web site Japanese lines refuse to pay up LEADING Japanese carriers Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and Mitsui OSK Lines yesterday refused to pay $4m in fines imposed by the Federal Maritime Commission and now face having their ships detained at US ports. Tankers collide off Singapore A MAJOR oil spill clean-up operation was underway off Singapore last night after a collision between two tankers. Skaugen beats off effect of falling rates NORWEGIAN shipping group I M Skaugen overcame declining rates for small gas carriers to achieve earnings progress in third quarter. R&B net income plummets HOUSTON-headquartered Reading & Bates Corporation (R&B) saw net income for the third quarter plummet to $6.4m, compared with $22.6m in the corresponding period last year, writes David Osler. Tortugas Bank anchor ban ANCHORING by vessels of 50 m LOA and longer in the Gulf of Mexico's ecologically-sensitive Tortugas Bank area has been prohibited without prior notification under an emergency regulation just issued by the US National Oceanic and At-mospheric Administration. Tacoma port seeks bids for terminal PORT of Tacoma officials are looking for construction bids for a terminal wharf at the new Hyundai Merchant Marine Terminal. India register signs Bureau Veritas pact INDIA's national ship classification society, Indian Register of Shipping, has signed a co-operation agreement with leading French class society Bureau Veritas. Mumbai may be restricted to handling only city cargo AN interim report by the Japan International Co-operation Agency, a government body, has recommended that the port of Mumbai (Bombay) should in 20 years handle only cargo bound for the metropolis, writes Shirish Nadkarni, India Correspondent. web site Big clean-up mounted after tanker collision Shipping lanes in Singapore Strait still open despite oil spill from tanker; no injuries reported Sembawang Wah Kwong's fleet to be expanded Hanjin, DSR-Senator sign terminal service deal with PSA More strikes planned at Amsterdam port TNT aiming for 30% revenue growth in region Japanese car makers remain world's most productive HK air cargo up 12.5% NY airports' flights delayed after controllers fall sick Lufthansa expands electronic ticket service Skoda still studying Indian car project; no decision reached yet New radar failed to detect small plane in path of Swissair jumbo Mazda expects recovery in N America Shipowner must pay damages for inducement of breach of contract web site OCTOBER 16, 1997 Chinese builders look to merge CHINA'S shipbuilders are looking at mergers and acquisitions as a way of competing on international markets. RCCL raises Project Eagle gross tonnage ROYAL Caribbean Cruises has raised the size of its Project Eagle ships from 130,000 gt to 142,000 gt. Angolan oil facility switch THE floating storage tanker at the Texaco operated port facility at Lombo Marine Terminal in Angola is temporarily closing down next month. IACS still unhappy with PRS IACS Council is still concerned about the operation of Polish Register of Shipping's Quality System. Stena Line sells ferry to Hansatee STENA Line has sold the 1980-built, 16.630 gt passenger car ferry Lion King to Hansatee in Tallinn. Frontline would accept majority stake FRONTLINE chairman John Fredriksen says that a majority holding in ICB Shipping is an acceptable option if a full takeover cannot be achieved. Finnyards renamed as Aker takes over FINNYARDS has been renamed Aker Finnyards following the transfer of 60 per cent of the shares in a new holding company to Aker Maritime. Lebanese owner seeks removal of mutineers THE owner of a Lebanese ship forced to anchor off the coast of Plymouth, following a revolt by its Syrian and Lebanese crew, is threatening legal action. Dockers threaten Rotterdam strike THE chairman of a dock workers' agency in Rotterdam is threatening to call a strike tomorrow in support of colleagues in Amsterdam. Spain plans $472m ports investment SPAIN'S Puertos del Estado plans investments totalling Ptas69.4bn ($472m) next year. Floating lng production expected just after 2000 KVÆRNER, the Anglo-Nordic shipbuilding and construction group, expects the world's first floating lng production facility to commence operations "just after the millenium." P&O squares up to the MUA P&O Ports Australia looks like being the first major maritime employer to use new legislation to challenge the Maritime Union of Australia's waterfront labour monopoly Evergreen concentrates on Gioia Tauro EVERGREEN is to concentrate its Mediterranean feeder operations on the southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro. Aker Maritime listing postponed AKER Maritime says its planned listing on the New York Stock Exchange will be delayed because of the acquisition of the Finnyards' facility in Rauma. Straits collision results in fuel oil spill A COLLISION between a Thai vlcc and a Cyprus flagged tanker in the Singapore Strait resulted in a spill of between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes of fuel oil. web site Fears grow over crowded Straits Concerns about the number of accidents in the crowded Malacca and Singapore Straits intensified this week following a collision between two tankers that spilled thousands of tons of fuel oil. Hyundai rakes in the orders Hyundai Heavy Industries is sitting pretty as the world's number-one shipbuilder, with nearly 8 million dwt on order, a two-year backlog of work and close to USD 2bn worth of sales this year. 'Coal king' poised to get into shipping Graeme Robertson - president and CEO of Indonesia's multifaceted resources giant Swabara Group - might be better known in the coal world than in the shipping business, but that may be about to change. Zissimatos finally loses his yacht Armed police successfully stormed a personal yacht belonging to failed Greek shipowner Panagis Zissimatos, after the Syrian crew fought to prevent its legal handover to an official receiver. Making an Impact The principals behind fledgling Impact Marine in Florida say they're only starting to flex their muscles. They're trying to turn a company with roots in real estate into a serious shipping player. With close ties to Singapore-based demolition company Wirana, Impact is now in the midst of building up a fleet of its own while laying plans to move into ship management and commodities trading. web site MarAd grants approval to APL ship subsidy move Maritime Commission will deny U.S. entry to Japanese carriers APL sees third quarter income fall to half of last year's figure Study backs changes to Passenger Services Act web site ILWU's largest local calls for new election Transport board to UP: Give us your performance records Mexican railroad goes to upstart CSXT cited for safety problems Captain found at fault in cruise ship crash Northwest cautions on Japan Ships collide, spilling crude off Singapore Forwarders anticipate the return of Fine Air Port of San Francisco will lose business as Princess Cruises intends to set sail New York-New Jersey port approved for dredging Congress comes full Cercla in seeking radical reform of Superfund legislation Rail service problems a blight on frustrated farmers' robust harvest web site OCTOBER 16, 1997 Rates increase Taca source of troubles Rotterdam strike set for Friday Amsterdam labor pool investigation Nedlloyd disposes of frozen logistics unit Amsterdam flight restrictions to cost billions Evergreen concentrates on Gioia Tauro