Probe into UK shipping industry UK shipping industry leaders and maritime unions yesterday welcomed the announcement that a new investigation into the future of the British shipping industry is to be launched by MPs.
A&P chief executive dies Frank Nugent, chief executive of UK shiprepairer A&P Group, has died suddenly at his home.
Sea-Land revenue hit as Asian crisis bites SEA-LAND suffered a drop in revenue during the third quarter of the year as freight rates remained under pressure on most trade routes.
Asry tackles competition with lower pricing strategy Bahrain's Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard (Asry) has used lower prices to fend off fierce competition this year, particularly from southeast Asia.
Cool Carriers to target long term trade COOL Carriers, the world's biggest refrigerated shipping company, is reinforcing changes in its market strategy to confront one of the worst operating environments for years.
Mormugao toallow private berth scheme THE Mormugao Port Trust, located on India's western coast between Mumbai and New Mangalore, has decided to press ahead with its berth privatisation programme.
Brazil owners call for tariff protection BRAZIL'S national shipowners' association Syndarma has drawn up a plan to impose a 50% tariff on general cargo freight as a condition for opening up the Mercosur market to non- Mercosur vessels.
Anger over light dues plans Brazil is considering retaliation following a recent decision by US Customs to revoke the special status of Brazilian flag vessels, which were exempt from light dues when entering US ports, writes Justin Stares.
Romanian roro refloated A ROMANIAN roro ship that ran aground at the mouth of the Humber on the UK east coast last night with 25 crew on board was re-floated again this morning.
Sleeping master fined '1,000 THE Norwegian master of the coastal bulk carrier Stina was fined '1,000 ($1,700) yesterday after admitting that he fell asleep while on watch.
Lloyd Triestino sells two containerships THE sale of two Lloyd Triestino containerships to US interests is to be finalised next month.
A&P ceo dies FRANK Nugent, ceo of UK shiprepairer A&P Group, died suddenly yesterday.
India moves ahead on SCI sell-off THE proposal by an Indian commission to offload up to 60 per cent in the state owned Shipping Corp of India has had qualified acceptance by the Surface Transport ministry.
Greek tanker held on 57 counts A GREEK owned tanker has been detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for 57 health and safety breaches.
Two killed as army vehicle plunges overboard A SRI Lankan army armoured vehicle broke its moorings on a cargo ship and fell overboard in rough seas, killing at least two soldiers.
Australia to resume Saudi sheep exports AUSTRALIA is preparing for a resumption of live sheep exports to Saudi Arabia after a five-year suspension.
Samudera moves into cement shipping FOREMOST Maritime, the wholly owned subsidiary of Samudera Shipping Line, has won its first long term US dollar contract for the charter of a cement carrier.
SEC probes Davie owner THE company that owned the Davie Industries shipyard at Levis, Quebec is under scrutiny from the US Securities & Exchange Commission.
China discovers new oil fields THREE new medium sized oil fields have been found in the 20 m deep, central part of the Bohai Gulf, China.
Car carriers shine at Leif Høegh A STRONG performance by its car carrier business helped the Norwegian shipping group Leif Høegh to report a nine-month profit only slightly less than last year.
Cruise passengers get Nassau warning CRUISE lines calling in the Bahamas have been advising their passengers to stay in main tourist areas during port calls because of three recent murders in Nassau.
Southwest Marine completes acquisition SAN Diego-based Southwest Marine has completed its acquisition of the Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock Corp of Hampton Roads.
Europe under fire on Asian trade policy EUROPE has come under fire from US trade representative Charlene Barshefsky for not doing more to absorb Asian imports, in order to help the ailing economies back onto its feet.
Former BV chief took $1.5m payoff FRIEDRICH Hennemann, the former ceo of Bremer Vulkan, received a Dm2.4m ($1.5m) pay-off when he left the collapsing shipbuilder late in 1995.
Rostock sale probe urged COMPANIES in the eastern German city of Rostock have called for a re-examination of the sales contracts through which the port was privatised.
Trucker tempers rise at CTAL Tempers were being aroused yesterday at Botany Bay where stoppages continue to affect truck movements. Late on Wednesday P&O Ports' facility at Botany Bay, Container Terminals Australia Ltd, was again hit by a stoppage by members of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) from 7.30 pm until 10 pm. Normal work resumed on the midnight shift, but by then road work was severely affected. The cause of the latest stoppage was allegedly a misunderstanding of arrangements for staggered meal breaks. Yesterday morning work was said to be progressing well with the queue being described by one source as minimal.
Pilots, tugs in push-pull tiff An attempt by Melbourne Tug Services to reduce costs incurred through present tug ordering practices has opened a rift between the company and Port Phillip pilots. MTS this week advised its customers that it has been forced to change ordering procedures from 1 November, after which agents will have to advise the number of tugs required for a vessel at least one hour before the vessel's arrival or departure.
Lufthansa future based on alliance The world could see the next cyclical downturn in international airline business towards the end of 2000, according to Lufthansa executive vice president for sales Stefan Pichler, who flew into Sydney this week to address a national aviation press gathering. Referring to the highly competitive trans-Atlantic situation (see table), he said a downturn could be triggered by a predicted 23 per cent increase in carrying capacity on the routes next year which won't be matched by increased demand.
Adelaide tops the ton PORT Adelaide container terminal at Outer Harbour has exceeded an annual container throughput of more than 100,000 container for the first time, according to Ports Corp chairman Geoffrey Fry. He described the volume achieved in the 1997-98 financial year as "significant" and "genuinely good news for South Australia". Mr Fry said: "If one looks for the highest 12 individual monthly throughputs since the container terminal opened, seven of these were achieved during the 1998 calendar year to date."
Schlumberger Cuts 5,600 Jobs, Posts Loss Schlumberger Ltd., the world's biggest oilfield services company, is reportedly planing to lay off 5,600, or 8 percent, of its 70,000 workers as part of a drive to cut costs in response to weak global energy markets.
Oil Has Tough Quarter, Chevron Stock Hammered Chevron Corp., Phillips Petroleum Co. and Atlantic Richfield Co. reported third-quarter earnings got hammered by weak oil prices, Asia's economic crisis and poor refining results. Chevron, the nation's No. 3 oil company, saw more than $3 billion wiped off its market value as its stock tumbled $5 to $82.125 after it warned that conditions were unlikely to improve.
U.K. To Pilot First Full Digital Navigation Charts The first digital navigation chart service to give comprehensive coverage of international shipping routes will reportedly be launched as a pilot operation early next year. The Admiralty Digital Chart Service will be offered to deep-sea vessels fitted with equipment capable of displaying digitally developed navigational charts and scanned versions of conventional charts.
Suezmax Tankers Start Weak In Fourth Quarter The Suezmax tanker market has reportedly started weak for the fourth quarter of the year with the clean oil products market showing signs of improvement in October as returns lifted from a summer low.
TMM Signs Into Alliance For Pacific Transportacion Maritima Mexicana (TMM) has reportedly entered an alliance with other shipping companies on the continent to unite routes on the Pacific coast.
Asia-Europe Container Trade Peaked In Third Quarter Container shipping business from Asia to Europe was reportedly very strong in the third quarter, but resulting equipment shortages have now passed their peak and equipment imbalances followed in Thailand and Manila in the Philippines.
BV Appoints Westgas' Markussen As Norway Head Bureau Veritas has appointed Bjorn Markussen as its chief executive for Norway.
Westfal-Larsen Says New Tax Will Hit It Hard Norway's Westfal-Larsen & Co. reported that the government's proposals for changes to taxation on Norwegian shipping companies would cost the group an extra 159 million crowns.
SafBank Container Line Adds U.S. Port Calls Container shipping operator SafBank Line will reportedly add more U.S. port calls to services between the U.S. and southern Africa and Australia.
Alexander & Baldwin Names President Alexander & Baldwin Inc. named W. Allen Doane president and chief executive officer.
GAS RUSH CONCERN IS GROWING that a rush to order very large gas carriers (VLCGs) could destabilise the delicate market when the ships are delivered. A whopping $1bn worth of ships are under construction or waiting to be started with more orders in the pipeline. The orders spell further bad news for Japanese builders who once dominated the market as Korea begins to make inroads.
Con-Way Transportation Services had a double announcement: In addition to moving its headquarters from Palo Alto, Calif., to Ann Arbor, Mich., the LTL is launching a new logistics service that will give small to mid-size companies an alternative to traditional third-party logistics. The new subsidiary, Con-Way Integrated Services, will be based in Chicago.
There was a time when brown paper grocery bags stuffed with cash were carried into congressional offices or handed over on street corners to political aides. Now, Political Action Committee checks are the currency of modern American influence peddling. Could business and labor interests expect something in return for the half-billion dollars or so they contribute each election to House and Senate candidates? Perhaps that's why United Parcel Service, FedEx, Union Pacific, the Teamsters and the United Transportation Union are among the top-40 contributors to congressional lobbying campaigns this election.
Cycle times, customization and globalization in the supply chain will dramatically be influenced by the Internet, says Judy Jarrell. Jarrell is an adviser on strategy and alliances, logistics, electronic commerce and catalog business for Federal Express Corp. Kevin Q. Sullivan, vice president of Digital Commerce Ltd., sees the Internet changing the procurement process and lowering a company's overall costs.
United Parcel Service has won back most of its business since the Teamsters' 15-day walkout 14 months ago created the first nationwide strike in the company's 91-year history. But it still is embroiled with the union over creation of 2,000 new full-time jobs, a top UPS official said. This year, UPS already has posted record six-month earnings and is on track to do in excess of $24 billion in revenue -- despite the 4 percent drop in domestic business. However, the Teamsters union has filed a protest under Article 22 of its contract with UPS, claiming the company has reneged on its promise. UPS has asked for expedited arbitration on the dispute, which is still pending. It seems most likely the union will sue for back pay and other costs.
Tensions between the FedEx Pilots Association and management were taken to a new level. The union's negotiating committee voted to poll its members if a strike should be part of their arsenal against the company if negotiations don't come to a head soon. Meanwhile, the company sent a copy of its contract proposal to all 3,500 pilots before the union had a chance to review it, irking the negotiating committee. Members were expected to authorize a no-volunteer or overtime flying provision at the end of last week, further raising the urgency of the negotiations as the busy peak season begins.
CN President Paul Tellier said that the railroad is cutting 1,600 jobs this year and 1,400 jobs in 1999 in response to lower earnings during the third quarter. The move angered union leaders, who said they were led to believe by the railroad after recent contract negotiations that downsizing was complete. Rail observers wondered whether the company was panicking in the face of its merger with Illinois Central. But Tellier said the cuts were unrelated, even though CN's debt has tripled to C$4.1 billion since the merger was announced.
Opponents of the Clinton administration's proposal to create a Harbor Services User Fee got a temporary reprieve early in October when it was announced that the proposal will not be submitted to Congress this year. But numerous firms and trade groups in the transportation industry, including the American Association of Port Authorities and the National Industrial Transportation League, are not resting much easier.
Third-quarter results are up for several logistical companies -- Ryder System, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Menlo Logistics and CNF Transportation -- all reported stronger third quarters. Ryder System Inc.'s third quarter revenue rose 7 percent to $1.29 billion, the company announced. For the third quarter of 1998, C.H. Robinson's net revenues increased 19.3 percent to $63.8 million from $53.5 million for the third quarter of 1997.
A Canadian Coast Guard icebreaking fee that is set to come into effect on Dec. 21 for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River has shipowners and ports worried that they will lose business to other modes. The Coast Guard wants to collect C$13.3 million a year from commercial operators for icebreaking. The charge works out to about C$5,700 a trip for a ship sailing the lakes and the river between Dec. 21 and April 15, even if there is no ice or the vessel doesn't require assistance. For grain, iron ore, salt, gravel and other bulk commodities that are the mainstay of the Great Lakes, the cost could prove to be too high.
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