ECT backs off from Trieste deal THE international ambitions of Rotterdam container stevedore, Europe Combined Terminals (ECT), appear to have suffered a serious setback follow-ing its decision to back off from advanced negotiations with the port of Trieste.
Cyprus acts to rescue 'Blue Breeze' master A PRE-Christmas drama in the Mediterranean, in which the British master of a Panamanian bulker was held prisoner by her Syrian crew, was ended by the intervention of the Cyprus authorities. They took the Briton to safety from the ship in international waters off the island.
Future looks relatively bright for bulk carriers CAPESIZE bulk carriers are expected to fare relatively well during the first half of 1998, although owners should be prepared for a potential battle against negative factors during the latter part of the year.
Malaysia refinery fire FIREMEN using chemical foam fight a blaze in two Shell MDS (Malaysia) tanks at its 400,000-tonne middle distillate plant near Bintulu, Sarawak state. The tanks, one filled with naptha and the other with kerosene, caught fire at the weekend after an explosion which injured 12 people, caused extensive damage and closed the plant. The company said: "The remaining eight product tanks and two sludge tanks are being cooled ff to prevent any further possible spread." The plant is a joint ventue between Shell Gas, Petronas, Mitsubishi and the Sarawak state government on Borneo island. It makes products ranging from distillates to waxes and converts natural gas into liquid hydrocarbons.
EU port groups call for talks EUROPEAN port and shipping organisations have called for dialogue rather than confrontation over European Commission proposals to reveal the level of state funding of port infrastructure and introduce a directive to curb the level of port charges to shipowners.
Software aims to cut inland shipping costs A SMALL Cambridgeshire, UK, village is an unlikely setting for revolution. But that is exactly what Colin Francis is plotting.
How things go wrong at sea FROM time to time I am asked, as one involved in unravelling collapsing ship loans for the benefit of creditors, how a ship loan can get into such a mess. Well, I normally answer that MRM's corporate view is that in order to clean up after a horse we don't need to be experts on how its anatomy works.
Five shipyards are short-listed by Wilhelmsen NORWAY'S Wilhelmsen Lines has short-listed five shipyards out of about 20 contacted during 1997 for a series of newbuildings, the likes of which, the company says, the world has never seen before. The new vessel design is a combination of conventional ro-ro and car carriers.
Report questions helicopter use An inquiry into the marine aspects of a helicopter crash during marine pilot transfer operations has raised questions of the advisability of utilising a helicopter when there is likely to be no emergency support procedure in place. This is the conclusion of an inquiry by the Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business into a fatal incident involving the Austral Asia Line freighter Cape Arnhem off Gladstone on 25 February this year.
Court backs owner-drivers Attempts by Mayne Nickless to return road freight operations to profitability suffered a blow last week when the Federal Court in Melbourne ordered the company to re-employ 30 of 40 Ipec owner-drivers it sacked a month ago.
Privateers won’t last, rail union believes Private entrants into the rail industry such as Specialised Container Transport and Toll Holdings will withdraw from the market within five years, according to the national secretary of the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, Roger Jowett.
Patrick wants undertakings upheld Patrick has called on the Maritime Union of Australia to honour its undertakings and ensure that normal levels of productivity at the company’s Botany Bay terminal are maintained. Productivity at the company’s terminal at Botany Bay was down 20 per cent on normal just prior the Christmas break.
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