Cyprus in fake papers alert THE government of Cyprus is to complain to the European Commission and the International Maritime Organisation about the growing number of forged certificates, which its port state control inspections are revealing aboard visiting ships.
St Vincent tops Tokyo detentions ST VINCENT and the Grenadines vessels are more than twice as likely to be detained for International Safety Management code deficiencies as ships under any other flag, according to new statistics from the Tokyo memorandum of understanding.
Atlantic bucks merger trend Bulk shipowners in the Atlantic market are not ready to join the merger trend that is sweeping Asia, said Intercargo vice-chairman G.C. Savasta recently.
Massive job cuts likely as banks' merge DEUTSCHE Bank's planned $9.2bn takeover of Bankers Trust has fuelled industry rumours that up to a thousand jobs will go in New York and London.
US transport vision a 'guide' only THE Clinton Administration has insisted that the government must not dictate US port and waterways development, yet Washington should help guide the maritime industry into the next century.
UK ports step up calls to end light dues BRITISH ports are renewing their efforts to persuade the government to abolish light dues.
Shanghai yard turns to inter-group work to beat regional price squeeze Shanghai Shipping United Dock Co, China Shipping Group's flagship repair facility, has been able to ride out a collapse in foreign businesses by winning more orders from its parent, but competition both domestic and international, is fierce.
African states push for regional service SIX African states are pushing ahead with long-mooted plans for a regional shipping line to take on foreign carriers, according to local reports.
Essar gets go-ahead for $50m bond INDIA'S FOREIGN Investment Promotion Board has cleared Essar Shipping's proposal for a $50m foreign currency convertible bond issue.
Delhi urged to provide incentives REPRESENTATIVES of Indian and foreign shipowners have urged the Indian government to provide more incentives to the domestic shipping industry.
Grounding hits Mississippi traffic PART of the Mississippi river has been closed to outbound deep draught ships following the grounding of a Greek registered bulk carrier.
Philippines plans Spratly surveys THE Philippines is planning to undertake surveys in the contested territories of the Spratly island groups in the South China Sea.
Finland ponders subsidy U-turn FINLAND may have to reconsider its decision to abolish state aid to shipbuilding from the beginning of 1999.
Ferry companies in merger talks TWO Scandinavian ferry companies, Mols-Linien and Scandlines, are in merger talks.
Norfolk Line amalgamates brand names NORFOLK Line, the Netherlands-based subsidiary of AP Moller, is to incorporate several trading names under one umbrella from January 1, 1999.
Damaged Silja ferry resumes service SILJA Line's service between Turku and Stockholm has returned to normal following cruise ferry Silja Europa's collision with the berth in Mariehamn on the 'land islands.
Port states 'know the offending flag states' PORT states have sufficient evidence to know which flag states are not complying with international safety directives, according to the Liberian Shipowners Council.
Patrick might cut more jobs PATRICK, the Australian stevedore, has hinted that more jobs might be lost as the company seeks productivity gains.
Austal scales back public offering AUSTRALIAN shipbuilder Austal has been forced to reduce the number of shares it will make available through a public share offering.
India to encourage port joint ventures INDIA is to introduce a parliamentary bill to amend the Major Ports Act, which will seek to approve joint ventures in the port sector.
Greenpeace attacks ship scrapping GREENPEACE has protested against Hamburg-S'd's decision to send the 1971-built container ship Columbus New Zealand to India for scrapping.
Jacobs Holdings se diversifie dans le groupage européen Jacobs Holdings, la société mère d'entre autres Dart Line, a repris la société britannique de transport Horizon Holdings. Avec cette reprise Jacobs vise à se diversifier de plus en plus en construisant un service de groupage et de transport européen, à côté de la spécialisation existante du groupe dans le secteur automobile. Il est sûr que Dart Lines sera le premier à profiter de ces activités. Wayne Denton, le responsable chez Jacobs de cette opération, estime que le trafic Benelux d'ici 1999 sera bon pour une cargaison supplémentaire de 20 à 30 semi-remorques par semaine.
Inquiétude et consternation après la hausse de tarifs de TRW La société belge de transport combiné TRW a diffusé lundi par fax un communiqué à sa clientèle dans lequel elle annonce qu'elle se voit contrainte de pratiquer une adaptation des tarifs sur certains axes. Certains transporteurs ont calculé que sur les axes Italie, France et Espagne, cela revient à une hausse de 5%. Et ils disent craindre que des hausses similaires seront pratiquées "d'année en année", selon eux jusqu'en 2002. Paul Sauvillier, le nouveau patron de TRW, conteste cela: nulle part il n'est question de 5% ou d'autres augmentations pour les années à venir. Chez les transporteurs routiers utilisant le combiné, c'est l'inquiétude, voire la consternation. "Après trois années de hausses consécutives de 5 à 6%, nous espérions qu'au vu de la dégradation de la qualité de service, il y aurait une stabilisation, voir une baisse des prix", nous a déclaré l'un d'entre eux.
Chipolbrok à la recherche de nouvelles opportunités en Chine Intéressante confrontation que celle survenue récemment à Shanghai entre la direction de l'armement sino-polonais Chipolbrok et la délégation maritime et portuaire anversoise de passage dans ses bureaux, d'autant plus que l'armement est depuis sa création un fidèle client du port scaldien. L'entreprise, au fil des années a pris un caractère assez particulier en ce sens que si elle maintient un service de ligne mixte axé sur le conventionnel/breakbulk et les containers entre l'Europe du Nord et l'Asie du Sud-Est, essentiellement la Chine, elle s'est diversifiée dans ce dernier pays en abordant les secteurs de l'agence maritime, de l'expédition avec entreposage et de l'immobilier.
Grève diversement suivie dans les ports français Comme annoncé (LL. du 24.11.98), l'appel à la grève lancé par la Fédération nationale des ports & docks (FNPD-CGT) a effectivement perturbé le fonctionnement des ports français durant la journée du lundi 23 novembre. Néanmoins, d'un port à l'autre, le mouvement a été très diversement suivi.
Setchell in surprise departure P&O Australia yesterday announced that Richard Setchell, the managing director of P&O Ports, has decided to take early retirement and will be succeeded by Douglas Anderson. Mr Anderson is at present P&O Australia's deputy managing director and finance director. In addition, Jo Curin will join P&O Australia as finance director. Captain Setchell will give up his full time executive responsibilities in January. He will stay on the board of P&O Australia as non-executive director and continue as a director of several of P&O Australia's international port companies.
New tensions at CTAL Cargo handling at the Container Terminals Australia Ltd facility at Botany Bay was disrupted yesterday when waterfront workers, members of the Maritime Union of Australia, walked off the job for just under three hours. The workers were protesting at the alleged harassment of a colleague, a union delegate, who was dismissed this month. It is understood the dismissal was made with the approval of P&O Ports management, but was later overturned following intervention at a higher level and the dismissed worker was reinstated. Industry sources went so far as to suggest yesterday that this intervention might have precipitated the senior management changes at P&O Ports announced yesterday.
Qantas UK freight move delayed Qantas will not be able to take advantage of British Airways' much-heralded $650 million World Cargo Centre at Heathrow -- which is due to open in January -- until at least 2000, Qantas Freight revealed yesterday. In a blow to Qantas Freight and its customers on the "kangaroo" route, Qantas Freight group general manager Peter Frampton said all of its cargo handling operations would soon be temporarily transferred to an alternative cargo handler instead of the new BA Cargo Centre.
$2 billion saving in rail revival, says ARA THE dramatic transformation of Australia's railways into a "dynamic and profitable" transport industry over the past decade has saved taxpayers nearly $2 billion, according to rail lobby group Australasian Railway Association. "The days of railways losing money on their freight operations are over," ARA executive director John Kirk said. "There is no net cost to taxpayers from Australian government rail freight operations and the cost of operating rail passenger services has been reduced." According to ARA research, from a rail deficit of $2.4 billion in the late 1980s, the rail deficit has been reduced by 75 per cent to $800 million per year -- the cash operating payment for rail passenger services.
U.S. To China: No Delay on Bugs The United States reportedly told China it will not extend a Dec. 17 deadline that could affect billions of dollars of trade. As reported in Maritime Week, on Sept. 18, USDA published an "interim rule" aimed at preventing the Asian longhorned beetle from entering the United States in solid wood packing material (SWPM) from China. The pest, which has no natural predators in the United States, poses a serious threat to U.S. forests. Shipments leaving China as of Dec 17 will be required to have a Chinese government certificate stating that the SWPM was heat treated, fumigated or treated with preservatives to kill the Asian longhorned beetle.
Brent Spar To Be Dismantled Shell is to begin dismantling the controversial Brent Spar oil storage buoy Wednesday, to re-use parts of it as the foundation for a quay in Norway. The buoy, which environmentalists Greenpeace fought to stop being dumped at sea, was moved in mid-August from Erfjord in Norway to a deepwater construction site at Vats, where dismantling will be carried out.
LNG Partner Sought State-run Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is reported to be scouting for partners to launch a new venture to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Bradley To Head IACS Robin Bradley, who is the former Chief Executive of the U.K. Marine Safety Agency, will head up the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) starting next year. He will replace James Bell as Permanent Secretary in the spring of 1999 when Bell retires after seven years at the head of the association. IACS represents the world's largest ship classification societies which are responsible for setting safety and structural standards for vessel construction and maintenance.
Osprey CFO Steps Down From Board Osprey Maritime Ltd. CFO Roger Barlett has reportedly resigned from the board, effective November 21.
Colombo Port Traffic Up 5.7% Ship arrivals at the Colombo port increased by 5.7 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 1998 to 2,859 vessels.
Oslo Oil, Offshore & Shipping Shares Down Norwegian oil, offshore and shipping shares remained down, seemingly held there by weak oil prices. Norsk Hydro, Saga Petroleum and Petroleum Geo-Services all traded down for the day.
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