Liberia register in turmoil HOPES of an orderly handover of power at the Liberian register have suffered a major setback. International Registries Inc, which is to be replaced as manager next year after half a century in charge, has denied that there has been any "agreement for a seamless transition" and has pledged to continue to "vigorously defend" itself in court.
Agreement over Ocean fleet transfer THE Liverpool & London club has reached agreement with Ocean Marine Europe to take on the small craft P&I and hull portfolios written by the club.
Western Bulk in link with John Vassos Western Bulk Carriers, one of the world's largest operators of handysized bulk carriers, has announced that it has formed a joint venture with John Vassos, principal of the Australian freight operator, Parcel Carriers Australia.
OECD cuts avoid maritime sector SHIPPING and shipbuilding have escaped unscathed from the latest round of budget cuts in the OECD.
Central Europe lifts regional box trades STRONG growth in central European consumer demand is driving fundamantal restructuring in the north European container trades and port markets, according to a report on seaborne trade in the transitional economies.
India owners seek coastal berths pledge The Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA) has written to the ministry of surface transport seeking separate berths for coastal ships at Indian ports.
Strintzis fleet renewal puts emphasis on speed Greece's Strintzis Lines is continuing to reshape its fleet with the aim of strengthening the listed company's position in the Adriatic and domestic ferry markets.
Roehlig threatens action as staff establish rival LEADING UK freight forwarder and non-vessel operating common carrier Roehlig & Co is seeking legal advice after 19 former staff members resigned to set up a competing operation.
Union warns dismissed seafarers A MARITIME union in the Philippines has warned crews who complain of unfair dismissal without revealing that they have committed misdemeanors.
ICTSI third quarter income slumps PHILIPPINES-based International Container Terminal Services Inc saw a 16 per cent drop in its third quarter consolidated net income.
TSA lines refuse to reverse rate hike MEMBER lines of the Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement have refused to reverse new container freight rates imposed on cargo destined for the US from India.
Clinton names new St Lawrence administrator ALBERT Jacquez, a former US congressional assistant, has been appointed administrator of the St Lawrence Seaway Development Corp by President Clinton.
BP-Amoco merger wins tentative approval US FEDERAL Trade Commission has tentatively approved the $53bn merger of BP and Amoco after they agreed to divest assets that could threaten competition.
Clinton opens door to limited sales to Cuba THE Clinton administration is to allow US companies to sell food, machinery and fertiliser to Cuban companies, in a small step towards improving trade relations with Cuba.
Kværner asset sales raise Nkr2.2bn KVÆRNER sold Nkr2.2bn ($290m) worth of assets in the fourth quarter of 1998 to slim down and cut debt.
Finland's transport minister resigns FINLAND'S transport minister has resigned in a row over privatisation of a telecommuni-cations group and the subsequent share dealings of its md.
NOL signs repair agreement with Jurong Shipyard NEPTUNE Shipmanagement Services, the shipmanagement subsidiary of Neptune Orient Lines, has signed an alliance agreement with Singapore's Jurong Shipyard.
India to allow full foreign participation in ports INDIA is to allow full foreign equity participation in port projects, provided that the foreign investment does not exceed Rs15bn.
IRI denies claims of agreement with Liberia IRI has denied that the lawsuit by Liberia against it and its associate ITC has been withdrawn or that any agreement over a seamless transition to its successor has been reached.
Federal Marine Terminals moves to Burns Harbor FEDERAL Marine Terminals, part of the Montreal-based Fednav group, has transferred its Great Lakes operations from Chicago to Burns Harbor.
Record battu: plus 5.000 tracteurs immatriculés en Belgique en 1998 La Febiac vient de publier les statistiques des immatriculations de véhicules industriels pour 1998. Elles indiquent qu'un nombre sans précédent de tracteurs routiers ont été immatriculés, la barre des 5.000 unités ayant même été largement franchie. Le marché dans son ensemble (tracteurs + porteurs) n'a progressé que de 7,9%, en raison du quasi status-quo dans le secteur des porteurs.
Un nouveau service Transfracht vers l'Autriche Lundi prochain, l'Austria Containerexpress, le nouveau service Transfracht vers l'Autriche, sera officiellement lancé. Depuis Rotterdam, Anvers et Zeebrugge via Munich en direct vers Vienne, Salzbourg et Linz, avec des possibilités de transit vers Wolfurt et Hall au Tyrol. Comme on a pu lire dans un numéro précédent de notre journal, Transfracht International (TFGI) assurait en coopération avec Intercontainer jusqu'à la fin de l'année dernière un service containérisé depuis les ports allemands vers l'Autriche.
La prise de contrôle de Hutchison dans ECT remise en cause? L'armement P&ONL a demandé à la Commission européenne de se pencher sur la vente éventuelle d'une participation de 50% dans l'entreprise rotterdamoise ECT au groupe portuaire Hutchison Whampoa, signale la presse néerlandaise. D'après P&ONL, une prise de contrôle d'ECT permettrait à Hutchison - déjà propriétaire de terminaux à Felixstowe et Thamesport - de contrôler une part trop importante du secteur de la manutention de containers en Europe du Nord (9 millions de containers sur 21) et de dicter les tarifs de manutention dans cette région.
AN: les indécis conditionnent toujours la formation d'une nouvelle conférence En ce qui concerne la mise en place d'une nouvelle conférence régissant les trafics de l'Atlantique Nord, qu'il s 'agisse d'une TACA "rerénovée" ou d'une entité différente, c'est toujours l'expectative. Nombreux sont effectivement les armements qui préfèrent attendre de voir comment les choses vont évoluer sous les régimes juridiques imposés d'un côté par l'UE et de l'autre dans le cadre du nouveau "Shipping Act" américain.
Patrick still 'getting the facts' Stevedore Patrick is continuing to count losses and to consider what action to take against the Maritime Union of Australia whose members did not work two shifts over the New Year's Eve-New Year's Day break. They did not work despite provisions of the company's new enterprise agreement and an order from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. Yesterday, Patrick was continuing to interview employees who failed to report for work and "completing the facts". It is now expected that the company will be in a position tomorrow to say whether it will proceed with Federal Court action against the union to seek damages which could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
AMSA keeping eye on Barrier Reef The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has warned shipowners and operators that they have been targeting the illegal disposal of cargo residues within the Great Barrier Reef from 1 January. AMSA says the disposal of cargo residues is regulated by Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78). Annex V sets out regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships, and defines garbage as including a broad range of operational waste from ships, including cargo residues from loading excess, unloading residue and spillage.
NRTC welcomes SA move The National Road Transport Commission has welcomed South Australia's early adoption of the controversial national mass limits proposals, reiterating its long-held stance that increased truck weights would lead to less trucks on the road. The NRTC also insisted in a statement released this week that trucks certified to operate at the higher limits would not cause additional road damage. The South Australian government's recent decision to allow heavier trucks fitted with "road friendly" suspensions on certain SA roads from 1 January has been criticised by the Australasian Rail Association. The rail lobby has argued that increased truck weights would give road transport a competitive advantage over rail and result in a shift of freight from rail to road, leading to possibly more trucks on roads.
Toll to lease land from Westrail TheToll Group has reached an agreement with Westrail to lease 5000 square metres of land in West Kalgoorlie to develop a freight-handling facility to service the region. The facility will be used to tranship Toll containers, but may also handle work for other freight distributors in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. The agreement follows a call by the Western Australian government for expressions of interest from organisations to build, own and operate a common-use freight transfer. Transport Minister Murray Criddle said the call had not resulted in any proposals to build, own and operate a common-use freight facility.
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
phone: +39.010.2462122, fax: +39.010.2516768, e-mail
VAT number: 03532950106
Press Reg.: nr 33/96 Genoa Court
Editor in chief: Bruno Bellio No part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
