| Meeting Report September 2008 |
| At our September meeting we were plesed to welcome back Peter and Christine Ives following their latest visit to Australia and Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year period 2007 / 2008. The first half of the evening featured movie images of ships entering and leaving the port of Newcastle NSW. Newcastle is the largest coal export harbour in the world, exporting 80.2 million tonnes of coal worth A$5.3 billion in 2005-2006. Peter�s pictures were mostly of bulk carriers about 50,000 grt or below and a good selection of tugs. These pictures were mainly taken from the road leading to Nobby�s Point not far from where PASHA BULKER grounded in June 2007. At this port the pilot is flown in and picked up by helicopter. Peter then moved North to Townsville in Queensland. Townsville is a holiday destination but is also a processing and refining centre for this mineral rich area of northeast Australia. This port handles exports of Meat, Molasses, Zinc, Copper, fertiliser, bulk sugar and logs. Lead-silver bullion mined at Mount Isa and partly processed near Townsville is sent to MIM's Northfleet (UK) plant for subsequent refining. Large quantities of nickel / cobalt ore mined in New Caledonia, Indonesia and the Philippines are imported to feed the large nickel refinery in Townsville. Also shown was HMAS TOWNSVILLE, the last of the Fremantle class patrol boats gifted to the City of Townsville by the government for use in the local maritime museum. Following the break we were shown the port of Surabaya, which is Indonesia�s second largest city, and the capital of the province of East Java. It is located on the northern shore at the mouth of the Mas River. The island of Madura is a short ferry trip across the Madura Strait from Surbaya. This stretch of water is teeming with ships, mainly small coasters but some larger ferries. The majority were anchored presumably waiting a berth or a slot in the local shipyards. Spotted was a familiar channel ferry under Indonesian colours. Most of the Ferries sported slogans in the vein of �I love Indonesia�. The coasters carried their own crane and were obviously visitors to many a port or wharf without any gear. Our last shots of Surbaya was the old dock with many traditional wooden ships lying two or more against the quay. Cargo was being loaded and discharged by hand or by onboard cranes. Our thanks to Peter and Christine for once again journeying to Essex and showing us the shipping delights of their foreign travels |