ITF ship rocked by crew dispute THE flirtation with ship ownership by the International Transport Workers' Federation has turned into a nightmare with accusations of crew indiscipline, drunkenness and operation of a substandard ship.
Kuwait Tanker seeks funds return LAWYERS plan to ask the High Court in London to order the maximum recovery of funds misappropriated by former company officials from Kuwait Oil Tanker Co (KOTC).
Leaders agree Asia economic rescue plan PACIFIC Rim leaders unveiled an economic rescue plan for Asia yesterday after a week of talks in Malaysia marred by clashes over politics and trade, Reuters reports.
Brussels sees more non-EU ferry crews THE European Commission believes the abolition of duty-free sales in June next year could lead to ferry companies using non-EU labour, instead of EU crew, diplomats said.
London broker launches daily capesize index LONDON-BASED shipbroker Simpson, Spence and Young has launched a new daily capesize shipping index to complement its existing weekly indices.
Eleven routes to be included in the index The index includes four coal routes, three iron ore and four representing time charter consecutively, all weighted at 9.09%.
Hyundai Keumkang sails into new era A NEW era in Korean history began yesterday when the South Korean cruiseship Hyundai Keumkang finally set sail from the port of Tonghae bound for the popular Diamond Mountains in North Korea.
New terminal in line to challenge Tilbury CONSTRUCTION of a new container terminal opposite the Port of Tilbury on the River Thames could begin in early 1999.
Bankers aghast at Halla write-off LONDON bankers are aghast at news that South Korean banks have agreed to write off up to 51 per cent of Halla Heavy Industries collateralised debt, and 25 per cent of its secured debt.
Colombo Dockyard boosted by newbuildings COLOMBO Dockyard, a subsidiary of Japan's Onomichi Dockyard Co, has announced a steep rise in first half 1998 net profit, spurred on by newbuildings.
Liverpool & London to maintain IG membership LIVERPOOL and London P&I Club have confirmed its intention to participate in the Interna-tional Group for 1999.
Kværner wins praise in US KVÆRNER has received praise in the US for generating economic development and jobs in Philadelphia.
Docenave reveals operational changes DOCENAVE is to reflag a third vessel from Liberia to Brazil and has cancelled its contracts with two ship management companies.
POEA to assess GMDSS impact PHILIPPINE Overseas Employment Administration has begun an inventory of registered and onboard radio officers to determine the impact of GMDSS after February 1, 1999.
Indian rice exports hit RICE exports from India have been hit hard by heavy demurrage charges, the shortage of dock labour, higher freight rates and a fall in prices in southeast Asia.
Singapore beating Y2K bug SINGAPORE'S Maritime and Port Authority has so far rectified 80 per cent of its 77 application systems which it has found to be affected by the millennium bug.
Germany considers foc restrictions GERMANY'S new government is considering navigation restrictions for flag of convenience vessels near environmentally-sensitive areas of the German coast.
EU to probe Hamburg dredging MASSIVE dredging of the river Elbe near Hamburg is to be investigated by EU Commission, following complaints from environmentalists.
Red-tape row erupts in Argentina CRIES of outrage from Argentine exporters against Brazil's new import regulations are balanced by similar protests from Argentine importers over government red tape.
MOL profits up, but no dividend JAPAN'S Mitsui OSK has reported a 51 per cent hike in net interim profits, but will not pay a dividend
ACL shareholders reject bigger board A PROPOSAL to increase the number of Atlantic Container Line board members has been rejected and the present board unanimously re-elected.
Charterers accused over Y2K clause CAPT Nicolas White, executive vp of tanker giant World-Wide Shipping, has hit out at charterers over their onerous approach towards owners over the millennium bug.
Germany considers navigation restrictions GERMANY'S new government is considering navigation restrictions for flag of convenience vessels near environmentally-sensitive areas of the German coast.
Corrigan hails dock records Some Australian ports, particularly Melbourne, are now operating at the very best of international best practice according to the chairman of Patrick, Christopher Corrigan. Speaking in Sydney yesterday at a luncheon of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Mr Corrigan said six months after a report from the Productivity Commission which slammed Australia's waterfront performance and after one of the toughest industrial conflicts in the nation's history, there had been a dramatic improvement. "In fact in Melbourne at East Swanson Dock some of those same employees who were rated near the bottom of the pile by the Productivity Commission are beating the world's best performance benchmarks," Mr Corrigan said.
Fast ferry future needs funds, says leading authority Australia's world-leading high-speed ferry construction industry is in danger of losing its competitive advantage unless the federal government invests more in research and development, according to the head of naval architecture and ocean engineering at the Australian Maritime College, Martin Renilson. He said Australia had two choices; refine the design concepts on which the industry based its success, or examine all alternatives however unlikely they may appear. In the case of the first choice the industry was undertaking the required 'incremental development' research into areas such as refinement of aluminium welding techniques and hull design and simply paid for additional expertise in those areas as required.
ITF hits ships in regional ports Vessels in Brisbane, Geelong, Fremantle and Townsville were the subject of attention from the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) as the organisation's campaign to improve the working conditions of seafarers got under way in the Asia-Pacific. On the first day of the action, on Monday, the ITF claims to have secured back-wages of up to US$140,000 in the region's ports. The action is taking place in a total of 18 Asia-Pacific countries and their 73 maritime and waterfront unions involving 300,000 union members who have mobilised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ITF's flag of convenience campaign to eliminate cheap ship registers and substandard ships and stamp out the exploitation of seafarers.
OOCL Sydney plan still 'active': SPC Orient Overseas Container Line's (OOCL) proposal to develop a third container terminal at Botany Bay continues to be under active discussion, according to the Sydney Ports Corporation. The proposal is mentioned several times in the Corporation's annual report, tabled in state parliament on Tuesday (see yesterday's DCN for details). Although the OOCL proposal is mentioned, no hint is given if and when the project will proceed. "In the first quarter of the reporting period extensive discussions were held involving Sydney Ports, the NSW government, and potential terminal operator, OOCL," the report said. "In-principle agreement was reached on the major parameters of the proposal for a third container terminal at Botany.
Italian Companies Agree To Shipbuilding Supply Deal Cambiaso & Risso Ship Agency and Engineering CT Ceretti Tanfani have reportedly signed an agreement to provide equipment and machinery for the shipbuilding industry.
Lithuania Signs Shipyard Selloff For $20.8M Lithuania's privatization agency has reportedly signed a contract to sell an international consortium a 92.8 percent stake in Western Ship Repair for $20.75 million.
Smedvig Sells U.K. Offshore Business Smedvig ASA has reportedly signed an accord to sell its British platform drilling activities to Germany's Deutag AG for about $45 million.
Total, Petrobras Begin Work Offshore Nigeria Total and Petrobras have reportedly begun exploratory work on their Nigeria's offshore block.
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