American to head BHP AN American has been chosen to head-up the troubled Australian resources and bulk commodities giant, Broken Hill Pty.
Liffe jobs blow as 600 staff face axe in next year THE London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (Liffe) said yesterday it planned to cut its workforce of more than 1,000 to fewer than 400 by the end of next year, although its impact on the Biffex dry cargo futures market was uncertain.
Brostroms swings into the black Leading product tanker operator Brostrom Van Ommeren Shipping experienced a surprisingly good third quarter which helped the group to almost doubled profits in the first nine months of 1998.
Restructuring costs to erode gains from BP/Amoco tie-up BP Amoco, the new oil super giant to be created by the merger of BP and US major Amoco, will see its projected cost savings of $2bn in the first two years eaten up by severance pay and other outlay over that period, a document sent to BP shareholders shows.
Global credit squeeze to hit shipping THE credit crunch that has hit shipping in recent months has been a direct result of investors' flight from risk in the aftermath of recent global economic turmoil.
Chennai blames agents for queue of boxships IN what is perceived as a reverse twist to the problem of vessel congestion at India's major ports, six container vessels are waiting in stream at Chennai port for lack of sufficient cargo and related documents.
Shippers and carriers move closer A NEW spirit of co-operation is emerging between shippers and carriers as the two sides work together on a number of joint initiatives.
Port facilities outweigh cash lures says APL Customised port facilities and close co-operation in the design and development of port terminals should outweigh the "false economics of development incentives" such as tax breaks and sweetheart lease deals, according to an American President Lines executive.
Kotug faces Bremen hurdle BREMEN'S senator for ports, Uwe Beckmeyer, has highlighted a regulatory hurdle, which will hinder Holland's Kotug from its planned entry into the Bremerhaven tug business.
Feederlink mounts Southampton-Scotland link THE push by EU and local politicians to promote short sea shipping has influenced Rotterdam-based feeder operator Feederlink to start a new UK coastal service next week.
Safety rating proposed for Philippine ferries THE adoption of a safety rating system for all domestic ferries in the Philippines has been proposed to minimise accidents.
Ecuador gains access to Atlantic THE new Commerce and Navigation Treaty between Peru and Ecuador grants the latter's trading vessels and warships access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Amazon River.
Hyundai concludes deals with North Korea HYUNDAI Group founder Chung Ju-Yung returned from North Korea yesterday with an unprecedented package of business deals with Pyongyang.
Canadian shippers claim rates freeze CANADIAN shippers say they have convinced North Atlantic shipping conferences to maintain their 1998 rates through 1999.
Malaysia ends transfer fees MALAYSIA'S government has abolished inter-terminal transfer fees at the country's national load port Port Klang, in an effort to boost its competitive edge.
No date for Disney Wonder DISNEY Cruise Line has declined to set a sailing date for its second vessel, the Disney Wonder, and is offering passengers with early reservations the option of cancelling.
Sea Malta to provide cruise services SEA Malta plans to diversify its services by tapping into the cruise liner industry, according to its chairman Marlene Mizzi.
Gulf silt clearance will take months SILT, which was washed into many of the Gulf of Mexico's shipping channels by Hurricane Georges, may take several months to clear, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Hyundai's Tacoma terminal on schedule WORK on the a new $63m container terminal being built for Hyundai Merchant Marine at the Port of Tacoma is due for completion by the end of November.
S&P downgrades Osprey CREDIT rating agency Standard & Poor's has lowered its corporate rating of Singapore tanker owner Osprey Maritime from BB to B+.
Singapore ISM compliance rises SINGAPORE'S registry has reached a 98 per cent compliance rate for vessels falling under phase one of the International Safety Management Code.
Rains stops Rhine shipping HEAVY rain has stopped inland waterways shipping on the lower levels of the Rhine and on the Main and Mosel in Germany.
Hamburg plans pilot fee cuts TALKS are underway about cutting pilotage fees for ships in the port of Hamburg.
Zeebrugge: Rheinbarge devrait accélérer les dessertes rhénanes De nouvelles perspectives s'annoncent pour le port de Zeebrugge en matière de dessertes de l'hinterland européen. D'une part Inter Ferry Boats (SNCB) va y créer un port sec que jouxtera une zone "marchandises". D'autre part, le réseau NEN va être dédoublé. Enfin, IFB s'apprête à lancer le concept "Rheinbarge". C'est ce qu'a déclaré Marc Dubois, general manager de IFB, lors du colloque organisé à l'occasion du 25e anniversaire d'APZI, l'organe promotionnel de la communauté maritime et portuaire de Bruges-Zeebrugge.
Inter Ferry Boats récupère le trafic de Sea-Land entre Anvers et Rotterdam Fin de l'an dernier, l'opérateur Interferry "perdait" le "Delta Express", un trafic des containers de Sea-Land entre le terminal anversois Zomerweg et la Maasvlakte de Rotterdam (les boîtes continuant toutefois à être traitées au terminal d'Interferry à Anvers). Le nouvel opérateur était la société NDX, une joint-venture entre CSX, NS Cargo et DB Cargo. Un an plus tard, Inter Ferry Boats récupère l'opération des dix navettes hebdomadaires (soit 20 trains dans les deux sens).
Le "Cigogne-shuttle"augmente fréquence et capacité En novembre de l'an dernier, la société de transport routier de Dendermonde Transport Verbeken et Interferry, la filiale de la SNCB spécialisée dans le transport de containers, devenue Inter Ferry Boats depuis sa fusion avec une autre filiale de la SNCB Ferry Boats (et, pour être complet, avec la division rail d'une autre filiale, Edmond Depaire) créaient un GIE 50/50 baptisé "Cigogne-shuttle" et lançaient une nouvelle relation ferroviaire entre Anvers et Strasbourg, le "Cigogne-shuttle". Dès le 1er janvier prochain, la navette va prendre une autre tournure en ce sens qu'elle sera à 100% entre les mains des "clients". La fréquence des navettes repassera à cinq trains par semaine.
Un projet pour une deuxième Maasvlakte est lancé "Si des entreprises sont prêtes à coopérer, avec des moyens entièrement privés ou non, au développement de la Deuxième Maasvlakte, cela prouve que le projet est viable au niveau commercial." Tel est le commentaire d'un porte-parole de l'Entreprise Portuaire Communale de Rotterdam sur les projets d'ING et de Ballast Nedam pour la construction en phases de l'extension du port (limitée à 1.000 ha) près de l'actuelle Maasvlakte.
Tug confusion costing industry: PPSP Melbourne Tug Services' new tug ordering practices are costing shipping companies money, according to the Port Phillip Sea Pilots managing director, Charles Griffiths. The new arrangement which began on Sunday, requires that ships' agents advise of the number of tugs required for a vessel at least an hour before a vessel's arrival or departure, with the old arrangement of ordering 'to pilots requirements' no longer accepted. Any tugs ordered that leave the wharf to attend a vessel, now also incur normal charges -- whether or not the tug is utilised. Captain Griffiths says the new arrangement is causing considerable confusion.
Botany: People skills required, says MUA Productivity at Port Botany terminals will not improve until management acquire some "people skills", according to the deputy secretary of the central New South Wales branch of the Maritime Union of Australia, Jim Donovan. Mr Donovan told DCN he did not believe productivity levels could improve under management which did not consult with its workers. There was very little doubt, he claimed, that if management had made the effort to speak to its workers, productivity levels would be favourably affected, he said. Referring specifically to Container Terminals Australia Ltd, Mr Donovan said P&O Ports had to admit that the management's decision to remove crane chasers was wrong and resulted in a drop in performance.
Authority report card: B minus, try harder There is a perception by the breakbulk industry that port authorities are preoccupied with container terminal operation and that other forms of shipping run second, according to Asiaworld managing director Ken Fitzpatrick. Speaking at the 36th biennial conference of the Association of Australian Port and Marine Authorities in Adelaide last week, he said the same message was out in the general community as shown during the Patrick dispute where public debate raged over how many containers an hour was acceptable.
Ballast program trial 'progressing well' A trial of the communications system to be implemented as part of Australia's coastal ballast water management program is progressing well, according to a spokesman for the project's joint consultants, PPK and Thompson Clarke Shipping. The spokesman said yesterday that the degree of cooperation exhibited by the lines involved in the month-long trial had been exceptional over the first two weeks.
NZ Guild still battling TranzRail, MSA The New Zealand Merchant Service Guild is still thinking of taking legal action against the NZ Maritime Safety Authority over the latter's decision to exempt TranzRail from having to make several modifications to crew accommodations on its new 150-metre inter-island ferry, Aratere. Guild secretary John McLeod, who is attending an International Transport Workers Federation meeting in India, was not available for comment but an MSA spokesman said it understood that the guild was still considering litigation as a means of forcing TranzRail to undertake the modifications in line with the requirements of ILO Convention 133.
WWF Urges TBT ban
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) urged world maritime authorities to ban the use of TBT-based antifouling paints utilized to keep ships' hulls free and clear. The group reported that "disturbing evidence" of its effect on marine life is coming in from around the world. Meanwhile, a group met in Washington, D.C. last week to propose that sudden action not be taken regarding TBT-based marine coatings, citing evidence that the level of TBT has dropped considerably in the last 10 years after many countries passed legislation limiting use of the coating. The Organotin Environmental Program (ORTEP) Association hosted an event which delivered data which shows that that estimated annual cost to the world fleet to switch from TBT-based paints to currently available tin-free products would range from $500 million to $1 billion. The cost analysis was conducted by Princeton Economic Research Inc. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) was to start meetings today at which officials will discuss the fate of TBT-based paints, a group representing the economic and scientific communities recently met in Washington, D.C. to present information which reportedly forecasts dire economic consequences resulting from a "premature ban of Tributylin (TBT)-based antifouling paints."
Few Signs Of Better Tanker Rates
First Olsen Tankers reported that there appear to be few reasons to expect any significant improvement in freight markets during 1999, and the company must be prepared for a further reduction in operating results based on existing spot market activity in the Knock Tanker Pool in which it operates.
Texaco Elects Board Member
Charles R. Shoemate has been elected the fourteenth member of the Texaco Inc. board of directors. Mr. Shoemate is chairman, president and CEO of Bestfoods.
OTAL Launches North American Liner Agency
West Africa shipping and logistics specialist, OT Africa Line (OTAL) has launched OTAL North America, a maritime agency in the U.S. and Canada. Using a series of inter-line agreements and its own tonnage, the company provides regular weekly sailings linking the U.S. and Canada with every major West African market between Nouakchott in Mauritania and Lobito in Angola. The company also manages transportation to and from the interior of West Africa using its own inland transportation network. OTAL (USA) Inc. and OTAL (Canada) Inc. will be headquartered in New York and Toronto, respectively.
TerraMar Managers Appoints President, COO
John B. Harkins, Jr. has been appointed the president and COO of TerraMar Managers, Inc. TerraMar Managers, headquartered in Metairie, La. provides marine project management for shipyard upgrades and repairs to derrick and lay barges, supply boats, drill rigs and tugs, as well as logistics management for the movement of oilfield cargoes offshore and worldwide.
Wheeler Chosen As Agent For Venezuelan Shipyard
Dianca Shipyard of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela has nominated Wes Wheeler, president of Wheeler Associates, as agent for the U.S. and Canada. The shipyard, founded in 1905 by the Venezuelan navy, is now undergoing privatization by the Venezuelan Investment Fund. Facilities at the shipyard include a graving dock up to 30,000 dwt, a synchrolift of 5,000 tons with six docking spaces plus available quay space of approximately 3,500 ft. (1,070 m) and 36 ft. (11 m) depth of water.
Crowley Names Sales Director To Venezuela
Mike Sierra has been named Crowley American Transport sales director for Venezuela. In his new position in Caracas, Mr. Sierra will be responsible for overseeing corporate and field sales, as well as telesales and executive sales support functions in the region.
CSL Launches Floating Website Address
The world's largest floating website address was recently unveiled by Canada Steamship Lines of Montreal, when the MV Atlantic Erie left shipyard. Painted along both sides of the ship, the CSL website address, www.csl.ca, measures 125 ft. long x 7 ft. wide (38 x 2 m). Each letter is 7 ft. (2 m) high and 8 ft. (2.4 m) wide.
Inmarsat Appoints Maritime General Manager
Inmarsat has announced the appointment of Robert Johnson to the position of general manager of Maritime Services. Mr. Johnson will manage the maritime marketing and safety services teams and continue to build Inmarsat's key maritime business. He joins Inmarsat from Litton Marine Systems BV, where he held he position of director of sales/general manager for Europe, Middle East, CIS, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Committee Nominations Approved By Senate
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has announced the Senate approval of the following nominees: John Moran and Harold Creel, Jr. to be Federal Maritime Commissioners for the terms expiring June 30, 2000 and June 30, 2004 respectively; Ashish Sen to be director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at the Department of Transportation for a four year term.
The Suez Canal Authority has announced that it will introduce surcharges on transit tariffs through the Egyptian canal for most major cargo vessels, effective July 15.
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