Mitsui faces showdown with unions MITSUI OSK Lines is heading for a showdown with US seafarer unions over plans to switch at least two liquified natural gas carriers from the US flag to the Marshall Islands.
Eleven taken off Toisa Gryphon A SEVERE engine room fire on board the offshore support vessel Toisa Gryphon has forced the emergency evacuation of 11 seismic personnel.
Bona profits dive as tanker market slides THE annual net profit at Bona Shipholding plunged more than 58% to $16.58m in the wake of average year-on-year declines of 20% in aframax and panamax OBO freight rates.
Safren dips again amid shipping sale doubts Shares in South Africa's Safmarine and Rennies Holdings (Safren) tumbled for a second day yesterday on concern that a planned sale of its shipping unit might have hit a snag.
ICB sells VLCC in charter back deal Sweden's ICB Shipping has sold a VLCC to a Singapore company in a deal involving a long-term charter back.
Ocean Marine challenge under way Lawyers acting for disgruntled members of independent P&I club Ocean Marine Mutual were expected to present their arguments to the club yesterday, intensifying moves against the massive supplementary calls which the club is levying, writes Andrea Felsted.
Asian downturn brings big increase in piracy ASIA'S economic crisis has sparked an explosion of piracy against ships and violent attacks on seafarers, a top level conference was told yesterday.
Airtours Airtours, which is 30% owned by Carnival Corporation, has placed its 16,710gt cruiseship Seawing in the Port of Las Palmas Astican shipyard for scheduled minor repairs.The ship will be in the yard for up to one week.
Safmarine buys Rennie's subsidiary SAFMARINE Container Lines (SCL), which itself is up for sale, has acquired Rennie's transport logistics subsidiary Roadwing for an undisclosed amount.
Piracy conference urges greater co-operation SINGAPORE maritime officials today urged shipping representatives to step up efforts to address the worsening problems of Asian piracy through greater regional co-operation.
Deutsche Babcock eyes HDW stake GERMAN engineering group Deutsche Babcock is in talks to acquire a shareholding in German shipyard HDW.
Australian stevedores warned over levy AUSTRALIA'S principal pricing regulator has warned stevedores not to make customers pay a new freight levy that went into force nationwide this week.
Union 'war' threatens Newcastle AUSTRALIA'S largest transport and logistics operator has threatened to suspend a A$30m ($19m) port development project at Newcastle because of a union turf war.
Aker Finnish yard faces layoffs ALL 600 staff at Aker Mantyluoto offshore yard in Pori, Finland, have been warned they may be laid off in the next few months.
Profit slump at Stolt-Nielsen STOLT-NIELSEN, the chemical carrier group, has reported a collapse in net profits to $96.3m despite an 18 per cent increase in operating revenue.
Ennore to be declared major port INDIA'S Surface Transport Ministry will soon declare the Ennore port being built near Chennai a major port, according to ministry sources.
SpecTec acquires MMS MANAGEMENT software specialist, SpecTec, has acquired the assets of troubled Marine Management Systems.
Crewmen rescued from blazing vessel A FIRE onboard the Toisa Gryphon last night, some 150 miles off the UK's Scilly Islands, prompted a helicopter rescue of 11 of its 22-man crew.
SeaFrance sailings cancelled SEAFRANCE, the French ferry operator, cancelled all sailings today as a result of industrial action taken by staff in Calais.
Vancouver hit by wildcat strike DOCKERS at Vancouver staged a wildcat strike yesterday in protest against job jurisdiction on the waterfront.
Moby sues Italian ferry rival ITALIAN ferry and roro operator Moby Lines has sued rival Tirrenia at the European Commission alleging violation of the rules on state aid.
Stevedores accuse ports of abusing status PORT authorities in Australia have been accused by stevedores of using their monopoly status to squeeze higher rent from port occupants.
Aconcagua fire is a warning, says Fairplay LAST month's fire on the containership Aconcagua is a warning to vessel designers, says Fairplay in this week's leading commentary.
Sri Lanka searches vessels for weapons SRI Lanka's navy has searched two merchant ships suspected of arms smuggling near the scene of a battle with Tamil Tiger rebel boats off the north-east coast on January 31.
Weir shares soar on takeover talk SHARES in Weir Group, the Scotland-based engineering group and leading pump manufacturer, have soared on rumours of a takeover bid by a US group.
Brazilian court makes landmark ruling A RECENT Brazilian court decision leaves foreign crews on vessels in the coastal trades at the mercy of immigration officials.
Battle lines drawn at Newcastle Members of the Maritime Union of Australia were yesterday ordered to start work on the bulk carrier Kapitan Betkhar at Newcastle's Eastern Basin Distribution Centre or face the legal consequences. In a day of legal drama, the MUA was fending off action on several fronts. The Supreme Court and the Australian Industrial Relations Commission were involved in hearings aimed at resolving the situation holding up a consignment of timber on the Kapitan Betkhar, which berthed on Sunday. Patrick was supposed to have started handling her cargo on Monday morning.
Institute launches Aust/NZ branch Functions were held in Sydney and Melbourne this week to celebrate the formation of the Australian/New Zealand branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, that represents ship brokers, agents and managers. The entry of the branch into the institute means that for the first time more than 50 per cent of the membership is outside the United Kingdom. The development of the institute overseas was held back until 1984 after which membership was opened to citizens of countries other than the United Kingdom, Ireland and the British Commonwealth.
Westrail task force to hear regional views The WA government task force set up to look into the sale of Westrail will travel to regional centres next week to field the concerns of the rural community. The Rail Freight Sale Task Force will visit eight regional centres to take in the views of users of both the standard and narrow gauge rail network. The task force is due to report its findings and recommendations on the sale of Westrail's freight business before March end. Rural rail users have expressed concern that selling Westrail's freight business would result in cutbacks to some rail services, particularly to the less profitable narrow gauge services.
EPA wants WA transport 'sense' Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has called on the government to rationalise rail and road transport facilities in the resource-rich Pilbara region to limit the environmental impact of future developments. The recommendation was made in the EPA's report on Robe River Mining Co's proposal for an iron ore mine, processing operation and associated transport facilities at West Angelas in the Pilbara. Robe's proposal includes the construction of 342km of railway line from West Angelas to the Robe Pannawonica-Cape Lambert railway and expansion of port facilities at Cape Lambert.
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