Duty-free threat to UK ship chandlers BRITISH ship chandlers and suppliers face "decimation" if the planned replacement arrangements for duty-free shopping come into force, according to a report published yesterday.
Taca backed over fines Backing for the TransAtlantic Conference Agreement's appeal against European anti-trust fines of Ecu273m ($317.5m) for anti-trust offences has come from the European Community Shipowners Association.
Nigeria deals a new deck of cards Despite my fear of being considered not quite tough enough by my hardened journalist colleagues back in the London office (should they get to hear of it) and likewise my contacts in the Nigerian shipping industry, I nevertheless asked my host in Lagos to ask her "Mr Fix It" at Lagos Airport to meet me as close to the steps of the plane as was possible.
Bimco creates millennium clause Reacting to requests from owners, who are increasingly faced with demands by charterers for warranties against ships and equipment being affected by the millennium bug, a standard Year 2000 Clause for Voyage and Time Charter Parties, addressing 2000 compliance obligations of both charterers and owners, has been drafted by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (Bimco).
Fresh survey sheds light on bulk losses ALThough Greek shipowners and the Panama flag topped a 13-year list of lost bulk carriers compiled by the Gothenburg-based Institute of Shipping Analysis, the findings did not conclusively prove the world's supposedly favourite prejudice that all bad guys in bulker losses are from Greece and/or flag of convenience operators.
Private operator for World Trade Center IN what it described as an "historic shift", the board of commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed last week that it would turn over the management of the World Trade Center (pictured) in Lower Manhattan to a private operator.
A whiff of fresh air in London arbitration circles Eighteen months or so after the English Arbitration Act 1996 became effective at the end of January 1997, it is perhaps time to review how it has been accepted in commercial maritime quarters and the changes which have inevitably followed in its wake.
Ship needs 'may top $150bn' Shipping industry requirements for ship finance over the next five years could exceed $150bn, according to a new report from Drewry Shipping Consultants.* Between 1998 and 2002, the report predicts the newbuilding finance requirement will be $125bn.
Leave leave alone, shipowners warned The Australian Maritime Officers Union has warned shipowners not to persist with attempts at reducing leave entitlements as a means of reducing the competitive gap between the Australian fleet and flag of convenience shipping. Writing in the latest edition of the Australian Maritime Officer, the union's director of maritime policy Fred Ross said shipowners pursuing that line were giving no consideration to the fact that with reduced crews and port turn around seafarers seldom went ashore and even if time were available the terminal was usually miles from civilisation. "Seafarers can go months without going ashore and with the push to extend the leave swings it is not only the seafarer who suffers but their wives and children," Mr Ross said.
Newcastle steels itself with ambitious hub plan Newcastle could have a new multi-million dollar transport hub aimed at serving the entire eastern seaboard, following the establishment of a partnership between BHP and Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd. The two companies have entered into a partnership agreement to conduct a $6 million feasibility and environmental impact study into a proposed multi-purpose container and general cargo terminal, which would be built at the Newcastle Steelworks site after steel making operations shut down next year. The study, to be completed by mid-1999, will investigate the long term concept of making Newcastle a one-stop east coast port for overseas shipping and a transport hub for sending goods through the eastern seaboard using land bridging.
Prospect for massive growth NSW Premier Bob Carr believes the proposal by BHP and Leighton's to develop a multi-purpose terminal will see "a massive growth in the port capacity of Newcastle". Mr Carr said: "This builds the capacity of the port of Newcastle to service all of the north-west of the state to compete with Brisbane and to compete with Sydney. "Of all the announcements that I've been associated with about Newcastle's future … this is the most exciting and to have the private sector partners of the weight and seriousness of BHP and Leighton's have put $6 million into the preliminary study suggests it's got a lot of feasibility to it."
Second register could save NZ shipping: Report The introduction in New Zealand of a second register for international shipping could prevent the demise of dedicated shipping services to and from the country, according to a report recently presented to the New Zealand government. The report, by the NZ Institute of Economic Research, was commissioned by the Future of New Zealand Shipping Working Group in support of its case for the establishment of a second register. The institute noted in its report that a second register was being proposed in recognition of the fact that most vessels operating on international trades received tax concessions either through flags of convenience status, second register conditions or other sector-specific rules.
Shipowners welcome ALP's $60m commitment The Australian Shipowners Association has described key differences in the shipping policies of both major parties as "ironic", while broadly welcoming the ALP's commitment to provide $60 million over three years in fiscal support for the shipping industry. ASA chief executive Lachlan Payne said the opposition's $60 million pledge was the first time that either party had committed to providing fiscal assistance in line with the industry's position on the issue since the election campaign began. Mr Payne noted, however, that the $60 million was only about half the amount which the industry had argued should be provided to put Australian ship owners operating on international routes on par with their overseas competitors.
If things don't change quickly, Surface Transportation Board Chairman Linda Morgan may be the only one left to vote on pending rail mergers. The Clinton administration has been unable for 20 months to fill a vacant seat and there will be another one by the end of the year. Vice Chair Gus Owen will leave on Dec. 31, if not earlier, and Jake Simmons hasn't been on the board since Jan. 1, 1997. The future of the STB is in question with its charter expiring on Sept. 30 and some members of Congress unwilling to reauthorize the agency.
Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., could be responsible for scuttling more than $3.5 billion in rail-related loan guarantees if the language he has inserted into transportation spending bills is made law. Wolf is also looking to prohibit any administrative cooperation between the Department of Transportation and the Surface Transportation Board and to jump-start an earlier attempt to move the Office of Motor Carriers to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. One House source called Wolf's recent antics "mischief making."
NASSTRAC is grappling with the need to "go global" and the desire to stay small and nimble. NASSTRAC is definitely looking to move beyond its role as a voice for the domestic small shipper, but how to do so is up for debate. The Washington-based trade association already lured in one big international player, Expeditors International, a multinational freight forwarder and an example of the kind of members the group would like to bring into the fold.
Ocean carriers are continuing their version of a very long square dance where carriers are switching partners and acquiring competitors in order to stay competitive. Last week another ocean carrier marriage was announced. CP Ships plans to buy Australia New Zealand Direct Line. Also recently announced, U.S. Africa Navigation and Torm Lines signed a vessel-sharing agreement while the Holt Co. has put its plans to buy Atlantic Container Lines on hold. Being big does not necessarily mean big profits and the ship lines are looking more and more to partnerships to rectify that.
Companies are keeping SCOR. Members of the three-year-old Supply-Chain Council, an industrial trade group, met in San Francisco Sept. 20-22 to discuss the progress of their Supply-Chain Operations Reference-model. SCOR is a detailed theoretical model with an ambitious agenda. Its sponsors intend for SCOR to be the medium of exchange for information management. Its purpose is to give organizations a common language to discuss supply-chain issues, develop benchmarking measurements and give direction to the development of supply-chain management software.
The Department of Transportation weighed in on the Surface Transportation Board's Houston-Gulf Coast Oversight proceeding on Sept. 18. DOT recommended the STB continue to monitor UP's service in the area, and said it would support divestiture of certain lines if the railroad is unable to show improvement in the near term. In its own 1,000-page filing, UP rejected proposals by BNSF, KCS, Tex Mex and others seeking divestiture of its lines, calling them "blatant attempts to grab UP traffic and assets."
As the aviation industry marks the 20th anniversary of deregulation, the government and industry is embroiled in an ugly debate over just that. The Department of Transportation issued a white paper last month spelling out how it views the competition guidelines that already exist in the deregulation law. The industry, led by the Air Transport Association, is screaming reregulation and waging a publicity war against the department. DOT says it just wants to make sure new-entrant carriers are being treated fairly. The industry counters that that's what antitrust laws are for.
i2 Technologies just keeps piling on the customers. Last week the supply-chain software company won deals to help retool the supply chain for Ryder Integrated Logistics, Frito-Lay and Pittsburgh Logistics Systems. All of the new customers plan to use i2's software to help move their products or their customers' products to market faster and more efficiently. "The ability to combine logistics flow applications that leverage e-commerce with advanced planning business optimization - it's an area of opportunity and value," i2 said.
The growth in steel imports to the United States and Canada has helped keep traffic levels on the St. Lawrence Seaway healthy during the past three years. But that hasn't been good news for U.S. and Canadian steel producers. Steel makers in both countries are asking for duties on imported metal, which has seaway operators concerned. U.S. steel makers asked first for government help in dealing with the growing imports but Canadian producers since have served notice they plan to seek relief as well. The North American companies are battling an influx of cheap steel from Russia, South Korea, Japan and other countries.
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