• Aussie unions call for ban on UAE ports worldwide
  Australians being trained as dock strike-breakers in Dubai, they claim
• North Port operations almost back to normal
• Manila port's int'l terminals to raise cargo handling rates
• Kuching port borrows RM40m to finance new complex
• Australian Petroleum sells tanker operation to Teekay Shipping

• SIA offering free smart card to frequent flyers
  Based on thumbprint identification, card allows faster immigration clearance
• Schiphol in the running to operate 9 S Africa airports
• Boeing offers bonus to lure back retired staff
• Price cuts not anti-competitive: Lufthansa
• Cathay drops options to get new planes as earnings plunge
• General Motors to buy 49% stake in S Africa's Delta

• Xiamen port to expand again
  Helped by a US$500-million ADB loan, Xiamen will increase capacity in anticipation of growing traffic in the region

• APL to re-flag more ships in US
• New roof will cut costs
• More plans for China market
• EU tackles pricing, access
• Freight rates buffet K Line
• Sea-Land wins Puerto Rican haulage appeal
• Le Havre cargo handling set to top 1 million TEUs
• Korean airlines turn to cargo to stem losses
• Trident opens UAE warehouse
• MAS cargo centre on target for April opening
• New owner to be chosen for Berlin airport system

• Italian politicians agree to KLM
• Possibility of large European alliance
• Action against couriers because of alcohol delivery
• Still freeway between Rotterdam and Italy
• Russians delay customs transport limitation

• Six Yards Get Bid Package For New Cruise Vessel

• EC ship safety moratorium call
  AN immediate moratorium on new ship safety regulations at a European Union level should be imposed, Roberto Salvarani said yesterday.
• Aon bid report lifts Sedgwick shares price
  SHARES in Sedgwick, the giant London insurance broker, jumped more than 10% in early trading yesterday on an unconfirmed report that the Aon Corporation in the US was poised to make a '1bn ($1.66bn) takeover bid, writes David Mott.
• Boost for Russian yard
  ST PETERSBURG'S Admiralteiskiye Shipyard, with one oil tanker fresh off its slipways, has begun work on the first of three more tankers ordered by its newest client, Russian giant oil corporation Lukoil, at a cost of $32m a ship.
• Gujarat deal over Mundra project
  THE Gujarat state government and Adani Ports Ð a 100% subsidiary of the Rs16.07bn ($41m) Adani Exports group Ð have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a jetty at the new minor port of Mundra, in the Gulf of Kutch, writes Shirish Nadkarni, India Correspondent.
• Kenya Ports Authority in contract row
  THE scandal-prone port of Mombasa is in the news again, this time over the Kenya Ports Authority - the parastatal entrusted with the responsibility of running the port - which has reportedly forked out $8m to sever the Kipevu container freight station contract.
• 'Saga Rose' cruise doubt
  THE prospect of the cruiseship Saga Rose maintaining her planned Christmas schedule was uncertain last night after repairs to damage sustained to the forward end of the promenade deck in a fire on Sunday looked set to keep the ship in Southampton for a couple of extra days.
• Philippines makes its fast ferry debut
  A BRITISH-Filipino joint-venture has completed the Philippines' first high speed ferry - a 45 m, gas turbine tricat - at its Balamban, Cebu shipyard.
• Pmaesa in call to back IMO
  PORT managers from eastern and southern Africa reaffirmed their commitment to improving shipping standards in the region by pressurising their respective governments to ratify the seven International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions which are mandatory for an effective port state control.

• American Club joins International Group pool
  THE American P&I Club is to become a direct member of the International Group's Pooling Agreement.
• Boluda wins Pacific towage contracts
  MEXICO'S transporation ministry has awarded Valencia, Spain-based Boluda Group contracts to provide towage services in the Pacific ports of Mazatl'n and Guaymas.
• AESA workers to strike
  UNIONS representing workers at AESA have called a 24-hour strike for December 18 in protest against the proposed privatisation of the shipbuilder's nine yards.
• Canada's Kent Line loses top executives
  THE future of Saint John-based Kent Line was thrown into doubt recently when two managers walked out.
• PDVSA to build new oil port west of Caracas
  PETROLEOS de Venezuela is to build a new oil port west of Caracas and close its port inside Lake Maracaibo.
• Sun Cruises adds Malta
  SUN Cruises is to use the Maltese port of Valletta as one of its hub ports in 1999.
• Caterpillar acquires Perkins
  CATERPILLAR has reached an agreement with LucasVarity to acquire the assets of Perkins Engines for $1.32bn.
• Saga Rose delayed after fire
  AN electrical fire on the cruiseship Saga Rose will delay its sailing from A&P Southampton.
• NOL/APL look to direct Indian port calls
  NEPTUNE Orient Lines and American President Lines are reported to be planning a direct container liner service between India and North America.
• Indian ports show impressive growth
  WITH the notable exception of Mumbai, India's major ports have registered impressive growth rates between April and November this year despite the sluggish economy.
• Ferry Boats invests in Dunkirk
  FERRY Boats is to become the operator of the Dunkirk Western Container and Roro Terminal, Quai de Flandre/Quai de Loraine.
• Jebsen names new chairman and md
  AN extraordinary shareholders' meeting of the Bergen-based bulk shipping group Jebsens has elected Ole Henrik Nesheim as chairman and Oyvind Gjerde as md.
• Fred Olsen newbuilding enters North Sea service
  BAYARD, the first of two 11,900 dwt roro newbuildings of the Norwegian Fred Olsen group, has entered service on the North Sea.
• Daewoo delivers CMA vessel
  COMPAGNIE Maritime d'Affrètement has taken delivery of the 4,000 teu Ville d'Antares from Daewoo shipyard.
• ECT to build Duisburg terminal
  EUROPEAN Container Terminals is to construct its own terminal at the German inland port of Duisburg.
• SHV Energy to invest $600m
  NETHERLANDS-based SHV Energy is proposing to invest $600m in India over the next three years.
• Dubai suspends Australian "commandos"
  DUBAI'S decision to suspend a stevedore-training programme will not stop recruiters' attempts to create a workforce to break the Maritime Union of Australia's monopoly.
• McLean wins Title XI backing
  MALCOLM McLean has won a US government Title XI loan guarantee for the construction of three triple stack container barges.
• HSL emerges top contender for carriers
  HINDUSTAN Shipyard is expecting orders from the Shipping Corporation of India for four bulk carriers.
• New west coast port for India
  ADANI Port, a joint sector port on India's west coast, is expected to be commissioned in the first quarter of 1998.
• Trinidad lifts oil force majeure
  TRINIDAD'S Pointe a Pierre refinery has lifted its force majeure on oil shipments.
• Russia in bid to revive LatAm oil deal
  RUSSIA is seeking to revive an old triangular oil shipping arrangement with Venezuela involving Cuba.

• Le "Cast Elk" est le 10.000e navire à faire escale à Zeebrugge cette année
  Le port de Zeebrugge bouclera l'année sur plus de 10.000 escales pour la dixième fois depuis 1986. C'est au "Cast Elk" qu'est revenu l'honneur de franchir en premier ce cap cette année. L'événement a été célébrée par la MBZ à bord du navire amarré au Flanders Container Terminal.
• ASG vend Frigoscandia au groupe américain SCI
  Le président et CEO Jörgen Ekberg d'ASG a annoncé que son groupe de transport et de logistique a conclu un accord avec Security Capital Industrial Trust sur la vente de Frigoscandia. Le transporteur frigorifique est la division la plus bénéficiaire d'ASG. ASG affectera le revenu de la vente à la restructuration des divisions restantes et à la concentration sur le transport routier, l'express et la logistique.
• P&ONL: deux alternatives d'Europe vers l'Afrique de l'Est
  L'armement P&0NL assure un service régulier hebdomadaire (WEC Lines) au départ d'Europe du Nord, d'Anvers notamment, vers l'Afrique de l'Est, en coopération avec MSC, DSR-Senator. Dès le 1er janvier prochain, il offrira une alternative dans le cadre d'un nouveau service hebdomadaire, "East Africa Express", assuré au départ de Port Kelang et Singapour, et ce conjointement avec Mitsui OSK Lines.

• Costa Rica set to privatize airports, ports
• November heavy-truck sales sped along
• BNSF, UP file plans for moving stored grain
• Despite a hot market that has traders rolling in profit, an industry group has launched what could be a prototype training program to improve handling at the Port of Houston
• KLM, Alitalia expected to announce alliance plans
• Maersk joins Customs drug-busting program
• Airlines plan safety program
• Dow's decline weighs on JofC index
• India looks abroad for airport funding

• Dubai scheme a PR disaster: Reith
  Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith has assessed the failure of the Dubai "dock mercenary" scheme as a public relations disaster. He has again denied any government involvement in, or knowledge of, the stevedore training plan, saying the use of military personnel was "not a smart idea".
• Patrick Botany strife
  Stevedore Patrick yesterday notified the Australian Industrial Relations Commission of a dispute at the company’s Port Botany terminal after placing four straddle carrier drivers, members of the MUA, off-pay for refusing to work in accordance with instructions.
• National Rail disappoints
  The release yesterday of disappointing annual results for National Rail will not help the Federal Government’s aims to secure top dollar for the organisation’s forthcoming sale. The after-tax loss of $4.8 million was attributed to increased competition and slow economic conditions.
• Melbourne container capacity adequate, Court told
  The former Victorian International Container Terminal consortium - consisting of OOCL, COSCO and local interests - had always believed existing container capacity in the port of Melbourne was adequate, the Supreme Court was told yesterday in the case brought by P&O Ports against the MPC. VICT had based its business plan entirely on own-volume throughput.
• Sydney airport facing major freight problems
  The chief executive of Australia’s biggest express air freight operation has called on the Federal Government to conduct an urgent review of freighter curfew arrangements at Sydney Airport.