Ateliers told to repay $328m aid Struggling French shipyard Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre suffered a major blow yesterday when it was revealed that the European Commission had ruled that French government aid totalling FFr1.8bn ($328m) was illegal and should be repaid.
South Korea 'dumping' leads to layoffs at Aker Norwegian-controlled Aker Finnyards is to lay off an unspecified number of its 1,150-strong workforce, writes Rajesh Joshi, Oslo Correspondent.
General Dynamics gets Nassco takeover boost THE proposed acquisition of National Steel and Shipbuilding parent Nassco Holdings by giant US defence contractor General Dynamics is a step closer to completion thanks to just-granted US Defence Department (DoD) approval of the $415m deal.
K-Line hit by operating costs CAR carrier services and the tanker trades helped underpin half year results of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, which reported a drop in pre-tax income for the period as vessel operating costs increased.
Empty boxships threat to small bulker sector THE empty stomachs of today's containership fleet means that the world's smaller bulkers are facing a struggle - where only the fittest will survive.
HDW in pact with Chinese shipyards CHINA State Shipbuilding Corp and German shipyard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate on newbuilding projects.
Daedong awaits Tsakos go-ahead SOUTH Korea's Daedong Shipbuilding says it will discover tomorrow whether Greek shipowner Nikolaos Tsakos intends to proceed with his much-delayed plans to order coated panamax tankers at the bankrupt shipyard.
Panama renews objections to US bases IN an address coinciding with Panama's independence celebrations this week, president Ernesto Perez Balladares, again rejected the proposal of a conservative group of US congressmen to maintain US military bases at the Panama Canal after the year 2000.
Changes rumoured at Polish Baltic CHANGES to the management team at state owned Polish Baltic Shipping Co (PZB) are considered likely at today's executive board meeting.
India-Pak conference imposes currency curbs FOLLOWING increasing difficulties in repatriating freight remittances overseas, IPBCC lines have restricted payments in Pakistan currency.
Dunkirk-Ramsgate venture to be launched FRENCH ship operator Delom is to launch a roro service between Dunkirk and Ramsgate on November 16.
Pallas salvage bid called off ALL salvage operations involving the general cargoship Pallas were ended on November 6 when the vessel broke its back.
CMA-CGM merger is blocked FRENCH liner shipping group CMA-CGM has been hit by a decision by the Nanterre (Paris) Tribunal of Commerce to suspend the merger of the two companies.
P&O Ports ups Cagliari stake P&O PORTS has increased its stake in Porto Industriale di Cagliari, the company holding the concession to operate the Cagliari container terminal in southern Sardinia.
Fincantieri pleads for EU support FINCANTIERI md Saverio Di Macco has pleaded with the EU to support European shipyards in combating the dumping policy of Asian countries.
Dutch plan to aid ailing yard THE Dutch government is ready to make Df 60m ($32m) available for Vlissingen's troubled De Schelde shipyard.
Offshore vessels head for Caspian THREE of the five offshore vessels ordered by Wagenborg Shipping of Delfzijl have departed to the Caspian Sea for use by the Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Company.
Tianjin ousts Shanghai TIANJIN has replaced Shanghai as the most favoured Chinese port for South Korean services over the first seven months of the year.
LA awards Yang Ming rail contract A CONTRACT has been awarded to build an intermodal rail facility for Yang Ming Line at the Port of Los Angeles.
Docenave plans four bulkers DOCENAVE, the Brazilian operator, has delivered a letter of intent to the merchant marine shipping institution, BNDES, regarding orders for four bulk carriers.
First PacifiCat exceeds expectations CANADA'S Catamaran Ferries International, which is building three fast vehicle-carrying catamarans for the Vancouver Island trade, has exceeded expectations during sea trials.
Chennai surcharge 'not withdrawn' CHENNAI feeder operators have refuted the Port Trust's claim that they have agreed to withdraw the congestion surcharge on containers.
EU to probe German yard EU COMPETITION commissioner Karel Van Miert is starting an investigation into whether Kv'rner Warnow-Werft has exceeded its EU newbuilding capacity.
Patrick back in court PATRICK, the troubled Australian stevedore, is in court again facing a class action from sacked non-union labour.
Aker Finnyards to cut workforce AKER Finnyards, the Rauma-based shipyard, has started talks with representatives of its 1,150 strong workforce about layoffs or job losses.
Finland/Norway plan to cut shipbuilding aid BOTH Finland and Norway are planning to cut state aid to the shipbuilding industry.
Les opérateurs citerniers belges veulent établir un nouveau rapport commercial avec les affréteurs La nouvelle situation qui résultera de la libéralisation anticipée du marché belge de la navigation intérieure en date du 1ier décembre prochain, suscite l'inquiétude dans les milieux des opérateurs citerniers belges. Les rapports déjà délicats entre affréteurs et transporteurs menacent de se compliquer davantage. Les contrats à terme entre les transporteurs et affréteurs individuels constituent la principale préoccupation. De nombreux transporteurs souhaitent une révision de leur contrat, mais les affréteurs ne semblent pas enclins à les suivre dans cette voie, dit-on du côté des transporteurs.
Cathay Pacific s'attaque à la crise avec un programme d'action différencié La crise asiatique a également affecté les compagnies aériennes de la région. Pour la première fois en trente-cinq ans, la compagnie Cathay Pacific de Hong-Kong a enregistré des chiffres rouges au cours du premier semestre. Elle ne baisse pourtant pas les bras et a lancé un programme d'action différencié pour redresser la situation, a pu apprendre la presse européenne au quartier-général de Cathay au nouvel aéroport de Chek Lap Kok.
CMA et CGM sous la surveillance d'un "observateur indépendant" L'ordonnance prise par le Tribunal de Commerce de Nanterre, dans la banlieue parisienne (voir LL du 6/11) et suspendant le processus de fusion entre la Compagnie Maritime d'Affrètement (CMA, Marseille) et la Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM, Paris) crée une situation nouvelle, même si la décision du tribunal ne concerne pas le fond. Autrement dit, ce n'est pas le principe même de la fusion qui est en cause. Mais, suite à sa décision de suspendre le processus de fusion entre la CMA et la CGM, le tribunal a nommé un administrateur judiciaire en qualité d'observateur.
P&O Ports prend une participation dans le terminal de Cagliari P&O Ports, la filiale portuaire australienne du groupe P&O, a annoncé qu'elle va prendre une participation de 32% dans le nouveau terminal à containers de Calgiari, en Sardaigne. "Nous estimons que Cagliari peut s'ériger comme le hub et centre de transhipment par excellence dans la partie centrale de la Méditerranée", a déclaré Richard Setchell, le président de P&O Ports. "La gestion et le savoir-faire de P&O combinés à l'expérience locale et les connaissances des actionnaires restants sont les garants de l'éfficacité et de la compétitivité du terminal", a-t-il ajouté.
"Third force" for airports to reckon with Door-to-door express freight company Federal Express wants to see the Airports Council International assume a standard-setting role for the special needs express freight operators. Its credentials for advising airport leaders are size of business and fleet. It employs 143,000 people on the processing of some three million packages a night and has 615 aircraft, placing it in the world's top five of aircraft owners, including the major airlines.
Hong Kong troubles slashed loads The cargo chaos which ruined the opening of Hong Kong's new airport in July severely affected air freight movements between Australia and Hong Kong, with new figures showing that the amount of freight carried on the route plummeted by up to 50 per cent. According to the latest aviation report from the commonwealth Department of Transport, the total amount of air freight carried in July between Hong Kong and Australia decreased by 41.2 per cent over the same period in 1997. Inbound air freight was hampered the most, with a 48.5 per cent drop in traffic, while outbound freight traffic suffered a 35.3 per cent decline. The figures show that 3975.8 tonnes of freight was carried between the two destinations in July compared to 6761.2 tonnes in July last year.
Trailerail delays start-up National Rail's successful bi-modal refrigerated operation Trailerail will now begin its inaugural Sydney to Perth train service in the latter half of January because of delays to the manufacture of new trailers. Trailerail general manager Graeme Jaensch told DCN yesterday the long-awaited weekly service, originally planned to start this month, had been delayed until next year because the trailers for the new service had not yet been completed. "We've had a few problems with our trailer manufacturers and consequently we won't be starting until January," Mr Jaensch said. "We won't have enough (trailers) to run an economic train until January."
Teekay, AMOU agree EBA Teekay Shipping (Australia) and the Australian Maritime Officers Union have reached agreement on a three-year extension of their enterprise agreement. The document, which will take the parties until July, 2001, was yesterday ratified by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. Teekay Shipping (Australia) managing director Paul Bendy told DCN yesterday the agreement included wage rises, offset by a number of productivity improvements which the deck officers were prepared to make. Mr Bendy did not wish to disclose the level of wage rises involved, noting that it did not give a true picture, particularly as the officers had agreed to a number of productivity issues.
Sanko Eternal Sold The 96,117 dwt tanker Sanko Eternal was reportedly sold for $21 million with 5 years time charter back at $17,000 to clients of Greek shipping company Tomasos.
Swedish Orient Line To Flag Out Two Ships Swedish Orient Line AB reportedly will flag out two of its four RoRo vessels to achieve cost savings of 5-6 million Swedish crowns per year. The full impact of the savings was not expected to be felt until July 1, 1999.
IEA Offers Warning On Oil Demand Prospects for a recovery next year in petroleum consumption have diminished, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said, citing the continuing world financial crisis, particularly in the Far East. "Oil demand in 1998 and 1999 has been revised downwards to reflect the latest reported oil demand and economic information, which have both been lower than expected."
Maritrans To Use Tanker Acquisition During 4Q Maritrans Inc. reportedly intends to start using its latest tanker acquisition in the Gulf of Mexico during the fourth quarter. This vessel will begin transporting refined products in the Gulf of Mexico. The double-hulled tanker was acquired in August when it entered a shipyard for maintenance and modifications.
Hyundai Heavy Wins $960M In Orders Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. reportedly won orders worth $960 million from three foreign companies to build 13 vessels. Hyundai Heavy said it had won one order worth $650 million from Stena of Sweden to build eight 316,000-ton VLCCs. Hyundai Heavy also reportedly won an order worth $160 million from Iranian state-run shipping company Islamic Republic Iran Shipping Lines to build four 3,300-TEU containerships, and an order from a French consortium of Buoygues Offshore and McDermott-ETPM worth $150 million to build one FPSO ship.
Pentagon Backs General Dynamics Purchase The Defense Department reportedly has notified the Justice Department Antitrust Division that it had no objection to General Dynamics Corp.'s proposed purchase of National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. of San Diego.
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