UK considers levy to fund emergency towing cover BRITAIN is considering the imposition of a levy on shipping calling at UK ports, to fund all-year emergency towing cover around the coast.
Patrick fails to rule out job losses PATRICK Stevedores has refused to rule out mass sackings in its escalating conflict with the Maritime Union of Australia.
Buoyant Jacobs targets improved performance SHIPPING and ports group Jacobs Holdings is forecasting improved profits in the current year after suffering a marginal decline in 1997.
Swedes face SKr1bn loss with end of duty-frees ABOLITION of tax-free sales at sea could cost Swedish ferry operators SKr1bn ($127m) a year and up to 1,700 jobs, Reuters reports.
USCG seeks views on spill measures A CALL for help in deciding whether US Oil Pollution Act of 1990-mandated caps on tanker owners' on-water oil removal capacity should be increased or decreased has been made by the US Coast Guard to the maritime industry and related interests.
Cyprus urged to speed up shipping reform CYPRUS-based shipping companies have urged the Nicosia government to implement more zealously a policy of weeding out substandard tonnage from the island's ship registry.
Major growth at NY/NJ port PORT of New York and New Jersey has announced strong results for 1997, with containerised cargo jumping 13.8% and oceanborne general cargo volumes 4.5%.
Canadian aid boxship for Afghanistan CANADIAN food aid to Afghanistan totalling 4,400 tonnes, one of the largest single consignments ever moved through the Port of Vancouver, has been loaded on to the 2,728teu containership, Ever Govern.
Safmarine lifts its profits SAFMARINE, the shipping division of Safmarine and Rennies Holdings (Safren), improved its operating profit by 49 per cent.
Jacobs announces profit increase JACOBS Holdings, the UK-based property to transport group, has announced a steep rise in operating profit.
Secrecy hampers box repositioning THE reluctance of most shipping companies to share information is the main obstacle preventing carriers finding a viable solution to repositioning of containers.
Carnival linked with Cunard bid CARNIVAL is rumoured to be behind a Norwegian bid for Cunard
Hanjin Shipping posts loss for 1997 SOUTH Korean carrier Hanjin Shipping has reported a loss of won38.36bn ($26.5m) for 1997.
Taipei to abolish shipyard subsidy TAIWAN is understood to have decided to abolish subsidies at China Shipbuilding Corp by the end of 1999.
Hong Kong to address China box ruling THE Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association is to address concerns about a Chinese customs regulation requiring carriers to ship empty boxes from Guangdong back to Hong Kong.
Hoverspeed confirms bid for Channel islands link HOVERSPEED, the fast ferry subsidiary of Bermuda-based Sea Containers, has confirmed it is to bid to operate the link between the UK mainland and the Channel Islands.
Kandla plans for "pre-eminence" KANDLA port, India has announced its strategy for attaining "pre-eminence" amongst Asia-Pacific ports.
No win situation for Malta Win Cargo Containers CONTAINER manufacturer Malta Win Cargo Containers is being liquidated after making an accumulated loss of 'M2.9m ($7.3m) in the last two years.
JNP passes half million mark JAWAHARLAL Nehru Port (JNP), Mumbai announced that it has passed the half million teu mark for this year.
Force majeure to remain on Ok Tedi THE Ok Tedi copper mine in Papua New Guinea's western province is expected to resume normal operations this month, but the force majeure on copper concentrate shipments remains.
Corrigan under pressure to come clean on sackings OFFICIAL pressure is mounting on Australian stevedoring industry leader Chris Corrigan to respond to claims that he will sack his workforce at Patrick within weeks.
NOL bottom line loss plunges to S$297m ($185m) A 34 per cent increase in liftings last year was not enough to boost Neptune Orient Lines' 1997 results into the black following its acquisition of American President Lines last year.
P&O Stena places Cambria on Newhaven-Dieppe P&O Stena Line is to place its 12,700 gt Stena Cambria onto the Newhaven-Dieppe route instead of the 13,000 gt Pride of Bruges.
Truckers' strike paralyses Colombian ports COLOMBIA's Pacific coast port of Buenaventura has been paralysed by a week-long truckers' strike, while the Caribbean port of Cartagena has had its operations cut by 50 per cent.
Foreign tugs on standby for likely Easter uprising Preparations for an anticipated Easter waterfront showdown have taken on a new dimension with widespread - though officially unconfirmed - rumours of foreign tugs and non-union crews being readied for Australia deployment. According to unofficial reports, one or more Australian resource companies - operators of their own ship loading facilities - have chartered "strike-busting" tugs from New Zealand and Singapore as part of contingency plans to ensure export contracts are not threatened if or when the Patrick/NFF/MUA dispute blows up into a national strike.
ANZDL in fleet upgrade Three ships in the Australia-New Zealand Direct Line fleet - Direct Eagle, Direct Kiwi and Direct Falcon will undergo major refurbishment - including container and reefer capacity upgrades - as part of routine Classification Society requirements, ANZDL general manager Brian O'Dea said.
Three ports help WA top ore league Western Australia's three iron ore ports - Dampier, Port Hedland and Cape Lambert exported a combined total of 152 million tonnes of iron ore last year, a figure which saw the state being the world's largest iron ore exporter for the fourth consecutive year. More than 77 per cent of WA iron ore shipments went to Asian steel makers, while the state's market share in China, Taiwan and Japan increased significantly.
Karumba reduces charges for live cattle exports Port charges for live cattle exports through the port of Karumba have been reduced from $2.80 to $2 a head for the remainder of this year. The Ports Corporation of Queensland board has decided to apply the reduced charge after 31 May. Transport and Main Roads Minister Vaughan Johnson said, "The live cattle industry in Queensland is still in its fledgling stages and encouragement is appropriate at a time when the Asian economic situation has had such a severe effect."
Pasminco confirms Schoeller, Toll wins Metal and minerals producer Pasminco Limited this week confirmed that Schoeller Holdings and Toll Holdings have won long-term distribution contracts for the company's finished goods within Australia and to Asia. Pasminco, which tendered out both its Australian and off-shore distribution contracts late last year, said Toll would manage metal handling at Pasminco's three smelter sites, while the Cyprus-based Schoeller Holdings has been selected to handle all shipping of finished product to Asia.
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