Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-22
Blocked Suez
Booms Traffic
In Cape Harbor
BY JAMES NJ. QUIGLEY
North American Newspaper Alliance

MOTH American NbWSphpeI AllHnco
CAPETOWN, South Africa,
Nov. 22.-Blocking of the Suez
Canal has made the waters
around the Cape of Good Hope
look like Route 66 and has given
the lovely harbor of Capetown
the appearance Of Grand Cen
trail Station.
AS the Cape route becomes the
lifeline of worldwide shipping,
this city is preparing for the
greatest shipping rush in its
history. The Union of South
Africa has been alerted to expect
at least IA rerouted ships before
November 90.
Demands for supplies, food
stuffs and oil in order to take
care of the armadas which are
streaming into port prompts the
city to dust off its old title as the
Tavern of the Seas"
From the moment that Col.
Nasser nationalized the canal in
July, the port cities of the Union
have been preparing for a traffic
increase. The original gentle
trickle shortly will reach torrent
proportions.
IS Expected Daily
Latest calculations reveal that
about As ocean going ships will
head around the Cape daily
when the Suez diversion rush
reaches its peak. Nearly every
hour Of the day and night while
the canal is closed, a different
ship will come into sight Of
Signal Hill.
Typical of those to dock 50
far at a Union port was the
Cambodge, returning from Indo-
China with 200 French troops.
She was 80 miles from Suez
November ! when she was in
structed to proceed via the Cape.
Already the increase in traf-
fic has resulted in a marked
increase in food prices for the
local consumer as well as for
the ship purser. Farmers and
dairymen are in great demand
and they're making money.
While the local housewife
may moan bit about additional
costs. her concern is about
loose pocket change" in the
eyes of shipowners. 1t is esti-
mated that it costs $1,000
more to send a cargo ship from
Britain to the Far East and
back via the Cape instead Of
through the Suez Canal.
This figure is based on H.
000-tonner carrying only cargo
with no passengers. The figure
is a rough guide on average
figures, for it makes no attempt
to take into consideration such
factors as a ships age or its
method of propulsion.
Port Capacity Problem
Another serious problem Isl
port capacity. A harbor can
reach saturation point Cape
town is arranging a round-the-
clock service for ships and pi-
lots to insure, as far as possible.
minimum delay. but port officials
are keeping their fingers crossed.
1t is felt in some circles that
unless emergency arrangements
are made permitting some of
the larger ships and tankers to-
bypass the Union, a traffic tieupI
is likely to ensue.
Overflow traffic will be divert
ed into Port Elizabeth and East
London, with Durham carrying
the bulk of the load along with
Capetown. The two smaller
ports operate at close to ca
pacity with the normal pre-SuezI
traffic they have.
A government-sponsored ship
ping traffic control has been set
up. 1t will operate out Of Cape
town linked, like a control tow
er, TO Durham. Port Elizabeth
and East London.
In all the concern, there is
one bright factor. The shipping
load will not be as heavy as III
might have been. The whalersI
Will not be putting into Union
ports this season, as they are
expected to stock up in South
American ports.