BRIEFS

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Channel dredging tipped to start this year Yingkou looks overseas for investment boost Singapore steps-up safety inspections Philippine port users oppose further rates increase FMC to examine ASF meetings Trans-Atlantic freight facing fast ship threat Dragonair takes delivery of new A320 Radar upgrade for Chennai

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JUNE 5, 1998
Container shipping prices under pressure Eurotunnel court case against book publisher Dutch toll levy experiment postponed Higher Dutch shipbuilding aid New World Alliance respond to customer requirements Decrease Northwest Airlines earnings; online sales KLM/Northwest New chief executive officer UPS Logistics

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Home

Westbound Pacific lines say it's time to raise rates
Castro test-drives capitalism, but his foot is on the brake
Starting Aug. 1, more textiles will trade duty-free among the Nafta countries
House strategists vague on Senate shipping bill future
TMG partners stay in the Colombia trade
Air couriers still bringing hazardous cargo aboard passenger jets
Gloom shrouds Indonesia despite debt deal
UAW members begin strike at GM plant
Travelers face misery in air and rail as transport strikes sweep France
India asks WTO to reject U.S. beef on import curbs
Financial health of consolidated truckers up for a review
Pacer International to acquire Cross Con
Yellow Corp. forms new international unit
APEC nations sign deal to ease telecom trade
Pony Express sold to Mustang Holdings
Tension at Brazil's Port of Santos mounts as slowdown continues
Singapore tops global competitiveness rankings

Transportation

China rail shake-up to affect 1 million jobs
Software makers move into logistics fast lane
FedEx chairman pushes global postal rate bill
Panama on road to becoming a modern transshipment hub
East Japan Railway Co. performs emergency inspections of bullet trains
EU official sees turbulence ahead on open-sky agreements

Maritime

Some Pacific trade to be rerouted from Los Angeles
Bulk ship, stranded in Vancouver since '97, to be sold to pay crew
Greek flag droops as fleet grows
Navieras launches Venezuela service

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Home

Westbound Pacific lines say it's time to raise rates
Castro test-drives capitalism, but his foot is on the brake
Starting Aug. 1, more textiles will trade duty-free among the Nafta countries
House strategists vague on Senate shipping bill future
TMG partners stay in the Colombia trade
Air couriers still bringing hazardous cargo aboard passenger jets
Gloom shrouds Indonesia despite debt deal
UAW members begin strike at GM plant
Travelers face misery in air and rail as transport strikes sweep France
India asks WTO to reject U.S. beef on import curbs
Financial health of consolidated truckers up for a review
Pacer International to acquire Cross Con
Yellow Corp. forms new international unit
APEC nations sign deal to ease telecom trade
Pony Express sold to Mustang Holdings
Tension at Brazil's Port of Santos mounts as slowdown continues
Singapore tops global competitiveness rankings

Transportation

China rail shake-up to affect 1 million jobs
Software makers move into logistics fast lane
FedEx chairman pushes global postal rate bill
Panama on road to becoming a modern transshipment hub
East Japan Railway Co. performs emergency inspections of bullet trains
EU official sees turbulence ahead on open-sky agreements

Maritime

Some Pacific trade to be rerouted from Los Angeles
Bulk ship, stranded in Vancouver since '97, to be sold to pay crew
Greek flag droops as fleet grows
Navieras launches Venezuela service

web site

Home

Westbound Pacific lines say it's time to raise rates
Castro test-drives capitalism, but his foot is on the brake
Starting Aug. 1, more textiles will trade duty-free among the Nafta countries
House strategists vague on Senate shipping bill future
TMG partners stay in the Colombia trade
Air couriers still bringing hazardous cargo aboard passenger jets
Gloom shrouds Indonesia despite debt deal
UAW members begin strike at GM plant
Travelers face misery in air and rail as transport strikes sweep France
India asks WTO to reject U.S. beef on import curbs
Financial health of consolidated truckers up for a review
Pacer International to acquire Cross Con
Yellow Corp. forms new international unit
APEC nations sign deal to ease telecom trade
Pony Express sold to Mustang Holdings
Tension at Brazil's Port of Santos mounts as slowdown continues
Singapore tops global competitiveness rankings

Transportation

China rail shake-up to affect 1 million jobs
Software makers move into logistics fast lane
FedEx chairman pushes global postal rate bill
Panama on road to becoming a modern transshipment hub
East Japan Railway Co. performs emergency inspections of bullet trains
EU official sees turbulence ahead on open-sky agreements

Maritime

Some Pacific trade to be rerouted from Los Angeles
Bulk ship, stranded in Vancouver since '97, to be sold to pay crew
Greek flag droops as fleet grows
Navieras launches Venezuela service

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Grand Alliance Airs PAX Service Realignment ANERA to Impose License Administration Fee ESC Adopts Code of Practice for Bulk Shipping IPCDA Launces Logistics Services in Indonesia Box Imports Surge at Seattle NCA Posts Net Profit of $27.5 Million for FY97

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India budget disappoints shipowners INDIAN finance minister Yashwant Sinha has failed to offer real incentives to the country's beleaguered shipping industry in his maiden budget with the exception of conferring coveted "infrastructure status" on the country's three inland waterways and inland port terminals. Pakistan oil slick drifts towards coastal area FURNACE oil leaking from the hull of a tanker said to be the Yashica-6 has spread into a slick of 30-35 nautical mile radius, says Pakistan's Marine Pollution Control Board. Korea shipyards bouncing back SOUTH Korea has once again staked its claim for leadership in the shipbuilding market with a remarkable resurgence of orders in May. Interfrigo cargo down 3.4% in year EUROPEAN combined trans-port operator Intercontainer-Interfrigo carried 1.3m teu last year, 3.4% less than in 1996, writes Fred Winkler, Zurich. Go-ahead for Long Beach box terminal LONG Beach Harbor Commission has voted to move ahead with the development of a container terminal on the former Long Beach Naval Station and adjacent Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Big welcome for 'Shrada' THE 77,827 dwt Sharda (built 1976) became the biggest dry bulk ship to berth at Continental UK's export terminal in the Port of Southampton. The 30,100 tonnes of feed barley was exported to Saudi Arabia. Southampton, which is owned by Associated British Ports, is one of the UK's leading dry bulk ports, handling 1.2m tonnes in 1997. Clubs voice concern over millennium SHIPOWNERS and P&I clubs are experiencing difficulties in contacting suppliers of marine equipment which could be susceptible to millennium compliance problems. French owners reject warning FRENCH shipowners have challenged a news agency report that the millenium bug could provoke numerous accidents in the Channel because of the failure of shipping companies to take measures to deal with it.

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JUNE 5, 1998
Indian Ocean MOU signed in Pretoria INDIAN Ocean states meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Indian Ocean MOU). Hoechst opens its Frankfurt terminal HOECHST, the German chemicals group, has opened its private inland waterways port at Frankfurt for use by other operators. Trinidad to triple lng production AMOCO'S Trinidad subsidiary and Spain's Repsol have announced an alliance aimed at tripling lng production in Trinidad. USCG tightens ballast restrictions THE US Coast Guard is moving forward with two major additions to its regulations on the discharge of ballast water in and off US ports. Manila charges to increase again MANILA is set to implement further increases in cargo handling charges at the South Harbour and Manila International Container Terminal. Hong Kong shippers object to new charges HONG Kong Shippers' Council says it is "unfair" for trans-Pacific carriers to impose a HK$400 'licence fee' on shippers. Hong Kong backs cruiseship terminal HONG Kong's secretary for economic services Stephen Ip has endorsed plans by Cheung Kong Holdings to build a cruiseship terminal in Hong Kong. Medcenter takes competitor to court CONTSHIP has appealed to the Italian administrative court against the concession offered by Cagliari Port Authority to terminal operator MITH. Fishermen threaten Alaska cruises VANCOUVER'S cruise industry is nervously watching the British Columbia salmon fishing fleet after threats that fishing boats may blockade cruiseships. JE Hyde owner sells up CARL Lee, the sole shareholder of Hyde Holdings, has agreed the sale of his entire interest to brokers from Hamburg and London. Loophole may allow ferries to sell duty frees TAX advisers working for P&O have revealed that a legislative loophole could mean sales of duty free alcohol, cigarettes and perfumes on ferries will continue. Shanghai rewards quality ships SHANGHAI Customs Office has identified 25 Chinese ships, including some belonging to Cosco, which will be given preference in clearance and tariffs. Pacific north-west feed exports slump FEED grain exports from the US Pacific north-west fell by 44 per cent this season because of revaluation of Asian currencies against the US dollar and growing competition. Shipyard charges state for ferry changes SEATTLE'S Todd Pacific Shipyard is to charge Washington State Ferries $48m for cost overruns after 300 changes were made to a ferry order. Miami's Lunetta charged and bailed CARMEN Lunetta, the former Port of Miami director, has been charged by US federal investigators of turning the port into a "personal bank". HHLA plans to restructure HAMBURG city government-owned terminal operator HHLA is planning a corporate restructure. Shipbuilding remains uncertain, warns Antonini CORRADO Antonini, head of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, has warned that prospects for world shipbuilding remain uncertain following forecasts of a downturn in demand. Grimaldi places first second registry ship GRIMALDI'S multipurpose vessel Repubblica Argentina is the first ship operating in an international trade to be placed on the Italian second register. Canberra claims MUA conspiracy THE Australian government has lodged a counter-conspiracy charge against the MUA as part of its defence against a similar suit lodged by the union. Adsteam said to be eyeing up Holyman AUSTRALIAN towage operator Adsteam Marine is refusing to comment on market speculation that it may bid for transport group Holyman.

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JUNE 5, 1998
Volkswagen offrira une gamme complète d'utilitaires "avant la fin de l'année" "Wir gehen full range. Nous serons un constructeur offrant une gamme complète avant la fin de l'année." C'est ce que nous a déclaré Wilhelm Walch, directeur de la division "véhicules utilitaires" de Volkswagen, au cours d'un entretien exclusif en marge d'un atelier de travail IAA à Francfort. Il a ajouté que des décisions importantes seront prises à très court terme. Kinnock veut davantage de capital privé pour les RTE Le commissaire européen Neil Kinnock (Transports) est d'avis qu'il faut trouver davantage de capital privé pour l'aménagement des réseaux transeuropéens (RTE), les travaux d'infrastructures transfrontalières de transport au sein de l'UE. Il avait déjà plaidé par le passé pour des partenariats publics-privés pour le financement des RTE. Kinnock appelle les Etats membres de l'Union européenne à créer un cadre opérationnel clair et stable pour la participation du secteur privé dans le financement et le développement de l'infrastructure publique des transports. Geodis rachète Innocenti et König à TDG Le groupe français Geodis a signé avant-hier un accord avec le "Transport Development Group" (TDG) britannique concernant le rachat de la filiale française Innocenti-Royer et de la filiale néerlandaise König-Jawico. Ces deux entreprises de TDG seront intégrées dans la division de transport routier de Geodis et contribueront au développement des activités de transport citernier, plus particulièrement de produits chimiques. La reprise cadre parfaitement dans la stratégie de Geodis consistant à réaliser une croissance dans les activités européennes et à renforcer l'implantation aux Pays-Bas (commencée en 1996 avec la reprise de Van der Laan). Anvers se profile comme région ITC de premier plan Antwerp Digital Mainport (ADM) vient de voir le jour à Anvers. L'objectif de cette société coopérative est de réunir les entreprises actives dans le domaine de la technologie de l'information et de la communication (ITC - information technology and communications) ou offrant des services annexes. Anvers veut faire appel au savoir-faire encore trop peu connu dont la région dispose dans ce domaine, pour se profiler en tant que région de haute technologie.

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Sharp's fire goes out Announcing his retirement from federal politics yesterday the former Minister for Transport John Sharp, said his decision had not bee prompted by any aspect of the current legal wrangling over the government's alleged involvement in Patrick Stevedores action to sack its MUA workforce. Mr Sharp said an influential factor in his decision had been the many private sector job opportunities which had been offered to him recently by major companies, including an offer of a senior position at Linfox by trucking magnate Lindsay Fox. Columbus catches the Brisbane double-docker Columbus Line has declared itself to being more than happy to have drydocked two of its vessels in Australian recently. The company once considered Australian docks to be too expensive, however the success of a 1995 drydocking at Brisbane's Keppel Cairncross yard has led the line to continue using the facility a further four times. End for Barbican Line? An official announcement of the closure of the barbican line southern hemisphere service is imminent, after an apparent determination by German parent Deutsche Afrika-Linien that results from the operation do not justify necessary re-investment. According to industry sources Barbican has been badly hit by escalating competition on most legs of its service. Survey finds dispute 'handled badly' Patrick Stevedore's dismissal of its entire union workforce and the federal government's support for the company were overwhelmingly supported by small business as was the National Farmers Federation's involvement in the dispute, according to a new survey of 1200 small businesses across Australia. The Yellow Pages Small Business Index found that 58 per cent of respondents said they believed the federal government had handled the dispute badly, 30 per cent thought it had handled it well, and 11 per cent had no opinion. MUA-Patrick talks 'at operational level' Discussions between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia continued in Sydney yesterday afternoon. Despite talks, legal action is continuing at a furious pace on several fronts. In the latest legal twists, the judge hearing the conspiracy case brought against Patrick and the federal government by the MUA is also to hear legal action instigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission against the MUA.