Maersk clinches Rotterdam deal AFTER 21 months of talks, Danish container carrier Maersk and Dutch stevedore Europe Combined Terminals have finally agreed on the joint development of a new Fls170m ($89m), 900,000 teu capacity box terminal.
Shipping unmoved by Schr'der victory Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens yesterday arranged to start talks on a coalition government on Friday, while business leaders spoke out against a tax and spend policy.
Lloyd's powerhouse 'threatened' THE position of Lloyd's marine syndicates as a "powerhouse" of Lloyd's market performance could be threatened by intense competition in the marine insurance sector, credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) warned yesterday.
ISA starts tracking project CALIFORNIA-based Information System Agreement (ISA) has introduced a pilot multiple carrier tracking project on its website that allows customers to track the status of shipments almost instantaneously.
Evergreen chief urges push to lift freight rates EVERGREEN Group chairman Chang Yung-fa has called on global carriers to work together to increase freight rates.
Saade brothers seek CMA-CGM peace Jacques Saade, chairman of French regular line operator, CMA-CGM, has responded speedily to a proposition from his younger brother, Johnny, to settle their dispute over control of the group, inviting him to a meeting in Paris next month.
Korean restructuring dates set South Korea's five leading conglomerates, which include the country's three largest shipbuilders, will finalise detailed restructuring plans by the end of the year, president Kim Dae-jung said yesterday.
Grimaldi set for two ferries deal ITALIAN cruise ferry specialist Grimaldi Group Genoa is set to further expand its operations with plans to order a pair of large high speed conventional cruise ferries.
Smit Tak wraps up Kandla project SMIT Tak has announced the completion of the current series of salvage operations in Kandla, which involved the refloating of seven vessels stranded after the June cyclone.
Filipino owners urge tax review PHILIPPINE domestic shipping operators are clamouring for a government review of tax privileges being granted to the offshore exploration industry.
Finland extends ice-class tax relief FINLAND is planning to extend tax relief to help shipowners order ice strengthened newbuildings.
Sulpicio ban to be lifted vessel by vessel THE sailing ban imposed on vessels belonging to Sulpicio Lines, owner of the roro ferry Princess of the Orient, is to be lifted on a 'per vessel' basis.
Sinotrans keen to diversify CHINESE owner Sinotrans is looking to move further into the chemical and gas trades backed up with a number of potential newbuilding orders.
Ports on red alert for Georges PORTS of Mobile and New Orleans are on red alert today, as Hurricane Georges moves in.
Evergreen seeks carrier co-operation CARRIERS should work together to increase freight rates to a more compensatory level, said Evergreen Group chairman Chang Yung-fa Chang speaking recently to its agents in Taipeh.
Inmarsat announces privatisation date INMARSAT, the satellite communications company, has confirmed its forthcoming privatisation, planned for April 1, 1999.
Gas explosions paralyse Victoria A SERIES of gas explosions that killed two Esso workers and injured eight others has halted gas and oil production in Australia's Bass Strait and shut down manufacturing industries.
Fomer bank chief found guilty DEN Norske Bank announced today that it has won its legal case against its former head of Greek shipping, Dimitris Antonatos.
Color Line widens its operations NORWEGIAN cruise ferry company Color Line has broadened the scope of its operations by adding more ferry interests, a domestic airline and a hotel to the group.
Russian transit traffic 'at standstill' TRANSIT traffic to Russia from Finnish ports has come to a standstill in the wake of the Russian economic crisis, says the Finnish liner shipping company Finnlines.
Mærsk wins dedicated Rotterdam terminal MÆRSK and ECT have reached agreement on the provision of a dedicated terminal for the Danish operator.
Italy to end hub expansion drive ITALY appears to have reached the end of its container hub expansion drive.
Clipper Cruise acquires fourth ship ST LOUIS-based Clipper Cruise Line has signed an agreement to acquire its fourth ship, which is being obtained from Spice Island Cruises of Bali, Indonesia.
Anvers devra prendre patience pour la deuxième phase de l'approfondissement de l'Escaut La direction de l'entreprise portuaire communale autonome anversoise a donc entamé les démarches nécessaires tant auprès des Néerlandais que des instances gouvernementales flamandes en vue d'obtenir les autorisations nécessaires pour entamer la seconde phase de l'approfondissement de l'Escaut. Cette démarche est des plus logique, étant donné que la première phase, dont les résultats dépassent les espérances, sera terminée dans le courant du début de l'année prochaine. Les équipements étant sur place, il y aurait possibilité de gagner du temps.
Daher perce en logistique: reprise de FLS et partenariat avec HIB Ces derniers temps, le groupe d'origine française Daher se développe en logistique à un rythme très soutenu. Pour cela, il joue sur trois leviers : la croissance interne, le partenariat et la croissance externe. D'où un chiffre d'affaires consolidé qui devrait atteindre 1,6 milliard de FRF en 1999, contre 1,2 milliard en 1997 avec un peu moins de 900 personnes.
Mærsk appliquera ses concepts à son terminal de la Maasvlakte Après des mois de discussions, l'armement danois Mærsk Line est finalement parvenu à conclure un accord avec ECT (Europe Combined Terminal), par lequel il disposera de son propre terminal à la Maasvlakte. Une nouvelle société sera constituée, sorte de joint-venture qui aura pour raison sociale "Mærsk Delta BV", dans laquelle l'armement détiendra la majorité avec deux tiers, tandis qu'ECT, ainsi qu'évoqué précédemment, détiendra le tiers restant, soit 33%. Il s'agira donc d'un terminal entièrement dédié à Mærsk qui l'exploitera selon ses propres concepts et avec ses propres équipements.
L'ECSA enregistre des succès sur le plan social Demain mercredi, les commissaires européens Kinnock (Transports) et Flynn (Affaires sociales et Emploi) signeront un accord unique concernant les modalités de temps de travail des navigants. L'accord est le fruit de cinq années de négociations entre les partenaires sociaux européens que sont l'ECSA (European Community Shipowners' Associations) et la FST (Fédération des Syndicats des Transports dans l'Union Européenne). Il s'agit d'un accord unique en son genre, le secteur maritime étant le premier mode de transport à conclure un tel accord au niveau européen. Les contacts entre l'association européenne d'armateurs et les syndicats sont également constructifs au niveau de la formation et du recyclage des navigants en Europe. Les résultats d'une étude commune doivent en outre démontrer quelles mesures sont nécessaires pour assurer le maintien du savoir-faire maritime en Europe.
P&OP talks resume tomorrow The Maritime Union of Australia is tomorrow expected to resume discussions with P&O Ports, talks which are expected to be crucial for the company's waterfront reform agenda. The stevedore is expected to decide soon whether to proceed with its legal action against the union, or drop the action and enter into full scale discussions. The MUA has consistently said that it cannot concentrate on reform issues, while, at the same time, legal cases are pending against it. P&O is facing increasing pressure from competitor Patrick which now claims massive productivity increases since the introduction of its new enterprise agreement earlier this month (see separate report elsewhere in today's issue). Industry sources believe that Saturday's federal election may also play a part in how the matter unfolds.
Patrick claims productivity leap Patrick has claimed significant productivity increases during the first week of its new enterprise agreements with crane movements an hour increasing by almost 33 per cent in one port. Another indicator, which measures moves per man per shift, has gone up by as much as 140 per cent at another terminal. The sharp increase in productivity, despite almost a 50 per cent reduction in the workforce and an alleged lack of enthusiasm, has led to claims that the company is deliberately driving up its productivity claims. According to Patrick's figures, crane movements an hour during the week 14 to 21 September, had gone up in Brisbane by 32.8 per cent (16.2 crane movements an hour) as compared with the same period a year ago.
Victoria confronts gas drought The Victorian government announced yesterday it will establish a board of inquiry to investigate the cause of Friday's explosions and fires at Esso's Longford plant. It will be "over arching", incorporating inquiries already underway by the state coroner, WorkCover Authority, Esso, the Country Fire Authority, and the Victoria Police Arson Squad. At a press conference yesterday, Premier Jeff Kennett said: "We should prepare for there being a second week of no gas supply." He said it would take several days, probably a week, to secure the pipes and cables damaged in the explosion and a new pipeline would have to be built from the second and third plants to the main outgoing line. Esso would have to put a pump on the new pipeline to increase the capacity of plants two and three and that was likely to take another week, Mr Kennett said.
Shock! MUA attacks government The Maritime Union of Australia has accused the federal government of "conspiring" to destroy what's left of the country's merchant fleet. At a function to commemorate World Maritime Day, MUA national secretary John Coombs said Canberra's policy was "if you can't beat them, join them". "Rather than fighting to protect seafarers in our waters, this government is planning to have third world seafarers employed on our ships," Mr Coombs said. "Rather than funding Australian shipping, they are selling it off and moving to flag it out. "I spoke earlier of conspiracy... the secret government war plan leaked in July this year actually documents how the sale of our national line or the axing of cabotage could be used to trigger a strike and sack the unionised port workforce -- for it is the port workers who help police the abuse of seafarers on board ships of shame."
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