Bid to take over B.C. ferry building project flops Washington Marine Group has dropped its bid to take over British Columbia's controversial $250-million fast-ferry program
Treasury: Korea isn't using IMF bail-out money to subsidize yards U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin has respondedto Congressional concerns that South Korea might be misusing IMF bail-out money
Hyundai gets order for R&B Falcon semi South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd has announced a $300 million order from R&B Falcon Corp for a semi-submersible drilling rig
Chevron gives details of capital budget with continued "significant spending" in U.S. Gulf Chevron Corp. has announced a $5.1 billion capital and exploratory spending program for 1999 and a plan to reduce expenses in 1999 by $500 million
Finally, some good news for Smedvig on West Navion II Negotiations with suppliers cut cancellation costs by $18 million
Monarch of the Seas grounding Text of statement by Royal Caribbean
Prescott seeks tonnage tax to reinvigorate UK shipping DEPUTY prime minister John Prescott yesterday vowed to consider a Dutch-style tonnage tax as part of a new UK government strategy to reinvigorate the British shipping industry.
NTA pulls out of dry bulk sector SWEDISH tanker giant NTA is to quit the dry bulk sector under a new rationalisation plan that also includes the departure of former Argonaut boss Bj'rn Ersman at the end of the year.
US to boost reserves with $100m oil buy A US Department of Energy emergency task force is expected tomorrow to deliver its final recommendations on how to assist the country's ailing oil industry.
Smedvig to claw-back $18m drillship charge Norway's Smedvig has discovered that it can reverse NKr140m, or about $18m, of the $90m it swallowed as a one-off charge in second-quarter accounts after deciding to withdraw from the West Navion II drillship project.
No quick-fix for decades of UK shipping decline THE UK government's reaction to the proposals of the Shipping Working Group, which reported to the deputy prime minister John Prescott in March 1998, has been broadly supportive, acknowledging that the resolution of many of the proposals rest on the industry itself.
Shipping Working Group THE Shipping Working Group was established in late 1997 by the deputy prime minister John Prescott under the chairmanship of the director of shipping and ports in the DETR.
Owners left to achieve 2000 compliance SHIPOWNERS have been left to arrange their own stringent tests for year 2000 compliance of vessels, after leading classification societies said they were unable to help, writes James Brewer.
1,850 tonnes of record cargo The German registered Rhine barge Lass Saturn, 2,366 dwt, pictured in the upper reaches of the Truro River in southwest England, en route to Truro port , where she loaded a record cargo from the port, 1,850 tonnes of calcified seaweed bound for Lorient.
Tanjung Priok postpones three port projects THREE infrastructure projects slated for completion this year have been postponed by PT Pelabuhan III, the operator of Tanjung Priok port in Indonesia.
Keppel launches Philippines share swap KEPPEL Philippines group has nearly completed the restructuring of its shipyard and property related interests.
Viking's pre-tax rises as more passengers carried VIKING Line, the Finnish cruise ferry operator, saw pre-tax profit rise in the financial year ended October 31 as more passengers and freight were carried.
UK proposes tonnage tax BRITAIN'S deputy prime minister, John Prescott, today announced the introduction of tonnage tax, pending budget approval, to help bring ships back to the British flag.
Royal Caribbean's emergency plan 'a success' ROYAL Caribbean's Emergency Response Plan, put into action following its grounding yester-day involving the Monarch of the Seas, appears to have been successful.
South Koreans see hope in lower fuel expenses FALLING crude oil prices and a container fee rise have boosted South Korean vessel operators' fortunes.
West Coast dock workers win legal struggle A US court has thrown out a lawsuit filed by west coast waterfront employers that sought to prevent the reccurrence of a dockers' strike similar to last year's stoppage.
Wilhelmsen sells ships to finance newbuildings WILHELMSEN Lines has sold six vehicle carriers to raise finance to extend its newbuilding programme.
Meyer lays keel of P&O Cruises' Aurora THE keel of P&O Cruises' new cruiseship Aurora was laid yesterday at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
Insurance bill introduced to Indian parliament THE controversial Insurance Regulatory Bill was introduced in the Indian parliament on Tuesday amid strong protests from opposition parties.
Estonian roro arrested in pay dispute AN Estonian Shipping Company roro has been arrested by the Finnish Seamen's Union over a pay dispute involving unions in Scandinavia and Germany.
Sinchart to expand in Asia SINCHART Shipping, the Asian operating arm of Russian tanker company Primorsk, is looking to expand its local operations despite the region's economic crisis.
La relève de la TACA ne semble pas garantie Il devient de plus en plus évident que les jours de la conférence TACA sont comptés, mais son remplacement semble assez difficile. Il est question aujourd'hui de la création d'une sorte d'association qui se substituerait à ladite conférence. Vingt deux armements opérant sur l'Atlantique se sont une fois de plus réunis tout récemment à Londres cette fois pour faire le point au sujet de cette perspective que certains soutiennent, alors que d'autres adoptent une attitude de prudente réserve, où encore participent aux discussions par simple curiosité. Comme de coutume Evergreen était absent.
Premier pas vers une concertation entre ports maritimes et autorités fédérales La commission parlementaire compétente a approuvé la proposition de loi de Jos Ansoms et Jozef Van Eetvelt (CVP') concernant la création d'une concertation portuaire au niveau fédéral mardi dernier. La proposition pourrait être approuvée par l'assemblée plénière de la Chambre au cours de la première moitié de janvier. Si le décret d'application ne se fait pas trop longtemps attendre, la concertation pourrait débuter à Pâques. C'est ce qu'annonce un communiqué. L'objectif est de créér un dialogue direct entre les autorités fédérales et les ports maritimes (Anvers, Gand, Zeebrugge, Ostende, Liège et Bruxelles) en ce qui concerne les dossiers pour lesquels ces ports ne peuvent s'adresser aux instances régionales, qui sont compétentes pour l'infrastructure portuaire.
AEL au départ d'Anvers en conventionnel vers la COA Vers la fin du mois de janvier prochain, la compagnie maritime Africa Express Lines (AEL) va lancer au départ d'Anvers, dont il fera son port de base, un service régulier en conventionnel/breakbulk à destination de la COA. En fait, il s'agira de l'inauguration d'un service complet étant donné que l'opérateur assurait déjà des voyages northbound avec des navires affrétés "trip out". La fréquence sera d'un départ par mois dans un premier stade.
Le conseil communal de Rotterdam favorable à une participation dans ECT Les opposants à une participation dans Europe Combined Terminals au sein du conseil communal ne devraient pas pouvoir empêcher une participation rotterdamoise dans l'entreprise de transbordement de containers. Le conseil communal, qui se penche sur le dossier aujourd'hui, devrait approuver la proposition des échevins de prendre une participation de 30% dans ECT. Si la proposition ne fait pas l'unanimité au sein du collège des échevins, l'importance que revête ECT pour l'économie régionale devrait néanmoins faire la différence. La participation dans ECT doit permettre à la commune de développer une stratégie offensive ensemble avec Hutchison Port Holding, ce qui devrait par exemple se traduire par des investissements dans des terminaux dans l'hinterland de Rotterdam.
Ming Mercy fire report released "AMATEUR" wiring extensions are suspected of causing the accommodation fire aboard the Taiwanese bulk carrier Ming Mercy off Port Kembla in August 1997. The fire was eventually brought under control with the assistance of the New South Wales Fire Brigade, members of which were ferried to the vessel by tug and helicopters. The forward end of the lower and upper bridge decks of the Ming Mercy, owned by Yang Ming Line, was severely damaged by the fire. The bridge suffered extensive smoke damage and buckling of the steel deck. All navigation, control and communications equipment was rendered unserviceable through damage to electrical cables in the decks beneath.
Unusual events led to ferry grounding "AN unusual combination of events" has been blamed for the grounding off Middle Head of the Sydney harbour ferry Narrabeen in September. Details of the official investigation into the grounding were released by the New South Wales Minister for Ports, Kim Yeadon. "A number of related factors contributed to the grounding including the prevailing swell, low tidal height and wind conditions combined with the presence of other vessels in the transit area," Mr Yeadon said. "These conditions certainly tested all organisations involved and we have learnt a lot from this incident. "To ensure this type of incident is not repeated, the Waterways Authority will be putting in place a plan of action so future events of this kind are more lightly co-ordinated between the agencies involved."
Norwegian Star shines brightly NORWEGIAN Capricorn Line's Norwegian Star, which arrives in Sydney tomorrow, has already sold out her first two cruises. Described as the only four star cruiseship in the South Pacific, the vessel will be officially welcomed to Australia and Sydney, where she will be based, by the New South Wales Minister for Tourism, Bob Debus. Featuring Australian hotel staff, food, wine and entertainment, the Norwegian Star will facilitate a boost to domestic tourism. The managing director of Norwegian Capricorn Line, Sarina Bratton, said passenger interest in the vessel has been excellent.
Miners return to work ALL coalminers have returned to work following the strike called to protest a reduction in prices paid for Australian coal, the coalminers union said yesterday. Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) barrister Wayne Haylen, QC, said as far as he was aware all miners had abided by the Federal Court's temporary injunction which prevented the union taking further industrial action. Mr Haylen had headed an appeal in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission against an earlier decision which found the strike was in breach of industrial laws and further industrial action should cease. The CFMEU and its officials face potential heavy fines and jail terms if they are found to have breached secondary boycott and other provisions of the Workplace Relations Act. A barrister for the mine employers, Adrian Morris, said the industrial action had had a massive economic impact on mines in Queensland and New South Wales. "The order should be left in place," Mr Morris said. "The main reason is that the union wont be able to take further unprotected action." The strike brought multiple hearings in the Commission, the Supreme Court and the Federal Court.
The Suez Canal Authority has announced that it will introduce surcharges on transit tariffs through the Egyptian canal for most major cargo vessels, effective July 15.
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