web site Weaker S'pore dollar a boost for local shipyards The decline, if sustained, may improve yards' competitive position Kukup island off Johor put on full alert Malaysia warns ships of smog in Malacca Strait Samudera in 3-year charter of chemical ship Proposal to build Pearl River Delta bridge Boeing expects to report loss in third quarter US plane maker to take US$1.6b charge; it has problems increasing production SIA grabs top spot in several surveys this year TOKYO MOTOR SHOW Virgin Express' IPO will trade at US$39 to US$45 Ford sets up joint venture in Nanjing S Korean firms optimistic on Washington-Seoul car talks What it means for shipowners This is part of a paper presented at a seminar on the code organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Need for welding does not make vessel unseaworthy: Court of Appeal web site OCTOBER 23, 1997 CMA rationalises European ports ZEEBRUGGE is to gain at Antwerp's expense in schedule changes being made to CMA's French Asia Line service. Korean yards trim profits to win orders SOUTH Korean shipbuilders have trimmed their profits to win newbuilding orders. Keppel's stake in Chokhani 'not for sale' SINGAPORE'S Keppel Corp says it will not sell its 20 per cent stake in Madras-based shipyard Chokhani International. US lines seek to handle own cargo in Japan SEA-LAND, APL and Maersk Line may apply to set up cargo handling operations at Japanese ports, now that Tokyo has agreed tentatively to reform waterfront practices. IACS 'disappointed' over ISM figures IACS, the classification societies' organisation, has expressed disappointment at the number of ISM certificates issued in the three months to September 30. Dockers reject Mersey Docks' offer DISMISSED Liverpool dockers have voted to reject the offer put forward by their former employer, Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. Australian port productivity up AUSTRALIA'S new Maritime Reform minister Peter Reith has welcomed an improvement in waterfront productivity reflected in new government figures. Clinton allows a cruise monopoly in Hawaii PRESIDENT Clinton has decided to retain spending for two new Hawaiian cruise ships contained within a major $248bn defence spending appropriations bill. Halter Marine group posts record earnings GULFPORT-based Halter Marine Group reports that its second quarter fiscal 1998 earnings doubled from the level achieved in the second quarter of fiscal 1997. India's Kerala state seeks port investment THE south Indian state of Kerala has invited investment proposals from private individuals and firms for infrastructure development of minor ports in the state. St Lawrence season may be extended OFFICIALS at the Canadian and American St Lawrence Seaway authorities are looking to extend its shipping season following predictions of a mild winter. India needs mega ports, says senior JNPT manager INDIA needs two mega ports if the country is to match international port standards, according to a senior manager at Jawaharlal Nehru Port. CMA-CGM group increases its capital COMPAGNIE Maritime d'Affr'tement (CMA-CGM group) has undertaken a Ffr40m ($6.75m) capital increase. web site ABP head announces shake-up ASSOCIATED British Ports managing director Andrew Smith yesterday announced a company-wide management reorganisation as part of his drive to kick-start a period of high earnings growth. IMO report set to dispel gloom over ISM code SURPRISE research findings from the International Maritime Organisation, due to be released shortly, are set to challenge gloomy industry assumptions about the rate of compliance with the Inter-national Safety Management code. Still straining to read box market IN the past month, activity in the containership charter market has continued to intensify. How Pennsylvania politics came to Warnow yard PHILADELPHIA mayor Ed Rendell looked just like a kid in a candy store during his tour through the Kvaerner Warnow shipyard in Rostock-Warnemuende. Mr Rendell and Tom Ridge, governor of the State of Pennsylvania, were the focus of attention during the afternoon stroll through the yard, for both the accompanying media and Kvaerner's representatives, write Sabina Casagrande and Herbert Fromme. Market boost as Worldscale 100 barrier is breached ON Wednesday brokers proudly trumpeted the fact that W100 had been paid for a VLCC fixture from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Japan. Otal revamps to fend off rivals OT Africa Line is simplifying its corporate structure as part of a marketing effort to fend off competition from global players that are starting to encroach on trades traditionally controlled by smaller carriers. Union seeks probe into CGM sale A FRENCH seafarers' union has called on the French government to re-examine last year's privatisation of Compagnie Generale Maritime (CGM). Expanding Freightliner moves into the black FREIGHTLINER, the UK railfreight company, yesterday revealed six-month profits of around '500,000 ($800,000), the first profits in the company's history. web site Le Rhin d'Acier via Venlo? Les transporteurs belges peuvent désormais demander leurs Ecopoints électroniques Arcus Logistic est le principal client d'ICF en Espagne Buoyant Freightliner moves into early profit IJzeren Rijn via Venlo? Belgische vervoerders kunnen voortaan elektronische Ecopunten aanvragen Arcus Logistic belangrijkste klant van ICF in Spanje Buoyant Freightliner moves into early profit web site Mosvold-Farsund bargains for big tanker order Privately owned Mosvold-Farsund of Norway is said to be in the process of ordering up to six Suezmax tankers at the Hyundai shipyard in South Korea. Tsakos rides wave of acquisitions With ship purchases totalling close to a quarter billion dollars already under its belt this year, the Tsakos group of Greece looks set to continue its buying spree. Group executive Nikolas Tsakos, however, denied reports this week that the group has bought a newbuilding resale contract from Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) of Singapore for a 107,000-dwt tanker. VLCC rates hit new high point Rates for VLCCs hit the World Scale 100 level this week for the first time in almost eight years. Singapore spill response 'not working' The last movements made by two tankers involved in a collision that resulted in Singapore's biggest oil spill ever came under intense scrutiny this week, as investigators tried to determine the cause of the accident. Norddeutsche powers on in shaky market Martin Smith is an expatriate British subject who has found happiness in Hamburg. After 20 years in Germany, Smith finds himself leading major ship financier Norddeutsche Vermogen and its fleet of 44 vessels. It's a challenge he clearly relishes. web site APL and NOL move closer to final merger Public meetings planned for steelhead restoration Rail organization publishes motor vehicle facility info Boeing shows loss for third quarter Corps achieves ISO 9001 award What does ISO mean? Airbus finds 1997 to be banner year web site OCTOBER 23, 1997 Attempt to set up single European front for Open Sky Dismal situation for Ukrainian ships Iberia and KLM were close to an agreement German parliament scraps postal monopoly German resistance to Road Pricing web site Airport privatization sputters as deadline nears in Argentina Former Mersey employees reject company's offer Second-guessing increases as STB gets opinions on Conrail buyout Shipper groups pan rate bureaus Clinton team opposes GOP-written Amtrak bill TBS to expand service Political flak fails to ground interest in Argentine air sale Chile's Senate approves some attachments to port bill Controversy over camera access causes cancellation of debate on Jones Act Box traffic growing at Port of Salina Cruz GM chairman blames car, truck stockpiles on the shortage of Union Pacific railcars Norwegian shipbuilder to reopen yard in Philadelphia, vows to build 3 vessels American's files seized in hazardous cargo crackdown 5,000-acre Japanese port, due by 2020, hopes to set own prices Kitty Hawk, Kalitta renegotiating deal CSX hit by expenses, weak rates Oil-drilling boom bolsters shipyards along Gulf Coast Hong Kong's biggest container line says it will buy majority interest in China's second-largest boxport