'Apollo' facing $1.7m claim A LUXURY cruiseship due to start a series of Mediterranean cruises from Britain is at the centre of a '1m ($1.7m) compensation claim after a 15-day holiday was cancelled at three days' notice.
P&I clubs seek new talks with Brussels THE International Group of P&I Clubs is looking for further dialogue with the European Commission following Monday's oral hearing in Brussels.
Tax-break plea for US foreign-flag owners CONGRESSMAN E Clay Shaw, a senior member of the important House of Representatives tax-writing ways and means committee, has launched an effort to secure income-tax breaks for US owners of certain foreign-flag cargo and passengerships provided they reinvest their profits in US-flag tonnage.
May Day march Militant South Korean workers threw rocks at police in Seoul yesterday when the traditional May Day march exploded into violence after police blocked the route. Thousands of workers have for months been frustrated over the steady loss of jobs.
Tanker insurance rescue bid PANAMA and Malta have come to the rescue after the maritime community was faced with the dilemma of how to keep hundreds of tankers trading freely after an insurance deadline expires.
Transhipment hub role urged for Subic Bay SUBIC Bay Freeport should be developed as a 'specialised port' to serve the Asia-Pacific region, according to a Japan International Co-operation Agen-cy study.
India starts project to revive east coast canal INDIA'S Inland Waterways Authority is looking to rehabilitate the country's east coast canal, with a view to providing a low-cost alternative to road haulage.
Cuddalore chosen for multi-user facility THE government of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has given the go-ahead for a new "multi-user all-weather" port in the industrial town of Cuddalore, about 200 km south of Chennai (formerly Madras), writes Shirish Nad-karni.
Bulk market 'set to improve' THE dry bulk market is set to improve, according to Ugo Salerno, md of Italian operator Coeclerici.
Customs drops butter charges UK Customs and Excise has dropped all criminal charges against six executives of New Zealand Dairy Board companies.
South African pilotage situation 'critical' SOUTH African pilotage has reached a critical point, with a shortage of pilots and no candi-dates suitable for promotion.
Seafarers' leader denies corruption charge LEO Barnes, the general secretary of the Mumbai-based National Union of Seafarers of India, has denied charges of corruption levelled against him and his union.
Prince Rupert wins steel, grains contracts PRINCE Rupert, the British Columbian port, has won a contract to handle the import of 70,000 tonnes of high grade Japanese specialty steel.
Tschudi & Eitzen acquire four bulkers Tschudi & Eitzen Bulkers takes over four handysized ships
China Shipping to set up in Hamburg CHINA Shipping, formerly Shanghai Haixing Shipping, is planning to open its European headquarters in Hamburg, according to Hamburg's mayor, Ortwin Runde.
UK publishes 'Safe Seas Guide' 'UK Safe Seas Guide' has been published by UK Marine Coastguard Agency, in response to Lord Donaldson's report on 'Safer Seas, Cleaner Seas'.
Sally launches new service to Belgium SALLY Line is to launch a new passenger ferry service between Ramsgate and Oostende, named Sally Direct, on May 20.
Offshore operations under attack THE future of offshore 'post-box operations' is under attack, according to Paul Powell, senior partner at Moore Stephens.
P&O Ports trebles Australian charges P&O Ports in Australia is tripling storage charges to reduce wharf congestion caused by the sacking of Patrick stevedoring's wharfies on April 7.
Philippine insurer lines up with Allianz PIONEER Insurance and Surety Corp, one of the Philippines major insurers of the domestic shipping fleet, has entered into a joint venture with the Germany-based Allianz Life Assurance.
Oil joint venture set up in Philippines GULF International Lubricants of India and the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company have formed a joint venture to set up a blending plant in the Philippines.
Crowley/APL launch LatAm service CROWLEY American Transport and APL have inaugurated their weekly fixed-day container service linking the US east coast, Panama, and the west coast of South America.
US ports see imports surge in March THE ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles witnessed record import traffic during March.
Overseas bidders make WA shortlist Singapore's Jurong Town Corporation and James Point Pty Ltd, a consortium headed up by Western Stevedores are proposing to team up to build, own and operate the proposed $60 million strike-free port at Kwinana. WA Transport Minister Eric Charlton's policy adviser Greg Trenberth said within the next month these companies would be sent documentation inviting them to prepare tenders. It was hoped that construction would begin by the end of the year, with the port scheduled to be fully operational by 2001.
Lay offs loom if waterfront dispute drags on Up to a quarter of small to medium sized business will have to consider laying off workers if the dispute between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia continues for another three weeks. A survey conducted by the Australian Business Chamber of 100 member companies found that a quarter of respondents might have to lay-off employees or ask them to take annual leave in three weeks time if the dispute continues.
Incentive needed to improve land-port interface says PC Many of the problems associated with establishing more efficient methods of transporting goods across the landport interface could be overcome by improving coordination, but there are few incentive available to encourage operators to move towards that goal, according to the Productivity Commission's Australian waterfront benchmarking study.
NR: Demand up, but not much National Rail has won additional landbridging traffic as a result of the nationwide waterfront dispute - but not enough to warrant putting on additional services. NR general manager corporate affairs, Fred Affleck said there had been little if any disruption to its regular services. "We have managed to continue serving both of the major stevedores, (Patrick and P&O), and Sealand in Adelaide.
Farmers rule out Kembla The NSW Farmer's Association has clashed with the state government over its offer to use Port Kembla for the movement of some cargo during the dispute between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia. Referring to a statement by minister for Ports Kim Yeadon, the Association president Mr Donges said the port did not have the capacity to handle large-scale container traffic.
Russia and the CIS states may be a problem area to do business, but transport and customs systems are slowly improving in this potentially lucrative market.
Maritime
Colombia Express will also offer calls at Rio Haina.
Beluga Shipping will launch a service between North Europe and the Caspian Sea.
Unifeeder is introducing a feeder service to St Petersburg.
UB Liner Services cooperates with Morline/Bolt Med Service.
P&O is entering a joint venture with Shougang in the bulk sector, called Associated Bulk Carriers Ltd.
CP Ships posted big increases in turnover and profit in first quarter 1998.
Stena Line's first quarter results are almost unchanged from last year.
New publications: ISL Shipping Statistics Yearbook 1997.
ACL posted double-digit growth in its earnings and profits in the first quarter 1998, and prospects for the whole year are good.
Forwarding
MSAS has obtained a joint venture licence to operate in China.
KWE earned more from its overseas business for the first time in 1997, and is investing in Colombia.
Circle International has founded a joint venture called Circle Renfreight in South Africa.
CNF Transportation recorded lower profits in first quarter 1998.
J.B. Hunt started 1998 well, due to its focus on core business.
Aviation
AA and USAirays have closed a marketing alliance. Does this mean that deregulation is at risk?
BA is flying a twice weekly freighter to Sri Lanka on a trial basis.
AR Cargo is offering more capacity in its summer timetable.
Swisscargo is entering the US west coast market in summer.
Cargolux posted the best results in its 28-year history in 1997, having made optimal use of its aircraft.
SNS/Cargo Switch expand services with a new European support centre.
Traxon Europe is now being offered free of charge.
Farnair Europe is taking over three Airbuses which it will fly solely for DHL Worldwide Express.
Häring has taken a majority stake in trans-work.
FedEx is buying all 20 of Swissair's MD-11 aircraft.
The USA and France have concluded an aviation agreement.
Calendar of events: 9th World Express and Rail, Washington DC.
Russia and the CIS states may be a problem area to do business, but transport and customs systems are slowly improving in this potentially lucrative market.
Maritime
Colombia Express will also offer calls at Rio Haina.
Beluga Shipping will launch a service between North Europe and the Caspian Sea.
Unifeeder is introducing a feeder service to St Petersburg.
UB Liner Services cooperates with Morline/Bolt Med Service.
P&O is entering a joint venture with Shougang in the bulk sector, called Associated Bulk Carriers Ltd.
CP Ships posted big increases in turnover and profit in first quarter 1998.
Stena Line's first quarter results are almost unchanged from last year.
New publications: ISL Shipping Statistics Yearbook 1997.
ACL posted double-digit growth in its earnings and profits in the first quarter 1998, and prospects for the whole year are good.
Forwarding
MSAS has obtained a joint venture licence to operate in China.
KWE earned more from its overseas business for the first time in 1997, and is investing in Colombia.
Circle International has founded a joint venture called Circle Renfreight in South Africa.
CNF Transportation recorded lower profits in first quarter 1998.
J.B. Hunt started 1998 well, due to its focus on core business.
Aviation
AA and USAirays have closed a marketing alliance. Does this mean that deregulation is at risk?
BA is flying a twice weekly freighter to Sri Lanka on a trial basis.
AR Cargo is offering more capacity in its summer timetable.
Swisscargo is entering the US west coast market in summer.
Cargolux posted the best results in its 28-year history in 1997, having made optimal use of its aircraft.
SNS/Cargo Switch expand services with a new European support centre.
Traxon Europe is now being offered free of charge.
Farnair Europe is taking over three Airbuses which it will fly solely for DHL Worldwide Express.
Häring has taken a majority stake in trans-work.
FedEx is buying all 20 of Swissair's MD-11 aircraft.
The USA and France have concluded an aviation agreement.
Calendar of events: 9th World Express and Rail, Washington DC.
Russia and the CIS states may be a problem area to do business, but transport and customs systems are slowly improving in this potentially lucrative market.
Maritime
Colombia Express will also offer calls at Rio Haina.
Beluga Shipping will launch a service between North Europe and the Caspian Sea.
Unifeeder is introducing a feeder service to St Petersburg.
UB Liner Services cooperates with Morline/Bolt Med Service.
P&O is entering a joint venture with Shougang in the bulk sector, called Associated Bulk Carriers Ltd.
CP Ships posted big increases in turnover and profit in first quarter 1998.
Stena Line's first quarter results are almost unchanged from last year.
New publications: ISL Shipping Statistics Yearbook 1997.
ACL posted double-digit growth in its earnings and profits in the first quarter 1998, and prospects for the whole year are good.
Forwarding
MSAS has obtained a joint venture licence to operate in China.
KWE earned more from its overseas business for the first time in 1997, and is investing in Colombia.
Circle International has founded a joint venture called Circle Renfreight in South Africa.
CNF Transportation recorded lower profits in first quarter 1998.
J.B. Hunt started 1998 well, due to its focus on core business.
Aviation
AA and USAirays have closed a marketing alliance. Does this mean that deregulation is at risk?
BA is flying a twice weekly freighter to Sri Lanka on a trial basis.
AR Cargo is offering more capacity in its summer timetable.
Swisscargo is entering the US west coast market in summer.
Cargolux posted the best results in its 28-year history in 1997, having made optimal use of its aircraft.
SNS/Cargo Switch expand services with a new European support centre.
Traxon Europe is now being offered free of charge.
Farnair Europe is taking over three Airbuses which it will fly solely for DHL Worldwide Express.
Häring has taken a majority stake in trans-work.
FedEx is buying all 20 of Swissair's MD-11 aircraft.
The USA and France have concluded an aviation agreement.
Calendar of events: 9th World Express and Rail, Washington DC.
Russia and the CIS states may be a problem area to do business, but transport and customs systems are slowly improving in this potentially lucrative market.
Maritime
Colombia Express will also offer calls at Rio Haina.
Beluga Shipping will launch a service between North Europe and the Caspian Sea.
Unifeeder is introducing a feeder service to St Petersburg.
UB Liner Services cooperates with Morline/Bolt Med Service.
P&O is entering a joint venture with Shougang in the bulk sector, called Associated Bulk Carriers Ltd.
CP Ships posted big increases in turnover and profit in first quarter 1998.
Stena Line's first quarter results are almost unchanged from last year.
New publications: ISL Shipping Statistics Yearbook 1997.
ACL posted double-digit growth in its earnings and profits in the first quarter 1998, and prospects for the whole year are good.
Forwarding
MSAS has obtained a joint venture licence to operate in China.
KWE earned more from its overseas business for the first time in 1997, and is investing in Colombia.
Circle International has founded a joint venture called Circle Renfreight in South Africa.
CNF Transportation recorded lower profits in first quarter 1998.
J.B. Hunt started 1998 well, due to its focus on core business.
Aviation
AA and USAirays have closed a marketing alliance. Does this mean that deregulation is at risk?
BA is flying a twice weekly freighter to Sri Lanka on a trial basis.
AR Cargo is offering more capacity in its summer timetable.
Swisscargo is entering the US west coast market in summer.
Cargolux posted the best results in its 28-year history in 1997, having made optimal use of its aircraft.
SNS/Cargo Switch expand services with a new European support centre.
Traxon Europe is now being offered free of charge.
Farnair Europe is taking over three Airbuses which it will fly solely for DHL Worldwide Express.
Häring has taken a majority stake in trans-work.
FedEx is buying all 20 of Swissair's MD-11 aircraft.
The USA and France have concluded an aviation agreement.
Calendar of events: 9th World Express and Rail, Washington DC.
Dark clouds over ISMC The rush is on to meet the deadline for the International Safety Management Code which comes into force two months from today. Those who failed to take the code seriously are now having to pay a price. Some owners will fail to meet the deadline while at least two shipmanagers face the chop from their trade organisation. But there are black clouds gathering, notably in the Far East where there are ominous signs that governments may water down port state control measures.
Ofer dips into the VLCC bargain bin Idan Ofer's Tanker Pacific is ready to cash in on price cutting by Korean builders by ordering up to five VLCCs at just $70m each. The move comes amid warnings that prices are set to fall further as the consequences of overcapacity hit home.
China is the target BULK SHIPPING GIANT ABC, which was spawned from the merger of P&O Bulk and Shougang, has China in its eyes.
Top gravy MORTON P HYMAN of Overseas Shipholding Group, already one of the world's highest paid executives, has pocketed a $1m bonus.
Swedes on the run WHY ARE the top people at Concordia Maritime on the run? See On the Watch.
Ships & chips READ TRADEWINDS' new columnist Lawrence Royston, who writes about the impact of information technology on shipping.
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