Germany ordered to reclaim shipyard aid GERMANY has been ordered by the European Commission to recover Dm788.7m ($441m) of state aid illegally paid to Bremer Vulkan during the com-pany's bankruptcy administration.
Line gives slip to banana rivals FRANCE'S CMA-CGM looks to have beaten off attempts to break its hold over over the banana trade between Europe and the French Caribbean departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Shell Oil earnings dive 40% in second quarter SHELL Oil, the US-based subsidiary of the Anglo-Dutch major Royal Dutch/Shell, has posted depressed earnings for the second quarter of this year, and warned that the second half of the year is unlikely to see any improvement.
When chaos came to Chek Lap Kok IT soon became clear that travelling on the morning of the opening of the new Hong Kong airport was not exactly a gold medal winner in the good ideas league.
Philippine schools fail to comply with STCW LESS than 8% of the Philippines' 122 maritime schools will meet the August deadline for complying with the International Maritime Organisation's revised STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) code.
Malaysia port schemes will still push ahead DEVELOPMENT of major port projects in Malaysia is expected to continue despite the declining economy which has taken a heavy toll on several other sectors.
Major restructuring on the way in P&I sector MAJOR restructuring will occur among P&I insurers in the near future, while marine insurance rates experience uneven recovery, a new analysts' report predicts.
New service for UB Tiger UB Shipping has chartered the 957 teu containership UB Tiger for its newly established service from northern Europe to the Mediterranean. The vessel is the former cargoship Ciudad De Quito and took over her present name from the German boxship Beirut which had been renamed when UB shipping joined the Eastern Med consortium.
BV doubles Norway surveyors BUREAU Veritas has doubled its network of surveyors in Norway in response to rising demand.
Vehicle carriers drive Leif Hoegh ahead STRONG demand for vehicle carriers helped Norwegian operator Leif Hoegh stage a 46 per cent jump in first half profit after financial items.
Royal Olympic still in red ROYAL Olympic Cruises has reported a loss of $4.9m for the first half of 1998 following a loss of $6m posted for the same period last year.
Japan to acquire builders' land JAPAN's government has authorised the purchase of land and construction facilities in an attempt to cut excess shipbuilding capacity.
Portnet to acquire new tugs PORTNET, the harbours division of the South African transport network, Transnet, is in the process of acquiring new tugs.
Cosco files application to join ISF CHINA, through China Ocean Shipping Co, is rumoured to have formally filed a membership application with the International Shipping Federation.
Naples unveils $135m plan NAPLES port has issued a development plan for the next three years covering investments totalling Lit240bn ($135m).
Philippines hikes passenger insurance MARINA, the Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority, is planning to increase passenger insurance coverage on coastal shipping in response to the approaching typhoon season.
Fred Olsen sells roro to DFDS NORWEGIAN operator Fred Olsen has sold the 1978-built roro vessel Boracay to the Danish group DFDS for $12m.
Court responds to Subic Bay appeal THE Philippines Court of Appeals has given the Office of Solicitor General ten days to justify why Richard Gordon's plea to stay on as chairman of SBMA should not be granted.
Cargo centre boost for Newcastle A MULTI-MILLION dollar cargo distribution centre at the Australian port of Newcastle has been announced.
Two shortlisted for CP's coastal rail service BC FERRY Corp and the Washington Group have been shortlisted to buy the remnants of Canadian Pacific Railroad's coastal shipping operation in British Columbia.
Ecstasy fire probe proves fruitless LITTLE progress has been made in uncovering the cause of the fire on board the Carnival cruise ship Ecstasy.
Oslo bourse to quote in dollars OSLO stock exchange is to allow quotations of shares in shipping and offshore companies in the US dollar in addition to the krone.
L'UINF souhaite la prorogation de la règle "du vieux pour du neuf" La navigation fluviale européenne naviguerait-elle dans des eaux plus calmes? La profession serait-elle plus sereine face à son avenir? A lire le rapport moral de l'Union internationale de la Navigation fluviale (UINF), on peut l'admettre. L'Union vient de tenir son assemblée générale à Duisbourg, sous la présidence du Gantois Philippe Grulois. Le ton d'ensemble de cette réunion était sinon à l'optimisme, du moins à une certaine sérénité. L'Union note en particulier que la "navigation intérieure a pu tirer profit l'année dernière d'une conjoncture favorable" dans la quasi-totalité des secteurs auxquels elle propose ses prestations. Seul le bâtiment et les travaux publics accusent encore des faiblesses.
La France retient le principe du "carburant professionnel routier" Comme nous le laissions prévoir il y a quelques jours (LL du 22-07-98), le gouvernement français vient d'annoncer qu'il retient le principe du "carburant professionnel routier". Le gazole échappera donc à l'augmentation de la TIPP (taxe intérieure sur les produits pétroliers). Les organisations professionnelles du secteur se félicitent de cette décision. Néanmoins, elles restent mobilisées afin de veiller à ce que les modalités d'application ne vident pas le principe de sa substance.
Le Havre: les nouveaux terminaux à containers devraient être opérationnels en 2002 Les Havrais devront attendre jusqu'en septembre pour être fixés sur le sort qui sera réservé au projet "Port 2000", qui porte sur la création de nouveaux terminaux à containers, d'une part pour faire face à l'accroissement du trafic, d'autre part pour mieux mettre ce port au diapason des PC de 5 à 7.000 TEU. Si le président Jacques Chirac a laissé entendre que ce projet serait réalisé, le feu vert dépend du gouvernement, qui doit encore prendre position. La direction du port autonome français déclare pour sa part que la mise en service des premiers quais devrait intervenir en 2002. Théoriquement, cette échéance devrait pouvoir être respectée.
Intercontinental gives up: Sandra marie for sale THE AUSTRALIAN shipping industry suffered a major blow yesterday when the Intercontinental Group threw in the towel and placed the coastal bulk carrier, the Sandra Marie, on the market. The possible loss of the ship to the Australian register is not seen to be as damaging as the fact that the shipowner could not run the vessel in a manner in which the company saw fit. While the Intercontinental Group made no official comment on the decision, a company spokesman told DCN the development was "very disappointing." The Intercontinental Group's decision followed refusal by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) to accept the latest proposed manning reduction aboard the vessel. The latest manning proposal would have reduced the crew to 11, comprising of a master and two deck officers, a chief engineer and two engineers, four integrated ratings and a cook.
Yet another delay on settlement THE COMPLETION of the agreement between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has been delayed yet again yesterday when the Federal Court granted a further extension to the process. The extension means that meetings of creditors of Patrick's four labor hire companies do not have to be held until early August. Under corporations law meetings of this nature must be held within 60 days. That deadline expires today. Mr Justice Tony North extended the deadline from today until 6 August, a move which should allow the finalisation of all outstanding matters, including the legal case brought against the MUA by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
OOCL opens new depot at Qingdao ORIENT Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has opened depot facilities at Qingdao, operated by the Qingdao Orient International Container Storage & Transportation Co Ltd (QOCT). Qingdao is one of northern China's major transport hubs, last year handling more than one million teus, a fact acknowledged by the managing director of OOCL (China) Ltd, Ted Wang . "Qingdao is the major transportation hub for northern China and last year they had just celebrated the handling of the one millionth teu and OOCL was proud to be part of it," Mr Wang, said at a function to mark the opening. "Our commitment to China and Qingdao in particular is once again reflected in our investment in QOCT."
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