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Vessel traffic system in operation on the Yangtze
Taca opposes EC judgment
Maersk to develop terminals in Spain and Germany
"K" Line modifies its Japan/Bangkok service
Maersk doubles NZ service
Spring kick-off for SingaPort '98
Panama Canal shippers face load restrictions
China Airlines to do well from Indonesian flights
Slots offered to US carriers
Freight companies launch air/rail scheme

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DECEMBER 23, 1997

Maersk switch to Bremerhaven blow to Hamburg
Confrontation between unions and harbor pool staff
Estron management buy-out
Tunnel for pipe lines in Rotterdam
Wilson to open simple search routines through the Internet

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Fabulich named WPPA president
Japanese cargo flier taps PDX for service
Matson holds off Hawaii rate boost
Saudi Arabian Airlines takes delivery of Boeing airplanes
Wabash National obtains $25 Million trailer order
Supply chain expert chides execs for cutting corners by cutting heads

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Sea-Land plans Brisbane facility
CONTAINER giant Sea-Land is to build its second Australian container facility in the port of Brisbane.
Grand Princess
Preliminary sea trials of P&O's Grand Princess, the largest cruiseship in the world, at 109,000 gt, have been completed this week by Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard. The ship sailed for the central Adriatic on December 17 and was back at her outfitting pier at Monfalcone on Monday.
Blueprint for clearing up salvage problems
AT THE instigation of the P & I Clubs, sub-committees of the International P & I Group and of the International Salvage Union met this autumn with a view to developing a new scheme to replace the existing article 14 special compensation provisions.
Australia to tackle hold cleaning issue
AUSTRALIAN industrial relations minister Peter Reith has signalled the federal government's intention to look at the controversial issue of cleaning bulk ships' holds in Australian ports writes Kevin Chinnery.
The politics of anxiety on the waterfront
JOHN Bowers is a worried man. After a decade spent building bridges across the vast chasm that once separated labour and employers in the port of New York and New Jersey, and improving competitiveness in the process, he now has the distinct suspicion that all his fine work is under threat.
Japan puts access on China agenda
JAPANESE transport officials will meet their Chinese counterparts early in the new year to request an easing of China's maritime policy limiting access of foreign shipping lines, writes Kazuo Takita, Tokyo.
South Korea crisis continues to grow
SOUTH Korea's currency and stock markets tumbled further yesterday after president-elect Kim Dae-jung said he was "flabbergasted" by the country's financial position.
Hudson field pipe leak leads to Shetland oil slick
LEAKING pipework on the seabed 70 miles northeast of Shetland has caused a six-square-mile oil slick, according to the UK Coastguard writes Jonathan Wills.

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DECEMBER 23, 1997

Swedish ports threaten action against government
A NUMBER of Swedish ports are threatening to take the country's government to the European Court over the planned transport policy.
ResidenSea share issue over subscribed
A SHARE issue of $10m towards financing the construction of the world's first passenger ship with large suites sold as residences, has been over subscribed.
UASC ponders $350m loan for expansion
UNITED Arab Shipping Co is considering arranging a $350m loan to help finance a fleet expansion programme, according to chairman Eid Abdullah Yusuf.
Aker tops Umoe bid for MTW
A DECISION by German privatisation agency BvS to sell MTW shipyard to Ulltveit-Moe has been thrown into doubt by a last minute bid from Aker/RGI.
Gibraltar regains Red Ensign Cat 1 status
GIBRALTAR Ship Register has re-opened for business as a Category 1 Red Ensign Group register.
Chittagong surcharge may be delayed
CHITTAGONG is likely to postpone the implementation of congestion surcharges following berthing delays in Bangladeshi ports due to dock worker go-slow tactics.
MSC sets up Biscay feeder service
GENEVA-based operator MSC is to start an Atlantic feeder service on December 27.
CGM minority stake in Horn Linie sold
FRENCH liner operator CGM, part of the CMA-CGM group, has sold its 49 per cent stake in German reefer operator Horn Linie.
MUA backs down on manning
AUSTRALIA'S new industrial laws have been used for a second time in a week to improve waterfront productivity, forcing the MUA to accept new manning levels.
Barge owners obstruct Indian port
PORT operations have been paralysed in Kakinada port on India's east coast by a lighterage dispute.
Shipbreaking move for Tamil Nadu
TAMIL Nadu Maritime Board has invited bids from firms to develop a shipbreaking industry at a minor port on the southern Tamil Nadu coast.
New feeder for Chennai-Colombo
ANOTHER shipping line has started operating a common feeder service in the Chennai-Colombo sector.
San Diego yard extends drydock
SAN Diego shipbuilder NASSCO is extending its floating drydock to 785 ft under a $20m modernisation project.
SPS secures loan for Oman terminal
SALALAH Port Services has signed a $77.55m loan agreement to finance the purchase of equipment for a new container terminal in southern Oman.
Cosco Pacific expands port operations
HONG Kong-based port operator Cosco Pacific has signed letters of intent to take minority stakes in the mainland ports of Dalian, Qinhuangdao and Qingdao.
UK Club gives claims data access to members
THE UK P&I Club has provided its members with access to their own claims data through the club's extended web site.
San Francisco to consolidate cargo operations
SAN Francisco has decided to consolidate its remaining cargo handling operations at the Pier 80 multipurpose complex.

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Ahlers développe des services de ligne FCL complétés d'un soutien logistique
Le groupe Ahlers, qui s'est spécialisé dans les services maritimes et logistiques, vient d'implanter une filiale à Singapour: "Ahlers Asia Pte. Ltd". L'entreprise, qui est déjà opérationnelle, intervient désormais en tant que coordinateur pour des expéditions du Far East vers l'Europe et l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Cette implantation va de pair avec de nouvelles activités, en ce sens que le groupe lance ainsi des services de lignes régulières en tant que NVO, pour lesquels il assure des prestations globales couvrant la logistique aux extrémités.
La sécurité et l'environnement au coeur des préoccupations de la VIBNA
Le rapport d'activité de la VIBNA démontre combien l'environnement et la sécurité préoccupent l'association des entreprises industrielles du Nord d'Anvers. Les divers groupes de travail de l'association oeuvrent en faveur de mesures d'infrastructure indispensables dans le port et de positions communes en matière de pression fiscale. Un groupe de travail nautique doit porter le problème des pétroliers à l'attention des autorités.
L'Australie va libéraliser le cabotage maritime
Le gouvernement australien veut faciliter l'accès des opérateurs étrangers au transport maritime le long des côtes du pays. Le ministre fédéral Peter Reith a indiqué il y a quelques jours que les pouvoirs publics vont faciliter la délivrance des autorisations dont doivent disposer les armateurs voulant effectuer du cabotage en Australie, et réduire le coût de ces permis (qui pourront être accordés au voyage ou être valables pour une certaine période).

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2 new US-Asia freighter services set despite crisis
Philippine Airlines to expand services following FAA upgrade
Top-heavy management and boat bloat hurting boxship titan's efforts to expand
German 1998 shipbuilding outlook is gloomy
Cosco containerships
Keokuk proposed as location for Iowa's first port authority
Grupo Libra appoints US general agents to S. America
Protesting Italian truckers block highways, snarl traffic
River pilots organizing, could strike at harvest time
Cargo traffic at world's airports soared 8% in 1st nine months
SCI holds annual Christmas party
Transportation calendar
Tradition-bound mariners getting seasick as US draws, redraws territorial limit
Trade unions step up protests as Sri Lanka pushes privatization
Taiwan in EU aerospace deal
Symantec's updated software can wipe out those computer viruses

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MUA, stevedores hold ‘own’ talks
The Maritime Union of Australia yesterday held the first of what is expected to be a series of discussions on waterfront reform with the country’s two major stevedores, Patrick and P&O Ports. The talks, held separately in Sydney, are aimed at progressing waterfront reform in the wake of the failed discussions with the Federal Minister for Workplace Relations, Peter Reith.
Push for Bass Strait duty free
The federal government has been asked to permit duty free shopping on flights and ships crossing Bass Strait. Tasmanian government backbencher Michael Hodgman sent a submission to Prime Minister John Howard yesterday arguing there was no constitutional barrier to the move, which he believes would provide a significant boost to the state's economy.
Crackdown on overloaded trucks
Overloaded trucks face stringent penalties in a major crackdown proposed by the National Road Transport Commission. In plans released for comment the NRTC is threatening higher court fines, suspension of registration, compulsory offloading, on-the-spot fines for lesser offences and court-backed removal from the industry for persistent offenders.
New chief for BHPT
BHP Transport has confirmed the Swire containership Kokopo Chief as its replacement for the Tasman trade vessel Tranztas Trader. The 10,740 DWT ship was inspected in Sydney last week (DCN Friday) and deemed a suitable "small, fast containership with cranes", according to BHPT group general manager Bruce McGowan. It will commence trading as Tasman Chief in the second week of February 1998, with Melbourne as first port of call.
WA extends port bids
The Western Australian government has revised its deadline for expressions of interest for development of a private, $60 million container port at Kwinana, near Fremantle. The extension until the end of march 1998 follows discussions with Singaporean and Malaysian interests last week.