IMO attacked over stance on open flags A fierce and personalised attack on traditional shipping nations' attitude to flags of convenience was launched yesterday by a senior Liberian government official.
France extends Le Havre yard deadline The French government has given Le Havre shipyard, Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre, three more weeks to find a buyer following the revelation that fellow French shipbuilder Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie (CMN) is ready to mount a bid.
Cunard set to forfeit $10.6m CUNARD Cruise Line may lose tax credits and rebates worth $10.6m if it switches vessel calls from Miami to Port Everglades.
Analysts doubtful of NOL forecast Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines Ltd (NOL), which made a net loss of S$240.76m (US$140.7m) for the first-half of 1998, is unlikely to return to the black next year, analysts told Reuters.
Sea Containers chief upbeat on growth Sea Containers' president James Sherwood has reassured anxious shareholders that the container leasing, ferries and hotels group is on course for substantial profit growth in 1998.
East German trade set to achieve record year SHIPYARDS in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will have a record year in 1998 in terms of newbuilding orders.
Southamptonbeats rivals to new business SOUTHAMPTON has won important new business from the rival UK ports of Felixstowe and Thamesport.
Fincantieri 'pays $25m delivery penalty' for Disney Magic delay A four-month delay in the delivery of Disney Cruise Line's first cruiseship, the Disney Magic, cost its Italian builder Fincantieri around $25m in late delivery penalties, according to industry estimates.
Disturbing arbitration trends worry club THE Swedish Club has seen "some disturbing trends" in arbitration awards that have caused owners large uninsured losses.
Sea-Land containership damaged in collision SEA-LAND containership Sea-Land Voyager is reported to have been damaged in a head-on collision with a Chinese Navy vessel on September 27.
Australia's energy crisis moves to centre stage AUSTRALIA'S energy crisis moved to centre stage of the general election campaign on the poll's eve, with the government announcing an emergency fund.
Unsecured door might be cause of ferry sinking AN UNSECURED door might have been the cause of the sinking of Philippine roro ferry Princess of the Orient.
Evergreen to launch direct China call EVERGREEN is to commence a weekly mainhaul call in Yantian, China, following approval by Beijing of cross Taiwan Strait services.
HK shippers will assist FMC probe HONG Kong Shippers' Council will help shippers who want to assist the US Federal Maritime Commission probe into space allocation and pricing involving Asia-US trades.
Singapore council claims shippers are overcharged TWO major liner groupings have been overcharging shippers in Singapore for container handling, according to the Singapore National Shippers Council (SNSC).
Newport News christens double-hulled tankers NEWPORT News Shipbuilding is to sponsor the christening of three double-hulled tankers purchased by Hvide Marine tomorrow.
Japanese withdrawal squeezes ship finance TIGHTENING of liquidity in the ship finance market is being greatly exacerbated by the withdrawal of Japanese banks from the ship finance market.
Transroll and Libra to end Brazil-US service BRAZILIAN operators Transroll and Libra are to terminate the common service they run with American company Navieras Puerto Rico between Brazil and the US.
Bankers warned to watch maintenance BANKERS should make sure that troubled owners are properly maintaining their vessels during the current slump, a leading shipmanager told conference delegates yesterday.
Prepare for ISO 14000 owners told SHIPOWNERS and operators should prepare for the new ISO 14000 environmental standards codified by ISO in 1996.
Canada settles grain delivery row A CONTENTIOUS dispute between the Canadian Wheat Board and the Canadian Pacific Railway over grain delivery problems during the stormy winter of 1996-97 might be over.
Quadrant leaves Good Hope Express GOOD Hope Express, the Brazil-Asia Pacific consortium, is to lose South African member Quadrant.
Salvarani attacks substandard attitudes ROBERTO Salvarani, head of marine safety at the EU transport directorate, launched a blistering attack yesterday on substandard ships and those who support them.
Fednav axe le terminal de Burns Harbor sur le Midwest et la sidérurgie Le groupe Fednav, via sa filiale Federal Marine Terminal (FMT), vient de procéder à une opération très importante dans le secteur de la manutention portuaire outre-Atlantique, en renonçant à son terminal de Chicago pour investir dans un nouveau terminal à Burns Harbor, situé dans l'Indianan, à 50 km au sud de la ville précitée. Cette installation ultra-moderne entrera en activité en janvier prochain et sera complétée, dans le cadre d'une collaboration avec ADS, d'un centre de stockage et de distribution pour les produits sidérurgiques spéciaux, avec contrôle permanent de la température et de l'humidité. Ce nouveau terminal s'inscrit dans une stratégie à long terme axée sur une desserte plus efficace des entreprises sidérurgiques voisines et du Midwest. A 100 km au nord de Chicago, dans l'Etat voisin du Michigan, FMT a été sélectionné par l'autorité portuaire de Milwaukee pour assurer la manutention de toutes les cargaisons inhérentes aux marchandises diverses. Il s'agit d'un contrat d'une durée de dix ans.
Batellerie: extinction graduelle de la règle "vieux pour neuf" d'ici 2004 La Commission européenne a mis au point une nouvelle "proposition de règlement" sur la gestion de la capacité dans la navigation intérieure, en vue de l'expiration du programme actuel en date du 28 avril prochain. Cette proposition prévoit que le programme de déchirage de bateaux, mis en place il y a dix ans pour réduire la surcapacité qui régnait dans la navigation intérieure, sera abrogé, l'objectif poursuivi étant considéré comme largement atteint. Le règlement "vieux pour neuf", stipulant que toute nouvelle construction devait s'accompagner de l'élimination de cale ancienne et qui avait pour but d'éviter l'apparition de surcapacités nouvelles, serait maintenu jusqu'en 2004 mais en tenant compte d'une diminution progressive des "ratios" d'échange (autant de tonnes à éliminer par tonne à construire) appliqués. Ce système serait ensuite mis "en veilleuse" pour être réactivé quasi-instantanément en cas de perturbation grave du marché.
Kinnock devra décider sur les temps de travail dans le transport routier La concertation européenne sur les temps de travail entre employeurs et syndicats ayant à nouveau échoué, la Commission européenne formulera bientôt des propres propositions. C'est ce qu'a annoncé le Commissaire européen aux Transports Neil Kinnock après l'échec des négociations paritaires à Bruxelles, échec attribué par les observateurs à des dissensions dans le camp patronal, mais qui dans la pratique semblent être du surtout à des revendications de dernière minute. Les négociations paritaires ont tefois abouti en ce qui concerne les temps de travail dans le secteur maritime et ferroviaire.
Legal action dropped, MUA claims The path to further waterfront reform in Australia has been cleared following a decision by P&O Ports to drop its legal action against the Maritime Union of Australia. This was confirmed yesterday by the national secretary of the union, John Coombs. Mr Coombs told DCN the legal issues which were hampering the progress of discussions on further reform have been settled to the satisfaction of the union. Asked whether this meant that the actions had been dropped, Mr Coombs replied "yes", adding that correspondence to this effect was now on the way. The union has been reluctant to enter into discussions of further reforms while the threat of legal action hung over its head.
Mr Presley has left the port In a maritime world now dominated by expensively-fashioned and rigidly-maintained corporate identities it's a rare to discover a ship with its own identity -- and a story behind that identity. Melbourne this week played host to the splendidly-named Love Me Tender, a 9973 GRT bulk carrier completed late last year in China for registered owners Hawk Maritime Corp and sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. The ship undertook a southbound voyage into Australia on charter to Singapore-based POST with steel and then handed over in Melbourne to Jebsens for a Brisbane-Fiji trip with coal.
Hastings battles to save trade The south-eastern Victorian port of Hastings (Western Port) is feeling shock waves from the explosions and fires at Esso's Longford plant last week as the two principal users deal with the consequences. Vessel movements at the port have virtually ceased as the production and processing of crude oil, propane and butane have been halted since last Friday. Imports of slab and coil steel could also be affected, as the BHP Lysaght plant at Western Port, which is gas powered, has ceased operating. DCN understands BHP has been stockpiling slab, which it ships from the Port Kembla steelworks on the ro-ro/steel products carrier Iron Monarch. A shipment arrived yesterday afternoon, the second to arrive at BHP since production stopped, but there is only enough room to store another two shipments.
Robe seeks access to Hamersley's rail network Robe River Iron Associates (RRIA) is seeking access to part of Hamersley Iron's Pilbara rail network to reduce capital expenditure for its proposed $1 billion West Angeles mine. Robe has applied to the National Competition Council (NCC) for a ruling under the Trade Practices Act to force Hamersley to negotiate terms and access with it. The West Angeles mine is due to come on stream in 2001 and Robe's proposal to link into Hamersley's rail network would considerably reduce Robe's outlay for the project. By linking in to Hamersley's rail network it would only need to build a 65km extension to West Angeles.
Parties trade blows over excise Shadow Industry Minister Simon Crean has been accused by Transport Minister Mark Vaile of claiming that the coalition's planned reductions in diesel excise would not be fully passed on to consumers "when the Labor Party's own analysis says exactly the opposite". In an interview on ABC Radio on Wednesday, Mr Crean said anyone who believed reductions in the diesel excise would be fully passed on to consumers, "may as well believe in, you know, the tooth fairy".
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