Japan may seek OECD pact rejig JAPAN will seek to re-negotiate the OECD agreement to eliminate shipbuilding subsidies if the US fails to ratify the pact.
Senate bid to bar overseas breaking of US ships LEGISLATION to prohibit the US Maritime Administration (MarAd) and the US Navy from selling their obsolete vessels to overseas shipbreakers has been filed by US senator Barbara Mikulski.
Box costs hit P&O Nedlloyd The Anglo-Dutch operator carried 15% more containers from the Far East to Europe in the January-March period compared with a year earlier as lower Asian currencies boosted exports from the region. The strength of westbound shipments is now filtering through into significantly higher freight rates.
Storebrand doubles first-quarter profit NORWAY'S Storebrand has reported a doubling of first quarter 1998 net profit over the same period last year on the back of higher investment income. However operating profit at the flagship life insurance division was down 20%.
Norasia defends ship policy Norasia Samantha and Norasia Savannah will not have an ice-class, according to Germanischer Lloyd, which has classified the ships.
Seatrade honours Grammenos COSTAS Grammenos, Pro Vice-Chancellor of London's City University and head of its Shipping, Trade and Finance Department has become the Seatrade Personality of the Year.
Milestone for FastShip box cargo service OPERATORS of the proposed FastShip container cargo service linking Philadelphia and Cherbourg claim the project has taken a giant step forward with the "verification" of its novel ship design from Norwegian classification society Det Norske Veritas.
Sea Chieftain under construction Pictured is the Sea Chieftain, under construction for Stena in the Societa Esercizio Cantieri shipyard at La Spezia. The ro-ro vessel is one of five 12,350 dwt Stena 4-Runner class ships being built for the Swedish company. The Sea Chieftain will join the UK's Royal Navy Auxiliary Fleet when delivered by the yard.
P&O Nedlloyd cuts losses DESPITE a six per cent fall in revenue, the 1998 first quarter result for P&O Nedlloyd improved to a loss of $39m compared with a loss of $58m for the same period last year.
Montanari sells majority stake in shipyard MONTANARI, the Italian ship and shipyard owner, has moved to concentrate on shipowning by selling 60 per cent of its non-core shipbuilder CNP.
Haitians may have sailed on 'mothership' INVESTIGATORS in Miami have suggested a larger ship transported over 150 Haitians to US waters and then transferred the passengers onto a small vessel yesterday.
Ferry business boosted by plane crash DOMESTIC shipping lines in the Philippines are winning back a substantial share in the passenger market they lost to airline companies, following a fatal plane crash in February.
ITF promotes Patrick THE ITF is advising shipowners to use Patrick stevedores' facilities in Australian ports now that they are being worked by MUA members.
El Nino aid held up at Guayaquil DONATIONS destined for victims of the El Nino phenomenon are being held back by excessive paperwork at the Ecuadorian port of Guayaquil.
Tor Line looks to IT to add value ODDBJORN Fastesson, md of Swedish roro operator Tor Line, has identified IT as the tool to take the company into the next decade.
MacGregor to unveil new development MACGREGOR, the roro equipment manufacturer, told Fairplay that a new development would be announced before the end of the year.
Roro design 'to undergo dramatic change' DIESEL electric power and the azipod system will change the way roro and ropax vessels are designed, according to Kv'rner Masa-Yards.
Trasmed and Comanav to collaborate TRASMEDITERRANEA has signed a collaboration protocol with Moroccan ferry operator Comanav.
Haitians jump ship in Miami OVER 150 Haitians spilled into down-town Miami yesterday from a Belize-registered general cargo ship.
Unprofitable gaming ship is redelivered STAR Cruises has taken redelivery of its cruiseship SuperStar Capricorn after the ship spent less than a month operating one-night gambling cruises out of New York City.
ARCO expands petroleum base ATLANTIC Richfield has agreed to acquire Union Texas Petroleum Holdings for $3.3bn.
Rail investment hit TMM results MEXICO City-based TMM reported a net loss of $11.3m for the first quarter of 1998, predominantly because of its rail investment.
Sea-Land takes over at Adelaide SEA-LAND has moved quickly to pick over the bones of troubled Australian stevedore, Patrick.
Australian cat in Blue Riband bid AN Australian-made fast catamaran is to attempt to break the trans-Atlantic Blue Riband speed record for commercial passenger vessels.
Mimco commences reforms regardless THE Maltese government will wait no longer for Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein's decision as to whether it will take part in managing Malta Shipbuilding.
Shanghai builds cranes for Oakland SHANGHAI Zhenhua Port Machinery Plant has secured a $24m contract for the export of four post-panamax container cranes to Oakland Port
A. Smeulders (UEA): "L'adaptation de nos conditions générales doit mener à la revalorisation de la profession" "Au sein des organisations professionnelles la coopération doit prévaloir, mais chacun doit garder sa propre identité. Un secrétariat conjoint aux associations professionnelles est concevable, certains dossiers étant identiques, mais il en est d'autres, qui sont strictement de notre ressort". C'est ce qu'a déclaré Annie Smeulders présidente de l'UEA (Union pour l'expédition et la logistique d'Anvers) alors qu'elle occupait la tribune du Propeller Club Port of Antwerp.
Les boîtes Stora par barge jusqu'à Düsseldorf? Le système de transport stora entre la Suède et Zeebrugge devrait avoir un prolongement sur le continent. Les parties concernées étudient la possibilité de créer un service fluvial dédié vers Düsseldorf et de retour pour le transport de boîtes Stora. C'est ce qu'a annoncé Michael Gray de Cobelfret Ferries lors de la conférence RoRo98 à Götebeborg. Un tel service offrirait des connexions vers la Ruhr, région qui génère des volumes énormes de cargaisons. Un nombre de questions doivent néanmoins encore être résolues.
La suppression anticipée du tour de rôle réclame des mesures Le secteur fluvial belge ne peut pas rester les bras croisés après que le gouvernement néerlandais ait supprimé le système de tour de rôle. C'est ce qu'a déclaré le président de l'Office de la Navigation Willy Claes lors de la présentation du rapport annuel 1997 du service. Il a adressé un appel pour la réalisation de l'élargissement du canal Albert. Son prédécesseur Herman Dessers a déclaré que le projet d'un deuxième terminal à containers sur le canal se concrétise.
Hamann acquiert 35% d'Arcus Logistic België La société anversoise Arcus Logistic België va vendre une participation de 35% au groupe allemand Hamann, dont le siège est à Hilden. Mark Smets conservera toutefois la majorité des actions. Suite à cette transaction, la société belge sera rebaptisée Hamann International Belgium.
P&OP battles MUA over 'lost' contracts P&O Ports denied yesterday that it had agreed to hand over work to a competing stevedore and declared that it would be taking action against those who interfered with its contracts. Director of Australian and New Zealand ports at P&O Ports told DCN he flatly rejected a claim by the South Australian secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia that the company had agreed to hand over the loading of the Handy Althea at Port Adelaide to Sea-Land.
Corrigan fights Mr Monopoly Monopoly is the central issue of the dispute between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia according to the company's chairman Chris Corrigan. He said the Productivity Commission had estimated the MUA monopoly was costing $100 million a year in poor work practices - a figure he said was underestimated.
P&OP defers introduction of off-dock charge P&O Ports has deferred the introduction of an interim off-dock transport fee of $10 per container in Sydney and Melbourne. The fee was to be implemented to meet the costs of transporting containers away from congested wharves. The company did, however, triple storage charges in an attempt to force quicker pick-ups.
Govt gets bouquet for railway money The Australasian Railway Association yesterday welcomed the federal government's confirmation of last year's announcement that it would set aside $250 million to upgrade and maintain Australia's inefficient interstate network over the next four years. The Association was particularly pleased with the governments commitment of $35 million for the construction of the grade separation junction at Flemington in Sydney.
MIFCo details unveiled The federal government expected to outlay up to $100 million towards waterfront redundancies over the next four years, budget papers show. The money would be repaid through a levy on stevedores of $12 for each container and $6 per vehicle, with revenue expected to be $100 million over our years, thus removing any taxpayer liability.
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