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Keppel T&T sells 2 vessels to Irano-Hind for US$21m
The sale will provide Keppel with resources to diversify further
Court appoints receivers for Korea's Halla yard
NY ferry service to Staten Island to close
China's container industry in dire straits after price cuts
China begins project to deepen Yangtze channel
Air cargo business unscathed by regional turmoil
And Emery Worldwide is among those who had a very bright year
Garuda jet makes emergency landing after engine failure
Safer US Navy fuel being considered for passenger planes
Daimler's operating profit above 1st-half
BA, American win dismissal of anti-trust suit charges
Pudding or Semtex?
Pratt notifies users of spare parts problems
Cruise liner seeks mega-rich
A new US$500m luxury cruise liner will offer those who can afford it apartments with an ever-changing view

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Singapore container lessor enters regional markets
New Colombo-Chennai feeder service launched
South Korean and Hong Kong shippers in tripartite talks
Qingdao handles 1 million boxes
BTL to sell specialised companies
Eurotunnel wins 34-year Channel Tunnel extension
EVA to launch Taipei-Chicago cargo flights
Swissair strengthens TAP link
Alitalia sells Malev stake
JAS accepts Boeing `triplets'

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Mergers put new spin on shipping alliances

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NZ seafarers warn of industrial action
SEAFARERS in New Zealand have pledged to take instant industrial action if Australian ports attempt to load New Zealand-manned vessels with the alternative workforce compris-ing military personnel believed to have undergone training earlier this month in Dubai.
Top insurance men honoured
A KNIGHTHOOD for John Carter, chief executive of Commercial Union and chairman of the Association of British Insurers and a CBE for Allan Bridgewater, chief executive of the Norwich Union, are prominent recognition for the insurance industry in the New Year's Honours list published this morning.
Salvtug set to start Manila box shuttle
MALAYAN Towage and Salvage Corporation (Salvtug), the largest tug and salvage operator in the Philippines, is to begin its Bataan/Manila fixed-schedule container barge service next month, following the signing of a memorandum of agreement with Asian Terminals Inc.
Fast ferry glass fibre project
A FILIPINO-German joint venture is to produce glass reinforced plastic military and commercial fastcraft in the Philippines, Alec Almazan reports from Manila.
K Line and Cosco in transpacific slot deal
JAPAN's Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha is to expand its slot-sharing arrangement with China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco) to the transpacific trades in the spring.
NYK and CSAV launch boxship service
NEXT month Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) is launching a new joint service between Asia and the west coast of Central and South America with Chile's Compania Sud Americano de Vapores (CSAV), writes Kazuo Takita, Tokyo Correspondent.
First visitor for Sicilian yard
SICILY'S Cantieri E Noe has drydocked its first ship in its newly purchased 160 m x 23.20 m floating dock, the 7,769 dwt general cargo vessel Ebn Jubair, owned by General National Maritime Transport.
Halter Marine to upgrade four facilities
INCREASING activity in the offshore oil and gas industry as well as a need for additional shiprepair and conversion services has prompted Halter Marine to embark on an investment programme at four of its major shiprepair facilities.

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1997 nouvelle année record pour le port d'Anvers
Avec un trafic global de près de 111 mio. de tonnes, 1997 aura été l'année de tous les records pour le port d'Anvers. Après un court répit de deux ans, le record datant de 1994 - un transbordement de 109,5 mio. de tonnes - a été dépassé de 1,5 mio. de tonnes.
Géodis vise la taille européenne pour ses quatre divisions
Le groupe français Géodis vient de réaliser deux opérations (l'une au Danemark, l'autre en Italie) interprétées par certains comme un désengagement au niveau européen. Alain Poinssot, président du groupe depuis un peu moins de six mois, nous a toutefois confirmé que sa stratégie consiste au contraire à préparer le terrain pour que les quatre divisions du groupe atteignent la dimension européenne.
Hausse de 9% du trafic au port de Gand
Par rapport à 1996, le trafic portuaire de Gand a augmenté de 9% jusqu'à 23 mio. de tonnes cette année. La croissance est principalement le fait de la hausse à l'entrée, le trafic ayant augmenté de 1,8 mio. de tonnes jusqu'à 19,3 mio. de tonnes. L'exportation a stagnée à 3,7 mio. de tonnes, soit quelque 125.000 tonnes de plus qu'en 1996.
Chunnel: déception pour le trafic ferroviaire
L'exploitant du Tunnel sous la Manche (Chunnel) vient d'obtenir que la concession soit finalement de 99 ans, ce qui la prolonge jusqu'en 2086. L'aspect financier a bien sûr été pris en compte car les difficultés en ce domaine tiennent notamment au décalage entre les prévisions et les résultats. Une bonne illustration de ce phénomène peut être apportée avec le cas du trafic ferroviaire de fret qui conduit aussi à s'interroger sur ce que sera l'impact des freightways.

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Cho Yang asserts company's health remains sound
Copters pluck crewmen from ship
Airborne Express gets notification to vacate Seattle-Tacoma terminal
APL starts fixed-day service from Indian port
Halla yard says receivers appointed
Romania port has big plans on Black Sea
Workboat runs aground in Texas; captain held
Safety board investigators to meet in February to examine UP accidents
Pirates plunder at will in Brazil
Holiday on icebergs? Cruise passengers go to exotic venues
Resolved: Mistakes to avoid as a New Year dawns for Net users
Gulf Coast high

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Employers downplay award volatility
Negotiations will determine the new "streamlined" award for the stevedoring industry and the outcome may not provide the flashpoint that many expect. A senior industry source told DCN yesterday that the process will involve consultation with the Maritime Union of Australia. Similarly to employers, the union will have the opportunity of putting forward its contribution to the debate and the new award is likely to reflect those opinions.
Newcastle’s glad tidings
An initiative of the Newcastle Port Corporation has the potential to add more than two million tonnes annually to the Port of Newcastle’s coal throughput capacity. Capesize vessels, including some of the world’s biggest coal carriers, previously departed the port on the "higher" of the two high tides that occur daily.
Morse code yet to do its dash
Following reports that Morse code distress calls will not be recognised anywhere in the world from today (31 December) the Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed yesterday it would continue to monitor such calls until the old system’s official sunset date, 1 February 1999.
Breakdown forces Tasman shuffle
The Trans-Tasman Alliance has shuffled tonnage on its three Australia-New Zealand strings to compensate for the breakdown of TEL’s Wellington Express. The ship is under repair at Lyttelton following crankshaft damage suffered during a Melbourne-Bluff voyage two weeks ago.