web site Region's crisis may boost port's edge over others Weaker S'pore dollar seen by analysts as boosting competitiveness Lowered US shipping fines may still damage ties: Tokyo Saudi firm gets US$300m loan for tanker financing Nine killed in tanker explosion at Korean yard BA sees progress made on approval of alliance British carrier chief hopeful deal will get nod from authorities on acceptable terms Focus on higher value-added activities, marine sector told Mauritius and Seychelles planning joint flights India's Telco targets car market as truck sales falter Strong interest in Aussie airport sales Boeing expected to take US$1b charge for MD80 and MD90 Aeroflot predicts growth in cargo and passenger traffic in Russia Hero Honda's profit forecast to rise 80% It's the name of the game To raise efficiency, governments around the world are involving the private sector in port development Kvaerner Philadelphia likely to be benchmark for efficiency in US web site OCTOBER 29, 1997 Lines combine on Europe WCSA service FRENCH operator CGM and UK's Harrison Line are to join the Condor Express System operating between Europe and the west coast of South America. Venezuelan salt port boosts productivity VENEZUELA'S Port of Araya, primarily used for salt exports, has implemented a new bulk loading system which will allow cargo to be loaded at 1,000 tonne per hour. New Columbia river berth receives first ship KALAMA port, Washington has inaugurated cargo operations at its new berth on the Columbia river. Mærsk launches inter-European service DANISH liner operator M'rsk is introducing a new service linking North Europe and the Mediterranean in February 1998. CP Ships finalises Contship acquisition CANADIAN Pacific (CP) yesterday completed the acquisition of Contship Containerlines, the container shipping business of Contship Holdings. Hapag-Lloyd takeover blocked GERMANY'S cartel office will block Preussag's takeover of Hapag-Lloyd in its present form. Australian government and unions reach accord AUSTRALIAN waterside workers and the Australian government have issued an unprecedented joint commitment to improve waterfront productivity and safety. Guayaquil awards port service contracts GUAYAQUIL has made awards to 21 local companies to offer warehousing and other services in the port. SCI aframax deal near SHIPPING Corporation of India (SCI), is close to acquiring a Korean built aframax tanker. Hong Kong vessel calls surge THE number of ocean-going vessels calling at Kong Kong in the second quarter rose 12 per cent to 11,138, compared with the same period last year. Grimaldi adds Ireland to Euro-Med IRELAND'S first ever direct roro link with the Mediterranean and North Europe will be established in January 1998. Buoyant tanker market lifts Ugland Nordic GOOD earnings on the tanker market helped Ugland Nordic Shipping to report a sharply increased pre-tax profit for the first nine months of the year. Currency turmoil hits Australian cattle exports AUSTRALIA'S agricultural exports are being hit hard by Asia Pacific's currency crisis. Japanese lines agree to pay FMC fines JAPAN'S leading shipping companies have agreed to pay $1.5m of the $4m fines imposed by the Federal Maritime Commission Cotunav awards $138m ropax order to Fosen TUNISIAN ferry operator Cotunav has awarded a ropax order worth Nkr 1bn ($138m) to Fosens Mekaniska Verksteder in Norway. Aker Finnyards wins $45m roro order AKER Finnyards in Rauma, part of the Aker Maritime group of Norway, has won an order for a 9,300 dwt roro vessel from Rederi A/B Engship, a domestic owner. web site Nordstrom & Thulin in move to find buyer for ferries NORDSTROM & Thulin, the Swedish passenger-to-tankers shipowning group, wants to complete its exit from passenger shipping by the end of the year and concentrate on its core tankers and dry-bulk sectors. UK Club backing code MEMBERS of the UK P&I Club have voted to make International Safety Management Code certification a condition of cover, in a move it hopes will put an end to months of speculation over the club's response to the code. Asian Terminals seeks higher handling charges ASIAN Terminals Inc, sole container and cargo operator at Manila port's South Harbour international terminal, is seeking a 45% increase in its breakbulk handling charges. MacMillan Bloedel sells barge division BRITISH Columbia's largest forest products company, MacMillan Bloedel, has sold its tug and barge division to Montana billionnaire Dennis Washington for an undisclosed price. CP chief in upbeat mood THE STRATEGY adopted by CP Ships of focusing mostly on niche trades will be put to the test over the next few years as global carriers move into new territories. Ulstein now uninterested in Stralsund shipyard NORWEGIAN shipbuilder Ulstein Verft is no longer interested in taking over the eastern German shipyard Volkswerft Stralsund, which was part of the now-bankrupt Bremer Vulkan group, writes Sabina Casagrande, Bonn Atlantic shippers may pay less EUROPEAN and US exporters of cheap commodities such as scrap, and of high value merchandise such as leathers and furs, could be paying less to ship their goods across the Atlantic next year, even though ocean carriers are planning to raise freight rates. Forwarders slam pricing of hub and spoke system THE HUB and spoke inland distribution system introduced by transatlantic shipping lines earlier this year has been criticised by freight forwarders because of the way the service is priced. web site Japan-US relations back on track Fujian ports ahead of target China's second busiest port New wave of shipbuilding in South Korea Intermodal operators see profits rise Indian freight forwarding expansion Asiana overcomes set-backs Chinese exhibition rolls in cash for aviation giant web site Tri-county officials want cash to ease Washington road woes PDX record string ends P&I club will deny ISM code no-shows RPL adds ANADYR to Russia service Lee takes full-time post at Port Vancouver USA Zodiak wins Coast Guard contract for cutters Mack moves America’s tree Port Seattle gives green light to Terminal 18 redeveloment FAA speeds checks of U.S. Boeing 737s web site English Channel cargo war to escalate One hurt as a besieged UP suffers yet another rail accident in Texas Study: Grain exports to Asia to yield port, transport woes Lykes owners confident of subsidies Having a party? Keep us in mind Blizzard blows ill wind for carriers CP Ships declares victory in Cast case Teamsters, truck firms say talks are going well ACL has best 3rd quarter since '94 Investments take their toll on TMM's quarterly results The Taiwanese line is the latest ship line to sign a long-term berthing agreement with the port agency JofC's Becker roasted 107 flights above city Bumpy Asian stock market ride leading to destination Internet Coast Guard asks P&Is to offer rate breaks to ships that help in disasters web site OCTOBER 29, 1997 Mitsubishi and Volvo join forces in trucks Iran releases crews Smit Internationale IHC Caland offers NLG 80 per Giessen-de Noord share Japanese to pay fines Another reorganization in Amsterdam PTT Post to take over value added service