Mahathir poised to sell PNSL fleet MALAYSIAN businessman Mirzan Mahathir is poised to sell off his shipping fleet as part of efforts to restructure his debt-burdened Konsortium Perk-apalan Bhd transport group.
Sally to hand link to rival LOSS-making Ramsgate-Ostend fastcraft operator Holyman Sally is set to hand over the service to Hoverspeed, with the UK port of call switching to Dover. Confirmation is expected as soon as formal agreement is reached with the Belgian government.
Moody's and S&P take same view on Ermis TWO leading credit rating agencies, Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Services, have assigned similar ratings to the proposed $200m high yield bond issue by John Alafouzos' Ermis Maritime Holdings.
Manila International cargo boost OPERATIONS at the Port of Manila's two international terminals have been further rationalised with Manila Interna-tional Container Terminal being allowed to begin non-containerised operations.
Port Klang firms facing difficult year CONTAINER terminal operators at Port Klang, Malaysia's national load centre, are preparing for a rough ride for the rest of 1998.
Platou sees uncertainty WEAKER newbuilding prices, lower daily freight rates and values and less flexible bankers will characterise shipping markets this year, Oslo-based R S Platou has claimed.
Baltic slump hits Indian owners INDIAN shipowners face a further decline in earnings following recent falls in the Baltic Freight Index.
Taiwan agrees new China link A TAIWAN government official said yesterday the opening of a new shipping route between China's Shanghai and the island's northern Keelung port had been agreed, further widening cross-strait shipping links, Reuters reports.
Fpso project hits Keppel FELS' profits KEPPEL FELS, the rig building subsidiary of Singapore industrial group Keppel Corp, recorded a massive drop in attributed profits last year.
New Hong Kong director of marine appointed TSUI Shung-yiu will take over as director of marine with the Hong Kong government on March 6.
Harland & Wolff wins drill ship order BELFAST shipbulder Harland & Wolff has won an order for a drill ship priced at more than $300m from Global Marine Service Corp in the Bahamas.
Marina bows to pressure on class societies Marina scraps restriction on class societies in the Philippines.
Scotland receives feeder boost ROTTERDAM-based feeder operator Feederlink is starting a shuttle service that will connect the port of Felixstowe with Grangemouth in Scotland.
Mergers require scrutiny says FMC THE US Federal Maritime Commission says that further mergers in the container shipping sector will require continued government scrutiny to ensure fair competition.
Economic malaise hits ICTSI profits MANILA-based International Container Terminal Services posted a decrease in income last year.
Maersk and Sea-Land drop Vancouver A DOWNTURN in traffic between Asia and North America has led to Maersk and Sea-Land dropping their joint weekly service to Port Vancouver.
Mærsk names latest mega-ship THE latest large container vessel for AP Møller, Lindø Newbuilding 162, was named Sally Mærsk at Odense Steel Shipyard on February 28.
Inchcape decision shocks local branches GLOBAL ship agency branches of Inchcape today expressed surprise at news of the decision to sell off the group's shipping activities.
CMN sees diversification as essential for survival SUCCESSFUL diversification is "essential for survival" at French yard Constructions Mécan-iques de Normandie (CMN), according to yard director Emmanuel Janssen.
FEFC reports trade turnround THE Far East-Europe container trade is experiencing high volumes westbound as Asian exports increase due to weaker currencies throughout most of the region.
Waterfront to de-merge obo business WATERFRONT Shipping, the Norwegian bulk shipping group, has called an extraordinary shareholders' meeting to de-merge the group's obo carrier business.
Swedish fast ferry venture founders JETSON Coast Link, a Swedish company that planned to open a fast ferry service across the Gulf of Bothnia, has been forced to give up its plans.
Patrick may close, warns Corrigan AUSTRALIA'S continuing waterfront dispute may force the closure of Patrick stevedoring, according to the company's chairman Chris Corrigan.
Further delay for Disney ship FINCANTIERI has taken the blame for a second delay in delivery of the newbuilding Disney Magic.
UE: Feport entend mener une discussion constructive sur le livre vert sur les ports Feport, cette Fédération des opérateurs privés européens de terminaux accueille favorablement dans ses grandes lignes, le livre vert de la CE sur les ports et les infrastructures maritimes, mais entend participer activement aux prochaines discussions relatives à l'élaboration des principes directeurs qui conditionneront cette future politique, car il y a effectivement matière à discussion sur bien des aspects. Tel est le point de vue formulé mardi dernier à Bruxelles au cours d'une conférence de presse donnée par la direction de Feport, en l'occurrence Peter Dietrich, assisté pendant un court instant de Niel Kinnock, commissaire européen au Transport et promoteur/auteur de ce livre vert.
Corneel Geerts stoppe le transport combiné en Belgique Transport Corneel Geerts s'est entièrement retiré du transport combiné entre la Belgique et le sud de l'Europe. Il est repassé au routier à 100% et a vendu ses caisses mobiles et ses semi-remorques dédiées pour le trafic sur l'Italie. "La qualité de service était vraiment trop déplorable", nous a-t-il expliqué. Pourtant, il continue à croire dans le ferroutage sur les longues distances. Entre la Suède et l'Italie, par exemple. Ou par autoroute roulante entre l'Allemagne et le sud et le centre de l'Europe.
Le rail et le transport fluvial gagnent du terrain Selon l'AGHA, l'association coupole du secteur privé du port d'Anvers, les secteurs du rail et de la navigation fluviale captent lentement mais sûrement une partie du marché du transport routier en ce qui concerne le transport de containers de et vers le port. La part de ce dernier mode a chuté de 72,1 jusqu'à 65,8% en l'espace de deux ans; celle de la navigation fluviale a augmenté de 22,7 jusqu'à 27,1% et celle du rail de 5,2 jusqu'à 7,1%.
New Wave Entreprise organise la distribution européenne pour les chaussures Dr. Martens Comme nous l'annoncions brièvement dans l'édition de samedi, le groupe britannique R. Griggs a décidé de céder la distribution européenne des célèbres chaussures Dr. Martens à la New Wave Entreprise. Cette entreprise a loué un entrepôt à Aartselaar, en dehors de la région portuaire, pour profiter de la flexibilité des ouvriers. Il s'agit en première instance de la distribution des chaussures vers l'Allemagne et le Benelux, les autres pays européens suivront dans une seconde phase.
MUA to fight WA gov't at Port Hedland THE MARITIME Union of Australia has vowed to maintain the battle against the Western Australian Government's quest to introduce workplace agreements and individual contracts for port workers around the State. MUA WA branch secretary Terry Buck said union members at Port Hedland were extremely concerned about the Government's insistence on these types of agreements for those employed by the successful bidder for a newly advertised stevedoring contract at the port.
MUA suspects new foreign training bid THE INDUSTRIAL temperature on the Australian waterfront was rising again yesterday with the Maritime Union of Australia identifying new overseas destinations for the alleged training of non-union labour and discussions with Patrick looking shaky. The national secretary of the union, John Coombs said he believed facilities in British Columbia and Johor, Malaysia have been approached to train workers for the Australian waterfront.
Steering failure caused grounding of bulk carrier, inquiry finds A MARINE Incident Investigation Unit inquiry into the grounding of the Cypriot bulk carrier Tassos N off Fremantle in January 1997 has blamed steering gear failure. As the US-bound vessel entered the Parmelia Channel a steering gear fault occurred which resulted in the ship not responding properly to the movements of the helm. The ship and its cargo of 37,775 tonnes of alumina was refloated later that day, with damage confined to the paintwork on the ship's bottom.
Farmers back P&CS into SA THE SOUTH Australian Farmers Federation has proclaimed its "unwavering support" for increased competition on the waterfront, a move which could herald the expansion of P&C Stevedores to South Australia. SAFF President Wayne Cornish said the federation had given its support in principle to P&CS which has set up a company on Melbourne's Webb Dock in a bid to increase competition on the waterfront. "P&C stevedores is not about union busting. It is a commercial entity which aims to cut costs of container handling by up to 50 per cent or $100 a container by introducing competition in the stevedoring industry." Mr Cornish said.
WA welcomes track agreement WESTERN Australian Transport Minister Eric Charlton has welcomed the establishment of a national body to coordinate planning and track upgrade. Mr Charlton said the formation of the Australian Rail Track Corporation would provide the impetus to get the high speed freight corridor completed and establish a one-stop shop to coordinate operators wanting to use the upgraded interstate line.
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