Vanuatu register hopes to benefit from shipowner displeasure with some major flags With the antics at some ship register giving some owners itchy feet, Don Sheetz, executive vice-president of New York-based Vanuatu Maritime Services Limited has been promoting the stability and other benefits offered by Vanuatu
Avondale announces Navy contracts valued at $454.7 million Options exercised for the construction of two ships valued at $454.7 million :the second LPD ship and the Navy's newest and most advanced amphibious assault ship
London's New Year 'bug' ban FEARS that the millennium bug could hit shipping far sooner than expected have forced the Port of London to impose vessel restrictions during the coming new year period in eight days' time.
Turkey tries again for new radar system bids Turkey has re-issued a tender for a $40m radar control system to monitor navigation through its two narrow straits linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, the Anatolian news agency said yesterday.
Ferry operators in strait of Gibraltar form pool Six ferry companies operating across the Strait of Gibraltar, between Spain and Morocco, have reached a pooling agreement.
Numast to run GMDSS survey BRITISH officers' union Numast is to undertake a survey to gauge the industry's readiness to implement the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, amid fears that many glitches have yet to be sorted out.
Top players bid for new Indian hub INDIA'S proposed major new container terminal has attracted some expressions of interest from the world's top three port operators.
Ministry clears the way for ports sell-off India's law ministry has cleared the decks for the privatisation of the country's eleven major ports.
Caribbean Sea back in favour as drug route South American drug traffickers have returned to Caribbean Sea routes because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.
Aboitiz-Jebsen plans safety talks for Philippines TO help the Philippines improve its maritime safety standards, Aboitiz-Jebsen Bulk Transport Corporation has volunteered to conduct seminars on the International Safety Management (ISM) Code in shipping centres across the country.
Anvers a franchi le cap des 3 mio. de TEU On y a longtemps cru, mais la réalité des tonnages est là: le port d'Anvers aura frôlé le cap des 120 mio. de t en 1998, mais n'aura pu ni le dépasser, ni l'atteindre. Le mois de novembre a été bon avec un trafic de 9,72 mio. de t (+1,3%) et en supposant que décembre soit de la même veine, ce qui n'est pas évident étant donné que le dernier mois de l'année est généralement sujet à un ralentissement, le score final pourrait se situer entre 119 et 119,5 mio. de t. Il n'en reste pas moins vrai que la prestation aura été des plus remarquables. Le record est appréciable quand on sait que 1997 avait été clôturé avec un trafic de 111,9 mio. de t.
Une joint-venture indonésienne renforce la présence d'Ahlers en Asie Le groupe Ahlers a ouvert, il y a quelques semaines, une filiale dans le port indonésien de Semarang au centre de l'île de Java. Ainsi le groupe de transport anversois continue son expansion internationale, à peine quelques jours après la conclusion d'un accord de coopération avec le groupe indien Forbes, une filiale du groupe Tata (voir LL du 27/11/98). Selon le président du conseil de direction, Albert Weynen, Ahlers est le seul entrepreneur logistique et maritime sur plusieurs marchés asiatiques.
Jacobs lance une offensive dans la logistique terrestre Le groupe britannique Jacobs Holdings (qui possède entre autres Dart Line et Thames Europort) va regrouper les activités de plusieurs entreprises acquises ces derniers temps au sein d'une seule entité, qui sera baptisée Ontime Logistics. La nouvelle société aura un chiffre d'affaires initial de 32 mio. de GBP (1,85 mia. de BEF). Elle sera opérationnelle le 4 janvier prochain. Par ailleurs, on a appris que Jacobs a pris une petite participation dans Nightfreight, qui pourrait être la première phase d'une tentative d'OPA.
Transurb Consult va fusionner avec Technirail Vers la fin du mois de mars prochain, la fusion entre Transurb Consult et Technirail, deux filiales de la SNCB, sera effective. Elle s'accompagnera d'une hausse du capital de 140 millions de BEF. Enfin, on cherche actuellement un successeur à Erik Vandenbroele, actuel directeur-général de Transurb, dont le mandat arrive à terme à la fin de l'année.
ACCC approves Melbourne's towage increases HOWARD Smith Towage has welcomed an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) interim decision on harbour towage tariff in Melbourne which finds merit in a rate increase. The chief executive of Howard Smith Towage, Dale Cole, said the ACCC's review of Melbourne towage was one of the most transparent and comprehensive ever undertaken by the Commission and its predecessor, the Prices Surveillance Authority. "The decision announced by the ACCC finds that a rate increase in Melbourne is justified," Mr Cole said. "A decision on the quantum of the increase will be made following further consultation with port users as part of the ongoing consultative process. "Overall the benefits received by our customers exceed any cost increases that would follow the ACCC decision. "We will be looking very hard at the implications for our business."
Private talks settle outsourcing dispute PRIVATE discussions between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) yesterday appear to have resolved the dispute over the maintenance of leased machinery. It is understood that the union has now accepted that major maintenance work on leased machinery will be carried out by the owner of the machine and not members of the union employed by Patrick's maintenance sub-contractor, Fluor Daniel Pty Ltd. Minor maintenance work on such machines will apparently still be carried out by members of the union on "if and when" available basis. According to company sources this has been accepted by the union.
Empty box charges to fall THE Sydney Ports Corporation has reminded customers that the empty container charge will be abolished from 1 January. Sydney Ports Corporation announced the abolition of the $10 charge in July following approval by the New South Wales Minister for Ports, Kim Yeadon. In excess of 140,000 empty containers are shipped through Sydney each year, attracting a $10 per box charge. From 1 January this will be a direct saving to shipping lines of $1.4 million in a full year.
E&P Spending Projected To Drop 11% Next Year A study from investment bank Salomon Smith Barney reports that worldwide oil exploration and production spending is set for its biggest decline in more than a decade, battered by persistently low oil prices. The survey predicts that spending in the sector will fall 11 percent in 1999, to $79.2 billion, as a result of the almost 70 percent drop in oil prices this year. The survey of 175 companies predicts the worst news for the U.S., predicting that spending is set to fall 20.9 percent.
Transocean Cancels Semisubmersible Contract Transocean Offshore Inc. agreed to cancel a two-year contract on a semisubmersible rig with the owners of the Terra Nova oil field offshore from Newfoundland. The agreement to cancel the Transocean Explorer contract is contingent upon a $40 million payment to Transocean by the Terra Nova owners on Dec. 23. The two-year contract, signed in May 1997, would have required a refit and upgrade of the Explorer, enabling the rig to provide drilling and completion services on the Terra Nova oil field development project, Transocean said.
Lisnave Mulls Controlling Stake In Dakar Marine Portuguese shipbuilder Lisnave is in the running to take a controlling stake in Senegal's Dakar-Marine shipyard.
Turkey Re-issues VTS Tender Turkey has reportedly re-issued a tender for a $40-million radar control system to monitor navigation through its two narrow straits linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. The only reported bidders are U.S. firm Lockheed Martin Corp., German Atlas Electronics and Turkish investor partner Simkon.
Grupo Libra Want Bigger Containerships In the continuing trend toward larger, faster containships in order to compete in the quickly changing and consolidating box carrying business, Brazil's Grupo Libra hopes to increase the size of four container ships it plans to build. The company has reportedly applied for an increased loan from the Brazilian National Development and Social Bank (BNDES) to build vessels of 3,150 TEU capacity. Grupo Libra originally intended to build 2,300 TEU ships when it first drew up a $304 million six vessel program two years ago.
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