Brussels backing offshore structures disposal project RESPONSIBILITY for funding and supporting an initiative for the onshore disposal of offshore oil and gas platforms is to be taken on by the European Commission.
Liverpool dockers end bitter dispute ONE of the longest and most bitter industrial disputes in Britain's post-war history finally ended yesterday when Mersey Docks and Harbour Company settled its marathon dispute with 327 dockers sacked in September 1995.
DNV gains top market share in classifications NORWEGIAN classification society Det Norske Veritas classed 21% of all tonnage contracted worldwide last year and now classes more than 75m gt or 15% of the world fleet, said DNV president and chief executive Sven Ullring.
New Nauticus packages on the way DET Norsk Veritas is set to launch packages two and three of its Nauticus vessel information system this year.
BC fast ferry chief quits BRITISH Columbia's troubled fast ferry project, already more than a year behind schedule, has suffered another setback with the sudden departure of Scottish shipbuilder Andrew Hamilton, the man in charge of the project.
Panamax market feels the draught PANAMAX freight rates could move either way by the time the Panama Canal Commission introduces draught restrictions in March, shipbrokers said yesterday. However, by June, the situation might change again, especially if a 34 ft draught restriction was imposed.
Steam Packet says its job cuts will be industry trend ISLE of Man Steam Packet, which is seeking in the region of 50 redundancies - including a 50% cut in its 59 strong complement of officers - says the move is one that is likely to be repeated across the industry with the introduction of new technology.
Russian crime worries insurers RUSSIA'S persistent crime problem - with kidnapping the fastest-growing worry - will continue to present major headaches for insurers over the next few years, a report has made clear.
Ecuador hits record banana exports A DOUBLING of banana exports to China, helped Ecuador, the world's largest exporter of the fruit, reach a record high in 1997.
Panama announces draught restrictions PANAMA Canal authorities have announced that starting in March, stringent restrictions will be placed on cargo moving through the canal.
New World Alliance makes its debut HYUNDAI Merchant Marine, Mitsui OSK and American President Lines are to operate as the "New World Alliance".
Argentine union forced to sell ships ARGENTINE union Navisupe, which negotiated to take over some of the vessels operated by state owned oil company YPF, has been forced to put its ships on the market to survive.
Nigerian slick reaches Lagos AN OIL slick caused by a pipeline leak at Qua Iboe, in eastern Nigeria, has drifted along the coast to offshore Lagos.
Costa order goes to Kværner Masa KVÆRNER Masa-Yards has reached agreement with Carnival Corp subsidiary Costa Crociere and Airtours for the construction of an 82,000 gt cruiseship.
Colombian strike hits coffee, sugar exports COLOMBIA'S principal truckdrivers' union has launched an indefinite, nationwide strike yesterday in an effort to win higher road freight charges.
Cruiseship lengthening operation is successful LLOYD Werft at Bremerhaven successfully carried out the operation to part the cruiseship Windward and insert a new 40 m-long midbody section over the weekend.
Sabah Shipyard sacks 700 workers SABAH Shipyard in Malaysia has terminated the employment of 703 workers because of 'severe financial and cashflow constraints.'
ANL 'sale by mid-1998' THE Australian government says it expects to complete the sale of state-owned shipping line ANL by the middle of 1998.
Nissos Amorgos master sentence due next month THE master of the Greek tanker that spilled 25,000 barrels of oil in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo channel is due to be sentenced in early February.
NEL to order ropax ferry for islands route GREEK ferry operator NEL is to place an order for a 2,000 passenger ferry to its service between Piraeus and Chios/Lesvos.
New Norway-Sweden link planned NORWEGIAN businessman Jan Petter Rod is among principals planning a new ferry service to link Langesund in southern Norway and Gothenburg.
Plan to privatise Kotka A COMMITTEE set up by the council at the Finnish port city of Kotka recommends privatising the municipally-owned utility.
Chinese deny illegal ship arrest AUTHORITIES in the Chinese port of Shenzhen have rejected accusations that they had illegally detained a Bahamas-registered ship.
Essar reschedules debt with major loan deal ESSAR Shipping has signed the largest ever term loan deal in the Indian shipping industry.
India to provide big boost for ports INDIA'S surface transport ministry may invest in substantial extra cargo handling capacity in the major and minor ports by 2002.
US and Venezuela in drugs control pact THE US and Venezuela will sign a maritime co-operation agreement next month to enhance teamwork in the fight against narcotics trafficking.
La Belgique peut invoquer un droit de passage "historique" pour le Rhin d'Acier La signature, lundi dernier à Anvers, par Luc Meurrens, nouveau président de la CCI d'Anvers et Heribert Becker, de la CCI de Duisbourg, d'une résolution entre les deux chambres demandant la réactivation rapide de la liaison ferroviaire du Rhin d'Acier qui unit les deux ports, a permis à l'échevin du port d'Anvers Leo Delwaide de rappeler qu'en vertu des traités de 1839 et 1873, la Belgique possède un droit de passage à travers le Limbourg néerlandais en direction de la Ruhr. Ce droit de passage qui, à l'époque de la signature du premier traité, concernait une route ou une voie d'eau, a été concrétisé quelques années plus tard par le traité de 1873, appelé également traité du Rhin d'Acier qui fêtera l'an prochain son 120e anniversaire. Qui plus est, cet élément du droit international conforte la position de la Belgique, partisane du tracé "historique": elle se refuse de succomber aux sirènes néerlandaises qui proposent un tracé alternatif, dans le seul but, et l'on peut les comprendre, de retarder la remise en service de la liaison ferroviaire.
L'UE et la Suisse parviennent à un accord sur le transit routier La Commission européenne et la Suisse sont parvenues dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi à un accord sur le transit alpin de poids lourds en provenance de l'UE. La Suisse ouvrira progressivement ses routes aux poids lourds de l'EU jusqu'à 40 t (jusqu'à présent, la limite était fixée à 28 t) contre le paiement de 200 Ecu (325 CHF) par trajet à partir de 2005. L'accord implique en outre le maintien de l'interdiction de circuler entre 22h00 et 05h00.
Anvers: le traitement du conventionnel/breakbulk a fait l'objet d'un consensus Il y a quelque jours, l'ABAS, association professionnelle des opérateurs de terminaux portuaires anversois annonçait un nouveau régime pour ce qui est du traitement des marchandises sur les terminaux axés sur le conventionnel/breakbulk. Entre-temps, toutes les parties concernées ont mené une dernière discussion dont il est sorti un consensus, accepté à l'unanimité. Nous précisons ci-dessous les adaptations mineures qui sont intervenues au nouveau régime qui entrera en vigueur le 1er février prochain.
La France adopte une nouvelle loi sur les transports routiers La Commission Mixte composée de députés et de sénateurs vient d'adopter une loi supplémentaire régissant les transports routiers en France. Les retombées de ce texte peuvent être analysées sous trois angles: les spécificités françaises par rapport à la réglementation communautaire; les clivages au sein des milieux routiers français et les relations chargeurs/transporteurs, c'est-à-dire clients/fournisseurs. Le propos ci-après se limite au premier point.
Maersk makes its move THE world’s largest container line, Maersk, has announced a long-anticipated escalation of its Australian services which is certain to impact on existing carriers in a number of key trades. From early March the Danish giant will introduce a dual-string Singapore-East Coast Australia service which, like the company’s very successful Singapore-NZ service begun only last year, is primarily targeted at Europe.
Sofrana replaces Coral Sea to PNG Australia’s shipping services with Papua New Guinea are changing substantially as a result of a decision by Coral Sea Shipping Lines Pty Ltd to withdraw from a leg of its service, and the decision by Sofrana Unilines to fill the gap.
Further talks on PWCS situation The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has urged further talks between the Maritime Union of Australia and Port Waratah Coal Services. Since last week the union’s members have been engaged in a wide range of "protected industrial action" which if it continues, will have a serious effect on the backlog of bulk carrier waiting of coal off the port of Newcastle.
Alliance chooses New World APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mitsui OSK lines have announced that their new world-wide agreements to coordinate vessels and terminals and share vessel space will operate under the name "New World Alliance." The alliance will provide competitive market coverage, sailing frequencies and transit times in all major East-West container trades, through the coordination of some 100 containerships globally.
TDG’s measured optimism Logistics, storage and warehousing company TDG Logistics limited, which was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in October, said on Friday it was looking forward to 1998 with "measured optimism." Shareholders were told at the company’s AGM that 1997-98 had started will for the NSW-based company and that it should meet prospectus forecast, which predicted revenue of $70.5 million in 1998 and adjusted earnings before interest and tax of $7.2 million.
The Suez Canal Authority has announced that it will introduce surcharges on transit tariffs through the Egyptian canal for most major cargo vessels, effective July 15.
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