• Cosco, K-Line extend ties on trans-Pacific trade
  Shippers set to benefit from slot-charter agreement
• Container shipping rates forecast to remain under pressure
• Grand Alliance to focus on Asia-Europe trade
• Star Cruises aims for high-end luxury market

• SIA-Ansett-Air NZ alliance applies for Aussie approval
  If approved, tripartite alliance will be the largest of its kind in Asia- Pacific
• Lebanon strikes new aircraft deal with SIA
• Airfares forecast to increase due to Asian currency crisis
• Two FAA officials criticise Boeing's inspection process
• Swissair plans to order Airbus planes
• El Al in talks with Airbus after making Boeing purchases

• Carriers forced to raise rates
  Air cargo firms have been forced by the currency turmoil not just to raiserates but to make their peak periods longer

• MSC goes solo on Japan/Asia-Australia service
• ESC supports rejection of inland price-fixing
• Japan-Philippines container trade still in decline
• Lines launch joint straits-Australia service
• Textainer receives ISO 9002 certification worldwide
• Bax Global set to buy Distribution Services
• Shipper calls for better secondary ports
• Delta unveils new Central America schedules
• AEI link up with Cormar
• FAA proposes fines for breaching Hazmat rules
• Danzas to end ASG link

• Germany considers extra toll levy
• Spain lowers toll charges
• KLM considers Cathay and Malev as partners
• Shuttle German border-Rotterdam
• Integration at Kühne & Nagel

• Revisions planned for Matson deal with APL
• McMillen named TOTE Chairman Emeritus
• MTC to take over Frisco’s Pier 80
• $55 million loan guarantee used for modernization of shipyard
• Newport News buys Continental Maritime
• Shipwrecked sailors held in Houston; good samaritan rescue ship punished

• JSC to report finding on IA to Gov. Agencies
• AWRA to impose new charge on Shangdong-origin cargo
• Trio to use Sea-Land terminal at Hong Kong

• MOT earmarks \202 billion for port expansion

• First deep-sea service for Kochi planned by Uno

• US-Japan aviation talks near accord
• NCA reveals schedules of Portland route

• Hanjin denies finance difficulties
  HANJIN Shipping has dismissed reports that it is in severe financial difficulties as "hearsay and completely unfounded".
• Hambros set to revamp ship division
  MAJOR changes are in store at the shipping division of Hambros Banking Group following the '300m ($497m) acquisition of the UK merchant bank by Societe Generale, the French bank, writes Tony Gray.
• ECT plans huge container growth
  ROTTERDAM stevedore Europe Combined Terminals (ECT) will increase the number of containers which leave its facility at the mouth of the port from 200,000 boxes a year to 600,000 between now and the year 2000.
• Russian fruit importers feel chill of winter
  RUSSIA'S winter is sending shivers down the spine of shipowners in the refrigerated tonnage sector.
• Carriers must not set inland rates says panel
  OCEAN carriers should not be allowed to set inland freight rates collectively through the conference system, a committee of shippers shipowners and independent experts appointed by European Union competition commissioner Karel van Miert has concluded after a two-year study.
• Brussels seeking SAECS competition comments
  COMMENTS covering European Union competition rules are being sought by the European Commission on the Southern Africa Europe Container Service (SAECS) consortium, writes Nigel Tutt, Brussels.
• Grupo Libra wins bids for terminals
  GRUPO Libra has won two bids to operate new container facilities in key Brazilian ports.
• Engine fault hits UK lifeboats
  MORE than a dozen lifeboats around the UK coastline have been withdrawn from service because a major design fault has developed in their new American-made engines.

• Asian crisis 'will delay dry bulk recovery'
  RECOVERY in the bulk shipping market could be pushed back by more than a year into 1999 because of the Asian economic crisis, according US investment bank Lazard Freres.
• Sinotrans announces massive restructuring
  SINOTRANS, the Chinese foreign trade transport agency, has announced a massive asset restructuring plan to wrest control from local governments.
• Hutchison raises HIT stake
  HUTCHISON Whampoa has bought HSBC Holdings' five per cent stake in Hong Kong International Terminals.
• Shipboard explosion injures crewman
  AN explosion this morning on a small bulk carrier in the English Channel has left one crew member with first degree burns to his face.
• Viking posts sharp profit improvement
  VIKING Line, the Finnish cruise ferry operator, has announced a significant improvement in its pre-tax profit.
• ICB extends Obelia's share deadline
  ICB Shipping has extended the deadline for Obelia Finance to subscribe for a non-cash share issue.
• Basic navigational errors increasing, says club
  BRIDGE staff are sometimes too preoccupied with the next phase of operations and are distracted from the absolute priority of safe navigation, says the Swedish Club.
• SCI cancels Halla newbuilding order
  SHIPPING Corp of India has cancelled an order for two aframax tankers from Halla.
• L&T to finalise sale of shipping division
  LARSEN and Toubro, the Indian engineering and construction company, will finalise a buyer for its shipping division soon.
• K Line and Cosco reach trans-Pacific accord
  K LINE and Cosco have agreed to co-operate on trans-Pacific services from early next year.
• US delays sanctions on Brazil
  WASHINGTON has told Brazil that the imposition of sanctions on cargo carried by Brazilian ships will not be applied until June 1998.
• Brazilian yard wins six tug order
  BRAZILIAN shipbuilder Estaleiro Itajai has signed a $30m contract with Metalnave for six 50 ton bollard pull tugs.
• Carnival Corp profits rise strongly
  CARNIVAL Corp has reported a 35 per cent rise in net income for the three months to November 30, to $155.4m from $114.8m in 1996.
• Work begins on NCL newbuilding
  WORK on Norwegian Cruise Line's latest newbuilding, formerly Costa's Olympia, is to begin at Lloyd Werft immediately.

• Anvers: la clôture des terminaux s'annonce progressive
  La décision de l'Union des Expéditeurs d'Anvers, de rejeter la proposition d'accord réalisés dernièrement au sein d'un groupe de travail sur la clôture des terminaux conventionnels/breakbulk et ce, suite à un vote survenu lors d'une assemblée générale, n'empêchera pas l'évolution vers cette clôture. Un nouveau régime va vraisemblablement s'instaurer dès le mois de janvier prochain, toutefois son application sera progressive.
• Réorganisation des trafics TRW sur l'Espagne
  La société belge de transport combiné TRW a annoncé un certain nombre de modifications dans l'organisation de son trafic sur l'Espagne - et plus particulièrement sur la façade atlantique - en raison de la fermeture pour six mois environ du terminal d'Hendaye, à la frontière franco-espagnole. Sur la façade méditerranéenne, le service a par contre été sensiblement amélioré. C'est ce qui a été annoncé à Anvers au cours d'une réunion d'information à l'intention de la clientèle.
• Grimaldi donne une nouvelle dimension à sa desserte de l'Amérique du Sud
  L'armement Grimaldi (groupe Naples) a fait ce week-end une escale remarquée avec son nouveau navire ro/ro "Grande America", dont c'était la première touchée puisqu'il s'agit de son maiden trip. Cette unité remplace en fait un des trois navires que l'armement aligne dans son service régulier entre l'Europe du Nord et l'Amérique du Sud, service conjoint, le partenaire étant Cobelfret. Pour l'armement, il s'agit d'une nouvelle génération de roulier particulièrement flexible pouvant transporter 3.200 voitures et 1.500 m linéaires pour l'équivalent de 860 TEU. Cette première unité d'une sértie de 6, livrables dans le courant de 1998, va contribuer à donner une nouvelle dimension aux possibilités de l'armement.
• Bruxelles sera le hub du produit "Hot Express"
  Le nouveau produit "hot express worldwide courier" du "Hellmann Group of Partners" sera bientôt disponible dans le monde entier. Du point de vue de l'exploitation, l'une des particularités de la nouvelle offre sera d'utiliser l'aéroport de Bruxelles comme "hub". Ce qui doit conduire à une nouvelle valorisation intéressante pour le concept développé par TBC Halbart Aviation.

• Revamped alliance benefits OOCL
• Hutchison increases stake in Hong Kong box operator
• Shipyard aid plan blurs OECD pact prospects
• Sea rescues at risk as countries spar over costs involved
• Miners block Trans-Siberian railway
• UP told to publish rate for soda ash
• DRI offers upbeat outlook for freight tonnage in 2006
• STB rejects plea for move against UP
• Good things are happening at South Italy ports -- throughput is way up -- and Asian carriers are aiming to get in on the action
• New rail link in China gives boost to port
• Pakistani port planning to start night navigation
• Turmoil in Asia weighs on JofC index
• More funds for Malaysia gateway
• Yangtze River ports awash in plans to beef up volumes
• Cosco's Hong Kong unit eyes China ports

• Peace on the wharves and goodwill to all …
  The Maritime Union of Australia has been eliminating all possible points of conflict over the past few days, ensuring that the Christmas/New Year holiday period is as industrially peaceful as possible.
  After managing a major change of mind by its rank and file in Melbourne last week, which eventually approved new working arrangements at Patrick facilities, the union has now apparently prevailed on its members in Sydney to accept new manning arrangements on straddle carriers.
• P&O Ports, MPC case set for long hearing
  Claims by MPC CEO Jeffrey Gilbert that legal action against the corporation would be over by February look highly optimistic, following adjournment of the P&OP case until the end of January, and indications from the presiding judge that a quick decision is unlikely.
• Now, the ‘mercenary truckers’ plan
  According to Melbourne newspaper reports, truck drivers are now being secretly recruited for container work on the Melbourne wharves next year, in a scheme which apparently mirrors the Dubai stevedore ‘mercenaries’ plan.
• Sharp failed to take due care, report finds
  Former transport minister John Sharp and his office failed to take due care when making travel claims, an Auditor-General's report sparked by the travel rorts row has found. The report by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) made four recommendations which called for an overhaul of the current
  system of processing travel claims, aiming at "enhancing its integrity".
• Hein elevated
  P&OSN has announced changes at the top for P&O Australia Ltd. Current managing director, Richard Hein has been appointed chairman of P&O Australia following the retirement of Robert Somervaille at the end of this year. Mr Hein will continue in his role as managing director, P&O Australia. In a separate move, Mr Hein has also been appointed of a director of P&O Australia’s parent company, P&OSN as from 1 January, 1998.