P&O flag threat over new ferries BRITISH shipping giant P&O yesterday threatened to snub the Red Ensign when flagging two gigantic ferry newbuildings, in a move that may increase pressure on the British government to introduce a tonnage tax this year.
Yards set to vie for UK aircraft carriers order INTERNATIONAL defence contractors and shipyards are lining up to enter battle for a new $2.5bn UK order for two large aircraft carriers.
Costa Crociere set to pay dividend Costa Crociere will pay a share dividend for the first time since its 1997 takeover by Miami-based Carnival Corp and British partner, Airtours.
Difficult times Difficult times: A floor trader spends time in thought during afternoon trading at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Stocks closed sharply lower yesterday as fresh worries of a Chinese yuan devaluation rocked the market and drove interbank interest rates higher.
Strait talking as Turkey goes to tender TURKEY is to reissue over the next few weeks a $40m tender for a state of-the-art radar control system intended to improve navi-gation safety along the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and the Sea of Marmara linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean.
Asian Terminals plans Terminales Rio sell-off Asian Terminals Inc (ATI), sole operator of Manila's international South Harbour port terminal, plans to sell its remaining stake in Argentina's Terminales Rio de la Plata.
Onorato $209m fleet expansion move Italian ferry and towage specialist Onorato group is planning a major newbuilding expansion with orders for vessels worth a total of Lire350bn ($209m).
Keppel quits Australian yard KEPPEL Corp has decided to pull out of the Keppel Cairncross yard in Australia after sustaining continuous losses.
Germany to cut shipbuilding subsidies GERMANY is planning to cut shipbuilding subsidies by about Dm10m ($6m) in 1999.
BC ferry chief quits over PacifiCat TOM Ward, president and ceo of BC Ferry Corp, has resigned over a substantial cost overrun on the PacifiCat fast ferry project.
P&O Ports tipped to win Kandla contract P&O PORTS is set to win the contract for the operation and management of the container terminal in Kandla port on India's west coast.
Keppel closes Australian operation SINGAPORE'S diversified Keppel Corporation is to discontinue its shipyard operations in Australia.
P&O North Sea orders largest cruiseferries P&O North Sea Ferries has ordered two 60,600 gt cruiseferries from Fincantieri for its Hull to Rotterdam route.
Repsol opens LNG talks with owners SPAIN'S Repsol-Gas Natural group has entered confidential talks with domestic and foreign lng tanker operators regarding a long-term time-charter contract.
Laem Chabang to extend port limits LAEM Chabang, the Thai port, is to extend its limits from 50 km' to 243 km' to include the Koh Si Chang anchorage and nearby private ports.
Extra ferry for North Sea route DFDS Seaways will add the passenger ferry King of Scandinavia to its service between Ymuiden in the Netherlands and Newcastle, UK.
Feeder operators withdraw Chennai levy FEEDER operators serving Chennai port have decided to withdraw the operational cost recovery levy from January 31.
Major rate hikes 'premature' REPORTS of a planned 60 per cent jump in Asia-Europe container freight rates have been branded as premature by the liner conference concerned.
Container handlers join forces HONG Kong's midstream container handlers have joined forces to fight for their survival in the face of continuous pressure from shipping lines to reduce rates.
Italian owner finds no cabotage benefit LIFTING of cabotage restrictions in Italian waters has yet to be implemented, according to owners trying to benefit from the three-week old ruling.
Colombo rate hikes defended SHIPPING agents in Colombo have defended planned increases in freight rates this year, saying that lines are responding to market forces.
Liner service to link Paris with Russia A FRANCO-Russian group is to launch a direct sea-river liner service in the spring between Paris and Russia.
Malta Drydocks seeks new shift system SIGNIFICANT changes to the work pattern at Malta Drydocks could emerge from a new collective agreement to be discussed with the General Workers' Union.
Medcenter orders cranes for 8,000 teu ships MEDCENTER Container Terminal at Gioia Tauro has ordered four super post-panamax cranes (with an option for another two) from Irish manufacturer Liebherr.
Dirk Mertens (URS): "Nous recherchons des partenariats pour présenter des offres globales" "Nous envisageons une expansion de nos activités, mais vers le Sud, vers les pays latins, c'est essentiel. Nous ne regardons pas vers le Nord, étant donné que le marché du remorquage y est saturé. Cela devrait se faire avant la fin de l'année. De même, nous évaluons l'opportunité de rechercher un partenaire et dans cette optique, nous discutons avec diverses entreprises. Nous recherchons des alliances, celai dans le cadre de la présentation d'offres globales". C'est ce qu'a déclaré Dirk Mertens, administrateur délégué de l'Union de Remorquage et de Sauvetage, alors qu'il occupait dernièrement la tribune du Maritieme kring Antwerpen.
Hupac: les temps sont durs pour le transport combiné Avec une hausse de seulement 4,2% du nombre d'envois en 1998, alors qu'elle espérait 7%, la société helvétique de transport combiné rail/route Hupac sera sans doute une de celles du secteur qui seront parvenues à tirer plus ou moins bien leur épingle du jeu, tant la situation s'est dégradée l'année dernière.
Hartog-Union ferme son centre de distribution à Brecht Hartog-Union, une entreprise de produits alimentaires du groupe Unilever, a décidé d'arrêter ses activités d'entreposage et de distribution à Burcht et de les donner en sous-traitance à SBT/Danzas. Ce prestataire de services logistiques dirige déjà une grande partie des activités d'entreposage de Hartog'Union vers l'entrepôt spécial pour produits alimentaires à Willebroek.
United Stevedoring cherche une solution à ses problèmes financiers L'arrimeur anversois United Stevedoring est confronté à des problèmes financiers depuis quelque temps déjà. Suite à ces problèmes, les ouvriers portuaires traditionnellement actifs pour l'entreprise n'ont plus été payés depuis le 25 décembre dernier. C'est ce qu'a déclaré Marc Loridan, le secrétaire de l'UBOT (Union Belge des Ouvriers du Transport) pour le port d'Anvers.
AIRC to hear PSC surveyors' gripe THE Australian Industrial Relations Commission has been notified of a dispute involving marine surveyors, members of the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers. The institute notified the commission of a dispute following a move late last year by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to alter the working arrangements of the surveyors who are involved in port state control inspections. The move to alter the working arrangements, under a flexibility clause of their award, was allegedly made without consultation at the end of last year with the changes coming into effect from 1 January.
Unions' Aratere claims 'no threat' Neither TranzRail nor the New Zealand Maritime Safety Authority regard the latest union claims that crew accommodation aboard TranzRail's new 150-metre passenger/freight ferry, Aratere, is not in line with the regulations, as a serious threat to the vessel officially entering service on the Cook Strait run as planned in early February. Built by Astillero Berreras at its shipyards in Vigo, Spain, the Aratere arrived in Wellington early last week after modifications were undertaken, and Authority exemptions granted, in line with complaints by New Zealand maritime unions, particularly the New Zealand Merchant Service Guild, that her crew accommodations did not meet the requirements of the Shipping (Crew Accommodations) Regulations 1974.
Ports Corp SA reaches OH&S peak Ports Corp South Australia, which recently announced a record operating profit for 1997-98, has followed this up by achieving the International Standard for Quality Assurance, ISO 9002 as well as the highest level in WorkCover Occupational Health and Safety Standards. Corporation general manager Peter Edmonds said the achievement took into account all Ports Corp's operations and installations. "Ports Corp has achieved these standards in all 10 of its ports," Mr Edmonds said. "From the time we were created more than four years ago, Ports Corp has sought to be the nation's leading port and winning ISO 9002 has always been a major goal. "The certification will provide tangible benefits to our clients, as well as making Ports Corp even more efficient.
Govt puts stevedores on notice The ACCC has been directed to monitor stevedoring prices, costs and profits at all major ports, Treasurer John Fahey announced on Friday. The move has been designed – as a government source put it -- "to ensure the major stevedores keep up to their side of the bargain" in absorbing the cost of repaying the government for its provision of up to $250 million for wharfie redundancy payments. Mr Fahey noted that P&O Ports and Patrick Stevedores had undertaken to meet the full costs of reform through the application of the container terminal levy of $12 a container and $6 a car to repay redundancy funds being made available through the wholly owned commonwealth company, the Maritime Industry Finance Company.
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