Frontline halts ICB peace talks ALMOST two months of peace talks between ICB Shipping and its biggest shareholder Frontline were yesterday terminated without success.
Ships face US detention threat US Coast Guard, in an unprecedented policy decision, is to record and report as official detentions all denials-of-entry of vessels that arrive in US waters without valid ISM Code certificates on board.
US to launch shipbreaking pilot scheme US legislation to strengthen global shipbreaking workers' health and safety protection has been dealt a blow following US Navy and congressional protests that the mandate for government vessel-scrapping solely at domestic ship-yards was anti-competitive.
Philippines incoming President Incoming Philippines president Joseph Estrada (pictured) and outgoing president Fidel Ramos during the swearing-in ceremony in Malolos yesterday. The hugely popular former film star Estrada is the Philippines' 13th president.
ITF flags message to world UK shipping minister Glenda Jackson will today add her voice to the 50-year International Transport Workers' Federation campaign against flags of convenience when she renames the Lady Rebecca, the 18,501 dwt general cargoship, Global Mariner, at a ceremony at Thames Quay in London.
China set to ease Yangtse restrictions FOREIGN-owned vessels sailing on China's Yangtse river are to be given greater freedom of operation, according to a local authority official.
FSL confident it can become major player BOASTING one of the most comprehensive facilities in the UK, Fleet Support Limited (FSL) believes that it is set to become a major player in UK commercial shiprepair.
Malaysian yard starts Navix booking MALAYSIA Shipyard & Engineering (MSE) has completed repairs at Pasir Gudang onboard the 244,651 dwt VLCC Diamond City, which is the first in a block-booking from Japan's Navix Corp, involving a total of nine tankers, writes Alan Thorpe.
Sinclair Roche & Temperley sells Singapore office WATSON, Farley & Williams, the London-based law firm, is to acquire Sinclair, Roche & Temperley's Singapore office for an "undisclosed but substantial sum of money."
ISF warns of more trouble from ITF THE ITF "will give more trouble in the future," David Dearsley of the International Shipping Federation warned insurers and shipowners yesterday.
Contract 'can prevent Panama tort claims' SHIPOWNERS can protect themselves from tort claims filed in Panama by Filipino seafarers, "simply with a properly worded contract," said Alan Walls of Holman Fenwick and Willan.
Demand surges for Canadian exemptions REQUESTS for Canadian coastal trade exemptions by foreign flag vessels have almost doubled in the last five years.
Jurong Port brings in tariff rebates UP to 1,000 shipping companies stand to benefit from port tariff rebates totalling S$19.5m ($12m) offered by Jurong Port.
MUA rival bids for Newcastle project A NEW stevedoring contract in the Australian port of Newcastle is being sought by one of the Maritime Union of Australia's rivals.
Panama lifts draught restrictions THE Panama Canal has today lifted all transit draught restrictions in the waterway and reinstated the normal maximum authorised transit draft of 12.04 m (39.5 ft).
New Zealand tightens its belt NEW Zealand has announced dramatic cost-cutting measures to counter the recessionary effects of Asia's continuing financial squeeze.
Australia issues coastal trade guidelines AUSTRALIA has issued new guidelines governing engagement of ships in the coastal trade that will no longer be restricted to Australian flagged and crewed vessels.
Helsingborg introduces 'clean ships' tariff SWEDEN'S Helsingborg port is introducing an environmental differentiated harbour tariff from July 1 to encourage cleaner ships.
Marchioness demonstrates 'cheapness of life' THE Marchioness disaster demonstrates the "it is cheap to kill young people in this country," barrister Charles Haddon-Cave observed yesterday in London.
Chowgule slumps into the red HIGHER costs and interest payments combined with reduced income from ship sales has produced a loss-making cocktail for Goa-based bulker operator Chowgule Steamships.
Frontline-ICB talks end in stalemate A DISCUSSION of "strategies to unwind the deadlocked situation" between Frontline and ICB Shipping has ended in stalemate.
Sinotrans to expand fleet with $1bn loan SINOTRANS, China's largest state-owned foreign transport company, is to increase its ocean going fleet by 50 per cent after being granted a $1bn loan from the Bank of China.
Germany hikes subsidy budget GERMANY'S government has increased its 1998 shipbuilding subsidy budget by Dm30m ($16.6m) to Dm110m.
Orapin Global master pleads guilty THE Polish master of the Orapin Global, the tanker involved in Singapore's worst oil spill last year, has pleaded guilty to charges of negligence and speeding.
Hvide orders fifth Newport News tanker HVIDE Marine has ordered a fifth double-hull product tanker from Newport News Shipbuilding.
US Reform Act runs out of time THE US Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 was not adopted by the full House for a vote prior to the July 4 Congress recess.
Schedule set for rail merger THE US Surface Transportation Board has issued a 300-day schedule for consideration of the Canadian National Railway and Illinois Central merger.
Colombo extension could hit turnround time PLANS to extend Colombo's Queen Elizabeth Quay could restrict the turning circle of large containerships and affect their turnround time, a conference was told.
"Galileo": un nouveau train de transport combiné entre Liège Bressoux et Milan C'est en toute discrétion que les CFF ont lancé, ce 29 juin, une nouvelle relation ferroviaire - le "Galileo" - entre le terminal liégeois de Bressoux et celui de Smistamento à Milan.
L'EEO accuse Deutsche Post de fausser la concurrence dans le colis et l'express La société postale allemande - également active dans le transport routier et la logistique - Deutsche Post a été autorisée par la Commission européenne à prendre une participation de 22,5% dans la société de courrier express DHL. Elle y met toutefois une condition: DP ne peut affecter de revenus provenant de son monopole sur le marché postal pour soutenir financièrement DHL. La European Express Organisation (EEO) a immédiatement réagi, estimant que cette opération risque de fausser la concurrence.
CMB reporte l'introduction en bourse d'Euronav au début de l'automne Le groupe maritime belge CMB reporte au début de l'automne son projet d'introduire sa branche citernière Euronav à la deuxième bourse de New York (NASDAQ) et à la bourse européenne EASDAQ à Bruxelles. Le groupe a confirmé que le report est motivé par la volonté d'effectuer l'introduction en bourse au moment optimal.
ACCC urged to drop MUA case Several members of parliament are believed to have written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission urging the consumer watchdog to drop its case against the Maritime Union of Australia. It is understood they have argued this would be in the "public interest". The union has stated that all legal action is dropped, the agreement hammered out between Patrick and itself will not proceed, threatening the re-opening of the entire dispute.
ITF reports on Asia Pacific waterfront The latest report on waterfront industrial developments in the Asia/Pacific region from the International Transport Workers' Federation gives an overview in three countries: India, Australia and Burma. The ITF said India's Transport & Dock Workers' Union (T & DWU) members in Mumbai (Bombay) have been on strike since 12 June in support of demands for increased wages and benefits. The strike involves employees of the Bombay Custom House Agents who work in licensed custom houses, container freight stations and Mumbai International Airport's air cargo complex.
VCA drops charges The Victorian Channels Authority has announced that it has reduced its charges, effective from yesterday. VCA chief executive Ian Edwards said the new charges would involve a reduction in the base rate per gross tonne to 30.4 cents from 35.5 cents. The VCA said the reduction in channel usage charges was in line with the Victorian government's goal of reducing costs to shippers using the ports of Geelong and Melbourne.
Sydney airport charges still under ACCC scrutiny The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's acceptance of the Federal Airport Corporation's restructuring of aeronautical services charges at Sydney's Airport over 1998-99 has been welcomed by airlines but only because the ACCC has recognised there are "unresolved issues" associated with the new charging regime.
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
phone: +39.010.2462122, fax: +39.010.2516768, e-mail
VAT number: 03532950106
Press Reg.: nr 33/96 Genoa Court
Editor in chief: Bruno Bellio No part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
