Cosco and Sinotrans may merge CHINA'S government has floated a plan to merge state-owned China Ocean Shipping Company and Sinotrans, but both companies appear less than enthusiastic about the prospect of combining into a transport giant.
Elf awards $1.1bn Angola contracts ELF Exploration Angola has awarded Bouygues Offshore, ETPM and Stolt Comex Seaway two turnkey contracts worth a total FFr6.7bn ($1.1bn) for a floating production storage and offloading unit and riser and flowline system for Angola's deepwater Girassol field.
Asian shipbuilding orders in decline SHIPBUILDING orders are expected to decline by almost a quarter this year, in contrast with 1997, according to a leading Japanese think tank.
London and Frankfurt stock link THE London and Frankfurt stock exchanges have formed a strategic alliance which aims to create a single European stock market, writes Tony Gray.
Philippines cabotage review A RADICAL review of the Philippines' strict cabotage laws is once again on the agenda as the government moves to encourage competition in the domestic inter-island shipping industry.
Third day of operations TONNES of air cargo wait to be cleared at the apron of Hong Kong's new Chek Lap Kok international airport on the third day of operations yesterday. Hong Kong wholesalers clamoured for compensation and newspapers demanded top officials resign as staff at the city's lavish new airport struggled to fix computer bugs and a host of other problems.
Malaysia port workers plan union MALAYSIAN port workers are looking to form a national federation amid fears that 700 redundancies at Penang Port may be followed by further job losses across the country.
OMM seeking $2.7m frozen funds release TROUBLED independent P&I club Ocean Marine Mutual (OMM) will go to court in the Isle of Man today to seek the release of $2.7m of frozen funds.
Germany tackles van Miert on TACA fines A JUNIOR minister in the German transport department has asked European Commissioner Karel Van Miert not to impose heavy fines on TACA members.
Mærsk to operate latest MSC ship MÆRSK Line has been appointed as the operating contractor for the latest roro launched by the US Navy's Military Sealift Command.
Alaskan venture 'will provide job security' A NEW joint operating company formed to transport Alaskan oil will provide important job security, said Seafarers International Union.
APL calls direct at expanding Cebu port AMERICAN President Lines has launched a new direct, weekly service to Cebu, the second largest international port in the Philippines.
Changjiang River now boasts 17 container terminals A STRING of container terminals has been built up along China's Changjiang River where bulk and general cargo handling once predominiated.
Telenor Marlink files for bankruptcy DIRECTORS of Telenor Marlink, the Norwegian maritime communications company, have decided to file for bankruptcy as the company lack the funds for further operations.
Decca Marine provide 24 hour 'ready radar' service DECCA Marine, part of Litton Marine Systems, has launched an automated 'Ready Radar' programme to provide 24-hour delivery of complete radar sets and spares.
Shippers boycott Chennai WITH no easing of the congestion in Chennai port, shippers and importers have started diverting their cargo to Tuticorin even though this means additional trucking charges.
Court rules in Gordon's favour THE Philippines Supreme Court has decided to grant Richard Gordon's request to withdraw his petition seeking to stop President Estrada from ousting him as chairman of SBMA.
Tuticorin receives deepening approval INDIA'S Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a proposal to deepen the approach channel and the harbour basin areas of Tuticorin port.
Patrick under fire again AUSTRALIA'S second-largest stevedoring company, Patrick, has been taken back to court only weeks after settling a six month dispute with the Maritime Union.
Orapin Global prosecutors urge 'stiff deterrent' SINGAPORE prosecutors yesterday urged a local district court to hand out stiff deterrent sentences in the trial of two tanker masters involved in Singapore's worst ever oil spill.
Singapore confirms two Port State detentions SINGAPORE'S Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) today confirmed to Fairplay that it has already detained two vessels for not having ISM certification.
11 per cent of inspected ships have no ISM MORE than ten per cent of ships that should have ISM certification do not have it, according to initial reports from port states to the IMO.
OOCL opens Tasmanian link OOCL has started an improved service linking Australia's southern-most state, Tasmania, with Asia through Singapore.
Row erupts over ownership of Thor Dahl A ROW has erupted between Thor Christensen and his aunt over the ownership of the Norwegian shipping group Thor Dahl Shipping.
Le port de Genk va se doter d'un terminal à containers Le sort en est jeté. L'ancien port à charbon de Genk le long du canal Albert sera équipé d'un terminal à containers multimodal. Dans une phase intiale, le centre de transbordement sera aménagé sur un terrain de 2 ha en bordure d'un quai de 325 mètres de long. Il y a assez de terrains disponibles pour une extension future. Les promoteurs s'attendent à prendre le centre de transbordement en service d'ici un an.
BA/AA doit supprimer des fréquences La Commission européenne a annoncé les conditions qu'elle pose à British Airways et à American Airlines en vue d'approuver leur alliance. BA a réagi en déclarant que l'attitude de la CE incite à l'optimisme mais que les conditions sont trop sévères. La CE ne s'est pas encore prononcée sur la Star Alliance.
La SAV édite un CD ROM pour sensibiliser les transporteurs à la communication mobile L'association flamande de transporteurs SAV va diffuser dans quelques jours 5.000 CD ROMs auprès de l'ensemble des transporteurs flamands (pas seulement les membres), contenant une présentation et un calcul de coûts/bénéfices pour les différents systèmes de communication mobile disponibles sur le marché en Belgique. "Le but est de sensibiliser les transporteurs à l'existence et aux avantages de ces divers systèmes, qui deviendront de plus en plus importants pour la survie de l'entreprise. En effet, le transport devenant une part de plus en plus intégrante d'un ensemble logistique, la communication - et donc la communication mobile - deviendra un facteur crucial pour le transporteur", a déclaré Liliane De Wilde, secrétaire général de la SAV, en préambule à la présentation du CD ROM.
ERS s'attend à conclure un troisième accord de partenariat cette année John P.M. Verschelden, le président ERS (European Rail Shuttle, le partenariat ferroviaire entre les armements Mærsk Line, P&O Nedlloyd et Sea-Land) ne se repose pas sur ses lauriers. A l'occasion de l'inauguration de la nouvelle navette entre Rotterdam et Mainz/Mannheim (en collaboration avec Transfracht), il a déclaré qu'ERS lancera probablement une troisième navette commune à partir de Rotterdam avant la fin de l'année. Il n'a pas précisé si cela se ferait en coopération avec Transfracht ou un autre opérateur ferroviaire. Pas un mot non plus sur la route concernée. Rappelons qu'ERS a conclu un premier accord de coopération avec CTN (Container Train Nederland) en début d'année dans le but de proposer une offre commune au défaut de Rotterdam, vers Prague et Bratislava.
Industrial rumblings at sea and on shore A third ship is expected to become embroiled in the Intercontinental row today following the lack of a breakthrough in the dispute, while continued industrial tensions were visible on the waterfront in Melbourne and Sydney yesterday. If anything, the Intercontinental dispute has worsened with two unions now directly involved in industrial action. A hearing of the matter in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission resulted in the company failing to obtain section 127 orders against the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers.
Austal turns low dollar to European advantage Austal Ships is basking in the silver lining offered by the devalued Australian dollar as a flood of orders pours into its Henderson yard. While the Asian financial crisis has seen orders dry up from what was once the company's major source of business, the lower dollar is boosting Austal's quest to make further inroads into European markets. The company turned over $162 million last financial year and this is expected to rise to more than $200 million in the 1998-99 year.
ANSCON begins Shekou calls The port of Shekou, in the rapidly developing area of the Pearl River Delta of southern China, has attracted direct calls from Australia. Over the past few weeks several member lines of the Australia Northbound Shipping Conference (ANSCON), including Orient Overseas Container Line, P&O Swire Containers and Zim Israel Navigation Company, have scheduled calls at Shekou.
WA's Charlton set to retire Western Australia's Transport Minister Eric Charlton is expected to retire at the end of this month after serving as a minister for almost five-and-a-half years. Mr Charlton's retirement is dependent on certain conditions being agreed upon by the Coalition government, principally that his post will be filled by another National Party member.
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