web site Europe on strike alert THE European transport industry was braced yesterday for a re-run of last year's road chaos as strike talks between French road-haulage unions and employers went to the brink. FBM Marine wins Red Funnel catamaran order SOUTHAMPTON-based Red Funnel has strengthened its commitment to the fast ferry mode by ordering a 33 m, high-speed catamaran from Isle of Wight builder FBM Marine. Caribbean counts port costs CARIBBEAN countries pay up to three times the world average for transport and insurance as a proportion of the value of sea-borne trade, according to Dr Jan Hoffman of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). UK urged to support shipping BRITAIN'S government must adopt positive policies to bolster employment and investment in shipping, the president of the Chamber of Shipping has argued in a speech. Hanjin terminal hit by problems HANJIN Shipping is still experiencing major problems at its new terminal - following last month's move from its former 59-acre Port of Long Beach facility. Pipavav flags fuel terminal PRIVATELY-owned Gujarat Pipavav Port has proposed the setting up of a petroleum terminal at Pipavav, to help the fuel-starved independent power producers import and store liquid fuel like naphtha and furnace oil, writes Shirish Nadkarni, India Correspondent. Pressure for ANL sale PRESSURE on the Australian government to begin the process of privatising Australian National Line is increasing after the company reduced operating losses for 1996-97 to A$1.6m (US$1.17m) from A$11m the year before. In 1994-95 ANL made a loss of A$19.5m. Britain rejects union plea on ISM violations BRITAIN has rejected union calls to step up port control inspections by including all ships belonging to owners whose vessels have previously been found to have violated the International Safety Management code. web site OCTOBER 31, 1997 French blockades become more probable European investigation into road haulage fines; Belgian complaints line Compensation of the rise in the cost of the Eurovignette Austria joins in European liberalization Brussels warns conference Proposal for new freight airport web site OCTOBER 31, 1997 St Lawrence strike threat LABOUR strife on the St. Lawrence Seaway is expected this autumn. Chinese treatment plant starts work A WASTE water treatment plant has been put into operation at Shanghai. Stena Line restructuring to continue STENA Line has reported a nine-month profit after the sale of three vessels and the port of Harwich, but md Bo Lerenius promises that restructuring of the company will continue. Strong rates return N&T to profit STRONG earnings from its tanker operations helped Nordström & Thulin (N&T), the Stockholm-based shipping group, to return to profit in the first nine months of the year. MacGregor wins $20m cruise equipment order MACGREGOR, the marine equipment manufacturer in the Swedish Incentive group, has won orders worth more than $20m. Venezuelan authorities in major drugs haul A COCAINE stash of 2,500 kg was discovered hidden in the ballast tank of an Ecuatorial Guinea-flagged ship Lady L Belle at the small Venezuelan port of Guaranao. Bidders line up for Peru's oil terminals TWELVE companies are lining up to bid on December 15 for operating concessions for state-owned Petroperu's oil terminals. Scanscot orders two ice-class ships TWO multi-purpose ice-strengthened freighters have been ordered from eastern shipyard Peene Werft by German customer Scanscot Shipping Services. Shawyer courts clash with CBS BALTIC Exchange chairman Eric Shawyer risks clash with the Council of British Shipping (CBS) after revealing a meeting with minister Glenda Jackson to plead foreign owners' case. Panama water levels spark rate fears SOUTH Korean importers are worried freight rates will rise if restrictions are imposed on vessels in the Panama Canal. Silja deep in the red SILJA, the Finnish cruise ferry owner, has remained deep in the red in the first nine months of the year due to heavy losses at its Holyman Sally joint venture. Kværner Masa-Yards deliver cable ship to Singapore KVÆNER Masa-Yards has delivered a 4,800 dwt, 16 knot cable ship to its Singapore-based owner International Cableship. Höegh "allocated" Suharto's son in lng deal THE Norwegian shipping group Leif Höegh was "allocated" the Indonesian president's son as a local business partner in connection with an lng shipment deal. High cargo volumes boost ACL profits HIGH cargo volumes boosted the nine-month pre tax profits of Atlantic Container Line, the Oslo-listed transatlantic roro containership operator, by 17 per cent. Nomadic cuts losses NOMADIC Shipping, the Norwegian operator of side-loading reefer vessels, has cut its eight-month pre-tax loss. Finland set to reform shipping taxes FINLAND'S transport ministry is working on a draft bill that would axe corporate income tax on shipping companies and replace that with a tonnage fee. Kuantan Port privatisation project awarded MALAYSIA'S Kuantan Port Consortium will hold a 40 per cent stake in the privatised port of Kuantan. Cahya to build Bintulu berth A SUBSIDIARY of Malaysian construction and building materials maker Cahya Mata (Sarawak) has been awarded the contract to construct berthing space at Bintulu Port. Malaysia denies diversion tactics MALAYSIA has denied it is trying to divert domestic exporters from using Singapore as an exit port by imposing strict customs regulations. DSR to be restructured GERMAN shipping group DSR will be restructured on January 1, 1998. MUA claims government is 'sacrificing shipping' AUSTRALIA'S progress towards waterfront reform has been slowed by mutual suspicion just days after it seemed the reform climate was improving. Essar Shipping on the move Essar Shipping's headquarters presently located in Mumbai will be shifted to Chennai in January 1998. Industry dubious about new US Cruise Tourism Act INTERNATIONAL cruise lines working in the North American market remain dubious about the US Cruise Tourism Act of 1997. web site New terminal receives first ship Port officials plan joint venture US transport authority gets $140 million rail-loan installment Cosco chooses Shekou to start transpacific service New Jersey in line to handle ships of the future Liners bond in difficult times New Chinese airport will fuel air transport boom KLM sharpens contact with MAS Atlas Air profits pick up web site High court to review harbor tax Study says truck drivers busy shifting jobs instead of gears UPS exec touts Latin potential -- with caveats Shippers: Carve-up had better not cost us US broker, French firm form alliance Albany port to feed $1 million in state funds into infrastructure Conference may be breaking up Competition seen sinking Australia ships Germany commits to electronic tolls levied on trucking Malaysia port moving to the private sector Mayor vows crackdown on JFK cargo thefts Big Hong Kong boxport handler cuts staff 22% Russian yard finds new ways to survive Conrail customers seek more competitive access