Ten years after 'Piper Alpha': have lessons been learned? THE massive explosion that destroyed the Piper Alpha oil production platform exactly 10 years ago has left a lasting legacy that has traumatised survivors, observers and the oil industry as a whole.
Asia bidding for hull market ASIA could have its own marine hull market operating in Hong Kong and Singapore as soon next May, according to the project's main proponent, Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF) Insurance Committee Chairman George Chao.
Portnet gets to grips with its problems PORTNET, the South African port authority and operator, certainly hit the wall recently when congestion-linked delays caused chaos in the major ports and incited shipowners and operators to desperate measures.
Standard claims of over $1m double for 1997-98 THE Standard P&I Club was exposed to 12 claims of over $1m each in the 1997-98 policy year, more than twice the normal average for claims above $1m.
Hapag-Lloyd new diesel deal PREMIER German shipowner Hapag-Lloyd has specified a new design of an exceptionally wide-bore diesel engine for its latest breed of panamax-optimised containership.
Keeping tabs on those arbitration appointments I AM occasionally asked if the number of arbitration appointments received drops in times of low freight rates compared with when markets are buoyant.
All quiet on the competition front The agreement between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia was still in the balance over the weekend with no word from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on the future of its legal action against the union. The ACCC alleges the MUA conspired with international unions to black ban non-union loaded ships during the dispute, breaching secondary boycott provisions of the Trade Practices Act. The agreement between Patrick and the MUA, endorsed by the union's members stipulates that it is conditional upon "settlement of all litigation related to the industrial dispute."
Timaru to feel rescheduling pinch Tasman Express has announced a rescheduling of its port calls on New Zealand's South Island. The company's chief executive, Ron Longley, told DCN that instead of only one of the company's vessels calling at Bluff, both will now do so. "We will continue to review this on an ongoing basis," Mr Longley said. "We have also decided that we will no longer call at the port of Timaru on a regular basis, but we anticipate occasional calls by our vessels subject to both cargo availability at a particular time and the ability of one of our vessels to make the port call without affecting our overall schedule."
Townsville makes it 11 in a row The port of Townsville has recorded its 11th consecutive year o record trade growth. Townsville Port Authrotiy chairman David Carmichael said, "The previous year's figure of just over 7.5 million tonnes was surpassed on 20 June when the San Paolo loaded 10,024 tonnes of copper concentrates fromthe Eloise Mine – located 60km south of Cloncurry – bound for India."
Carriage Act needs close attention by shippers/carriers New regulations based on the amended Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991, governing Australia's marine cargo liability regime, came into force on 1 July. According to law firm, Blake Dawson Waldron, the following proposals considered by the Marine Cargo Liability Working Group were not implemented: · the time for commencement of action for loss of, or damage to, goods carried remains fixed at one year rather than being extended to two; · there is no change in monetary limits of liability in line with the Group's recommendation that such limitation should be introduced in line with the Hamburg Rules; and · the so-called 'nautical fault' defence had not been abolished.
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