Paris MOU announces inspection campaigns for large bulk carriers Large bulk carriers of more than 30,000 GT and over 15 years old will be inspected for structural safety by port state authorities.
Shipowners face US fees threat SHIPOWNERS and operators face new user-fees and other charges totalling millions of dollars under the Clinton Administration's proposed Financial Year 2000 federal budget sent yesterday to the US Congress.
Subsidy victory for Norway yards Norwegian shipbuilders appeared to have won a major victory yesterday, when the three-party minority government said it would raise subsidies on newbuildings costing more than Euro10m ($8.7m) from 7% to the European maximum level of 9%, and those on smaller craft and refurbishments from 3.5% to 4.5%.
Spectacular profits growth at Royal Caribbean Cruises ROYAL Caribbean Cruises yesterday unveiled a "spectacular" profit increase for 1998.
Inchcape in talks on shipping sale INCHCAPE is well on the way to completing its disposal programme following the sale yesterday of its Chilean and Peruvian bottling interests, but has yet to sell its shipping subsidiary, writes Janet Porter.
IMO in new bid to beat fatigue at sea TIRELESS investigators are to embark on yet another attempt at beating an age-old problem: how to prevent fatigue at sea.
Pallion yard set to resurrect itself after dormant decade Alan Donnelly, Tyne and Wear MEP, said he hopes that the owners of the Pallion shipyard in Sunderland will revive the famous Austin and Pickersgill name as it moves back into business after a ending of a 10-year moratorium.
Lloyd's Register's reign challenged Lloyd's Register is to receive a blow to its prestige as unchallanged top classification society in the lucrative cruise business.
Montserrat jetty becomes point of entry MONTSERRAT, the Caribbean island that thousands of people fled in fear of the erupting volcano, Lang Soufriere, has turned what was an emergency evacuation jetty into its main point of entry.
US yards to receive defence order boost THE big three US naval shipyards will receive a large boost in orders from the department of defense as part of a $6.6bn shipbuilding spending plan to be announced by the Pentagon.
Cyprus managers may move tonnage to Germany CYPRUS-based managers with German connections may follow Christian F Ahrenkiel's lead and transfer ships to German management if the German tonnage tax rules prove advantageous.
AP Møller in Sea-Land talks rumour SHARES in AP Møller group rose last Friday on rumours that the company was in talks to acquire US liner operator Sea-Land.
Canadian grain strike ends STRIKING grain weighers in Canada returned to work less than 24 hours after the Canadian Wheat Board called on Ottawa to legislate an end to the strike.
Pressure mounts on livestock shipments PUBLIC pressure is mounting on the Australian government to restrict livestock shipments following last week's cattle losses on an Indonesian-bound livestock carrier.
Norway's yards promised aid package LARS Sponheim, Norway's minister of economic affairs, is soon to present to parliament an aid package for the country's shipbuilding industry.
Worker opposition delays yard take-over THE planned takeover of Dutch repair yard Wilton-Fijenoord by Yssel-Vliet Combination has been delayed because the workers' councils of both companies are against the merger.
Japan to end directorship ban JAPAN'S Ministry of Transport has decided to end a legal ban on foreigners serving as directors of shipping companies.
Taiwan to ease rules on passengerships TAIWAN transport officials may soon soften their stance regarding contact with the Chinese mainland and allow foreign passengerships to link the two countries.
IMB renews plea to China THE International Maritime Bureau has renewed its plea to China for increased action against piracy in its waters.
India to loosen ports legislation INDIA'S Ministry of Surface Transport has proposed amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act to enable the country's major ports to forge joint ventures with a minor or foreign port.
Future of Thai 'anti-smuggling' police in doubt THAILAND'S National Energy Police Office might have made its last vessel seizure following news of a possible end to funding for the anti-smuggling government department.
Reefer car shortage hurts Chinese HUGE annual losses are being incurred by China because of a desperate shortage of refrigerated rail cars to handle the country's fresh or perishable commodities.
China to increase export credits CHINA'S Export and Import Bank has announced it will increase export sellers' credits by 14bn yuan ($1.69bn) in 1999.
Storms disrupt Italian ferry links UNSEASONALLY bad weather that hit Italy over the week-end severely affected shipping links.
Laguna takes on Manila ferry service LAGUNA Lake Star Ferry Corp, the sister company of the bankrupt Starcraft Ferry, has been granted a permit to operate a ferry service on Manila's Pasig River.
Zim adds second trans-Pacific service ZIM Israel Navigation will inaugurate an additional fixed-day weekly service between the Far East and the Pacific coast of the US and Canada in May.
Unions flag Newcastle tug strife As many as seven tug crews totalling 28 people are likely to lose their jobs as a result of the Adsteam takeover of Hunter Towage Services Pty Ltd. The takeover, which will rationalise towage services in the port of Newcastle, is awaiting the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Maritime unions are due to discuss the implications of the takeover with Hunter Towage Services Pty Ltd this week, although one of the unions has already indicated that a potential for conflict exists. The number of retrenchments, the size of the redundancy package and future rosters which will apply to towage crews in the port of Newcastle will be on the agenda at this week's talks.
FreightCorp now four state operator NSW-based rail freight operator FreightCorp officially began operating in four Australian states yesterday after it took over the South Australian coal haulage operation that links the Leigh Creek coal mine with the Port Augusta power stations. FreightCorp said the two-year haulage contract, which involves the haulage of up to three million tonnes of coal annually along the 250km rail line between Leigh Creek and Port Augusta, would get under way on Friday after modification to coal loading facilities. From Friday, FreightCorp is expected to run one round trip daily from the Leigh Creek Mine to Port Augusta with a train comprising three locomotives and up to 168 wagons. The remaining rolling stock required for the task was being railed across from NSW to South Australia today.
Keppel Cairncross meeting 'procedural' In what was described as a procedural matter, the creditors of Brisbane's financially troubled ship repairer, Keppel Cairncross Shipyard Limited, were to decide yesterday whether to replace the voluntary administrators appointed on 22 January by the company's directors. The creditors were also to decide whether to form a "committee of creditors' tasked to liaise with the administrators on the future of the company. Following yesterday's meeting -- still in progress at DCN press time -- the administrators and the Keppel Cairncross's creditors will meet again in two to three weeks to decide critical issues concerning the company's future.
Darwin dropped in SIA revamp Australia's second largest international air carrier, Singapore Airlines, has blamed disappointing operating results on the Darwin-Singapore route for its decision to scrap operations to Darwin by the end of March. The airline's move to stop the weekly A310 service to Darwin, which is a shared service with Cairns, is part of a shake-up of its capacity and aircraft servicing Australian ports. Most services will remain unchanged when SIA's northern summer schedule comes into effect at the end of March, although capacity to Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne will be increased through a combination of additional services and larger aircraft. SIA said the decision to terminate the loss-making Darwin service after 11 years had been taken with regret, but said the service had not operated up to expectations. The airline has been forced to review its loss-making routes in light of the Asian economic crisis.
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