US exporters attack rate rise bid US EXPORTERS have reacted angrily to moves by ocean carriers to raise westbound transpacific freight rates.
Maltese PM resigns Malta's prime minister Alfred Sant offers his resignation while addressing his Labour Party supporters at the medieval port of Cottonera yesterday. He made the offer after losing a parliamentary vote on the setting up of a yachting centre at Cottonera. The Labour group said it continued to back him.
Chantiers hones finance skills LEADING French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique has been honing its financial expertise in a bid to increase its attraction to newbuilding customers.
Australian dollar dives lower A screen tracks the plunging Australian dollar during trading on the foreign exchange floor at Melbourne's ANZ bank yesterday. It fell to its lowest close on record as Japanese yen weakness affected rates across the region.
Hebburn clinches two refit contracts HEBBURN'S Tyne Tees Dockyard, part of the Wear Dockyard Group, has now been officially awarded the refit order for two vessels owned by Horizon Exploration Ltd and the Ministry of Defence's Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Fleet Support seeking further Royal Navy role EAGER to add to its allocated programme of Royal Navy ship work after announcing its return to the refit market, Fleet Support Limited (FSL) will submit its bid for the refit of the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster, due in 1999, later this month.
Anger grows over Canadian fishing boat ban A DECISION by the Canadian government to ban US fishing boats from Canada's west coast shipyards because of a salmon dispute is attracting increasing criticism from BC industry.
Trouble ahead warns Chevron's Y2K chief FOR the turn of the millennium, avoid major waterways, get fully provisioned up and do all fund transfers in advance, says captain Philip Davies, Chevron's operations consultant.
St Lawrence Seaway 'going full tilt' THIS year's early start means that "everything is going full tilt" on the St Lawrence Seaway, according to Wayne Smith, general manager of Seaway Self Unloaders.
Smit Tak wins Moby Prince removal contract SMIT Tak, the Dutch towage and salvage company, has secured the bid to remove the wreck of the Moby Lines ferry Moby Prince.
ISF applauds Philippines' action on STCW THE firm line being taken by the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education to implement the requirements of STCW '95 has been praised by the ISF.
IMO refuses to budge on venue decision THE International Maritime Organization is refusing to concede to pressure over holding meetings in Asia.
AASL results reflect freight market slump ANANGEL-American Shipholdings has reported a first quarter loss of $1.2m, reflecting continuing poor freight market conditions.
Tasmanian fast cat link to be permanent A PERMANENT high-speed catamaran service between the Australian mainland and Tasmania appears likely following a successful summer experiment.
Cunard sets up Queen Mary project team CUNARD Line has set up a project team to work on a newbuilding plan given the name Queen Mary.
Mærsk orders four more box ships MÆRSK Line has ordered four 4,300 teu containerships from Hyundai.
Cruise majors upbeat on future A CRUISE industry seminar in Oslo has painted a bright outlook for the industry, especially for the major operators.
NCLH to lengthen third cruise liner NCL Holding is planning to lengthen the 1992-built cruiseship Royal Majesty to increase passenger capacity to 1,440 from the present 1,040.
Carriers plan fight-back on rates THIRTEEN major carriers met yesterday in Seoul to plan a curb on plummeting freight rates.
Nigerian oil output hit OIL production has been disrupted at Nigeria's Brass River crude oil export terminal located in the Niger Delta area.
US plan to impose scrapping rules US senator Barbara Mikulski has filed legislation in Congress that would impose restrictions on the US MarAd and the US Navy sending ships overseas to be scrapped.
La Belgique doit suivre l'exemple néerlandais et anticiper la libéralisation du tour de rôle "Les années 1996 et 1997 ont été des années importantes pour la navigation intérieure. Fin novembre 1996, la directive 96/75 du Conseil des Ministres était publiée. Elle visait la suppression du système d'affrètement via le tour de rôle et l'instauration du principe de la liberté contractuelle tant au niveau du transport national qu'international de marchandises par voie navigable à la date du premier janvier 2000. Puisque les Pays-Bas ont l'intention de supprimer le tour de rôle à partir du premier décembre 1998, la Belgique devrait s'y adapter au bénéfice de la navigation intérieure belge et des ports belges." C'est ce qu'a déclaré le président Fernand Suykens à l'occasion de l'assemblée générale du Fonds de la Batellerie rhénane belge.
Air France: la politique interdit la vraie solution Commencée le lundi 1er juin, la grève des pilotes d'Air France est entrée dans sa deuxième semaine le lundi 8. L'échéance du dénouement reste l'élément le plus difficile à apprécier. En revanche, on sait déjà que la sortie du conflit ne résoudra pas les vrais problèmes. Ces derniers sont en effet économiques et le jeu des intérêts politiques bloque les vraies solutions à y apporter.
CCB envisage d'exporter du ciment aux USA via Gand L'usine de la Compagnie du Ciment Belge (CCB) située à Gaurain-Ramecroix, près de Tournai, envisage d'exporter 3 à 400.000 tonnes de ciment par an aux Etats-Unis. Ces exportations passeraient par le port de Gand, centre de transbordement maritime le plus proche des installations de production.
More delays as talks continue A meeting of creditors or the insolvent Patrick labor hire companies was in Sydney adjourned yesterday until 20 July to give it ant the Maritime Union of Australia time to negotiate. Administrator Peter Brook of accounting firm Grant Thornton used his casting vote to pass the motion for the longer adjournment after the vote was deadlocked by the union having a majority vote in favour and the banks having the majority value vote in money owed to them - against the motion.
Queensland set to approve access funds for TPA The Queensland government is set to approve $63 million in loan funding for the Townsville Port Authority which it says will "eradicate transport and noise problems in South Townsville and generate new green space for the city."
FPA sues Labor MP The Fremantle Port Authority has begun legal action against WA Opposition Transport spokesperson Alannah MacTiernan. FPA chairman Ron Aitkenhead said the legal action was being taken over statements made by Ms MacTiernan to the media on 7 May relating to the role of the FPA in the waterfront dispute.
Catalonia closes on Atlantic record and Hales Trophy Incat built vessel Catalonia steamed closer to snatching the prestigious Hales trophy for the Blue Riband of the Atlantic yesterday as her log books demonstrated she was well on the way to completing the fastest crossing of the sea by a commercial passenger vessel. The vessel began her voyage at 10:35 New York time, on June 6, and is due to arrive at Tarifa Point early today (AEST).
Queensland freight councils under way Representatives from shipping and associated sea freight sectors will sit on a proposed sea freight council announced by the Queensland government. The state has committed $300,000 for the on-going development of freight logistics opportunities in Queensland over the next financial year, Queensland's Minister for Transport and Main Roads Vaughan Johnson said.
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
phone: +39.010.2462122, fax: +39.010.2516768, e-mail
VAT number: 03532950106
Press Reg.: nr 33/96 Genoa Court
Editor in chief: Bruno Bellio No part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
