Liberia to terminate contract with International Registries The government of Liberia is not renewing the contract it has with International Registries, Inc. (IRI) to operate its ship and corporate programs. That contract will conclude at the end of next year. At that time, the maritime and corporate activities will be taken over by a new corporate franchisee, Liberian International Ship and Corporation Registry (LISCR).
Warning on new Liberia flag firm THE Liberian Shipowners Council has warned its members that Liberian International Ship and Corporation Registry (LISCR), the company designated last week to run the Liberian register from 2000 on, faces formidable obstacles in seeking to match its predecessor's performance.
Liverpool & London club talks with Ocean Marine Agreement could be in sight between the Liverpool & London P&I club and another part of the troubled independent P&I club Ocean Marine Mutual.
Herbert Smith partners quit LEADING London law firm Herbert Smith is to lose three partners following its decision to pull out of shipping.
KOTC officials ordered to pay $135m damages A JUDGE has ordered former officials who misappropriated funds from Kuwait Oil Tanker Co to pay a total of more than $135m in damages.
Row threatens aid for Gulf of Bothnia ferries A joint Finnish-Swedish proposal to subsidise the ferry route between Vaasa and Umea across the Gulf of Bothnia by up to Fm20m ($4m) annually if duty-free sales are abolished next year could be scuppered by a disagreement on how the aid is to be divided between the two countries.
DFDS to buy pair of Ro-Ros from Stena Danish ferry operator, DFDS, part of J Lauritzen, is planning to buy two large ro-ro vessels from Swedish Stena, writes David Mott. The two ships, Tor Scandia (pictured) and Tor Flandria, are the largest vessels on the North Sea at 20,700 dwt.
Sinochem may lose oil dealing rights ONE of the longest established Chinese trading houses, China National Chemical Import & Export Corp, or Sinochem, which until 1992 had held a monopoly on oil trade between the People's Republic and the outside world, may suffer a severe blow to its prestige if, as is now rumoured, it loses the right to import and export crude and gas oil.
China yards lose out to foreign rivals CHINESE shipbuilders lost orders totalling 1.8m dwt to foreign competitors in the first nine months of 1998, according to press reports.
Powell Duffryn acquires Kværner Ships Equipment UK-BASED ports and engineering group Powell Duffryn has acquired Kværner Ships Equipment from Kv'rner for a net cost of '24m ($40m) in cash.
LIRMA-IUA agreement signed today THE largest representative body for insurers and reinsurers was created today when two trade associations signed an agreement to merge.
Crewmen face charges after sinking THE chief engineer and another crew member from the small Austrian-flagged bulk carrier Rautz, which sank in the Atlantic in mid July, are facing charges of document falsification.
INMA shipyard sale imminent PRIVATISATION of heavily indebted Italian builder INMA and the sale of its yard to Societa Esercizio Cantieri shipyard in Viareggio is imminent.
Moby's chief slams owners' collusion VINCENZO Onorato, owner of Moby Lines, has slammed the Italian owners' association, alleging a tacit collusion between some of its members with the state owned fleet.
Sinport signs Leghorn deal SINPORT, the Italian port operating subsidiary of PSA Corp, has secured a foothold at Leghorn.
Herma to file 'privatisation' lawsuit A PHILIPPINE tanker operator is planning to file a lawsuit against PNOC Shippping and Transport Corp after it failed to obtain 60 per cent of the company's shares.
Evergreen wins stake in Korean terminal EVERGREEN Marine and Korean conglomerate Dongbu have jointly won the 30-year concession to operate container and feedership berths at Pusan.
Brovig sells stake in offshore vessel BROVIG Offshore has sold a one-third stake in an offshore vessel currently under construction to a group of international investors.
Malta yard chief wants to stand down MALTA Shipbuilding Co chairman Albert Mizzi has asked the government to find an alternative head so that he can dedicate his time to two major projects in the pipeline.
Panama urged to take action on collision PANAMA registry has been urged to take action following an investigation into a collision off Australia on April 5.
Libra ordered to stop work at two Santos terminals LIBRA, the Brazilian ship and terminal operator, has been ordered to stop work at its terminals 34 and 35, which are an extension of its terminal 37 at the port of Santos.
Shipowners urged not to leave Liberian register LIBERIAN Shipowners' Council has called on its members not to leave the Liberian registry until the new manager proves it can match the capabilities of the current manager.
Anvers: vers un démarrage simultané des 3e et 4e terminaux à containers ? Tout récemment nous posions dans ces colonnes la question suivante: à qui la concession du troisième terminal à containers à marée à implanter en bordure de la future darse au sud de Doel sur la rive gauche? Aujourd'hui, il nous faut poser une double question: à qui la concession des terminaux de cette future darse ou, à qui les concessions? Car les choses ont évolué depuis.
BOC vend TLO aux Transports Le Breton Le groupe britannique BOC a décidé de vendre sa filiale française de transport frigorifique et de logistique TLO à Rennes. Une lettre d'intention a été signée avec Jacky Leroi, propriétaire de la société Les Transports Le Breton, elle aussi à Rennes. La nouvelle n'est qu'une demi-surprise: BOC, qui est fort frappé par la crise asiatique, avait annoncé que des désinvestissements allaient se faire dans la division BOC Distribution Services. Toutefois, il avait été annoncé qu'ils se limiteraient au UK et ne toucheraient pas les filiales sur le continent.
DHL acquiert 51% du capital de Colitel DHL France a acheté une participation de 51% dans la société Colitel (Le Mans). Celle-ci est spécialisée dans le transport urgent et la logistique personnalisée. Indirectement, c'est à nouveau une reprise par Deutsche Post (qui détient une participation dans DHL).
Dunkerque: bientôt un opérateur unique au QPO A l'étude depuis 1991 au sein de l'état-major du PA de Dunkerque, le projet de doter le terminal du Quai à Pondéreux Ouest d'un opérateur unique approche de la concrétisation. Ce concept a pour but d'obtenir une utilisation plus rationnelle de l'installation étant donné que cet opérateur disposerait à la fois de l'outillage, du personnel et interviendrait en tant que seul interlocuteur vis-à-vis de la clientèle.
Lloyd Triestino to leave conference LLOYD Triestino is to leave the Australia to Europe Liner Association with immediate effect. While an announcement to this effect is expected within the next few days, it is understood the Italian based shipping line has been forced to make the decision due to legal conditions imposed by the European Economic Community (EEC). The chief executive officer of Liner Shipping Services Ltd, Llew Russell, confirmed yesterday that advice to this effect has been received. Mr Russell said inquiries were still being made about the decision in Europe. He noted that the advice came at extremely short notice.
Stevedoring productivity little changed OVERALL national stevedoring productivity, as measured by the five-port average, changed little in the September quarter compared with the June quarter according to the latest Waterline report released yesterday by the Bureau of Transport Economics. The five-port average crane rate (productivity per crane while the ship is worked) was 19.1 containers per hour for the September quarter compared with 18.7 in the June quarter. The four-port (Fremantle data not available) average elapsed rate (productivity per ship based on the time labour is aboard the ship) remained unchanged at 20.7 containers per hour in the September quarter. The five-port average net rate (productivity per ship while the ship is worked) was 2 4. 2 containers per hour compared with 24.7 containers in the June quarter.
MSC embarks on freight restoration program THE Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is embarking on freight restoration program in Australia as well as other regions. The company's operations director based in Melbourne, Chris Neale, said that due to the continuing pressure and erosion of northbound freight rates in the past year, the shipping line will seek freight rate increases to Europe, including the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean in 1999. "MSC runs a name day weekly service to Europe and is highly committed to the trade," Mr Neale said. "The company will continue to maintain the high standard of service to Australian exporters. "At this stage MSC plans to hold the freight rate levels in the other trades serviced from Australia."
Smit To Add "At Least" 15 Vessels To Fleet In '99 Dutch vessel towage group Smit International said at least 15 tugs would joint its fleet next year, in a statement sent last week. Smit said it intended to order four new 60-ton bollard pull units for deployment in its home port of Rotterdam, add a tug in the southern Scheldt Estuary and start operations in Hamburg.
Cory To Debut Dedicated Tug Cory Towage said it is expanding its coastal towage capability by introducing a dedicated tug. The 3,800 bhp Battleaxe, which provides 54 tons bollard pull, will be able to provide day-to-day support around the U.K. coast and will also be available for projects throughout Europe, the company said. It will be managed from Greenock.
J. Lauritzen To Write Down Fleet Value Danish shipping group J.Lauritzen will reportedly write down the value of its fleet by $31.4 million due to the continual downward spiral of the cargo shipping market.
Petrobras Oil Output Up Petrobras said its oil output, including its foreign unit Braspetro, rose by 31 percent to 1.15 million bpd in November compared with the same month last year. Natural gas output in the month grew by 16 percent from the same period in 1997 to 31.1 mmcmd against a previous 26.9 million.
Powell Duffryn Scoops Up Kvaerner Marine Equipment Unit Kvaerner said the sale of its marine equipment unit to Powell Duffryn would give it capital gains of about $26 million. British ports and engineering group Powell Duffryn has agreed to buy the marine engineering business for $57 million.
DFDS Buys Two RoRo Vessels Danish shipper DFDS plans to buy two RoRo vessels from Swedish Stena AB. The two ships, Tor Skandia and Tor Flandria, are reportedly the biggest RoRo vessels in the North Sea.
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