. The vessel is 6500 tonnes and 92 meters in length. At present they have one contract with Strait Shipping and are looking to build additional clients on top of this,
especially with the oncoming cruise season about to kick off. Kokako will initially only carry diesel till March when they will then receive Low Sulphur Biofuel which is 24% cooking oil. After lunch, officials from Seaview Terminal, Centreport, and other outside support came and explained their part of the venture. Centreport will be providing pilots, tugs and linesman until the Masters acquire their Wellington Harbour exemptions. At this point in time, the vessel will only work in the Wellington Harbour limits, and as time goes on this could also include both Nelson and Lyttelton ports. The crew numbers are Master, Mate, Second Mate, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, 3 AB’s one being the cook but who assists in tie ups, let goes and bunkering duties. Note MLC inspector queried the AB cook status and came back next day and informed us that 9 crew or over on vessel would require a cook.
Once Master’s get the Pilot exemptions it is planned the vessel will be self-reliant on itself tying up and letting go. At present a specialised gangway is getting fabricated so the vessel can be alongside at Burnham wharf and gangway deployed (weather permitting) and an AB would go ashore to take the lines. As Wellington wind all lines will be bitts at this stage. The Destine arrived in Wellington from Singapore at 0930 on Saturday 2 September. Crew went on board for a look around at 1400, then went back to the hotel, and we returned the following day for more familiarising as the Indonesian delivery crew were still on board. We went to Briscoes to purchase new linen for first crew and all sorts of new galley utensils. New mattresses had been ordered also. Continued on following page