Brussels probes Warnow Werft AN official investigation is being launched by the European Commission into eastern German shipyard Kvaerner Warnow Werft for allegedly exceeding capacity restrictions.
Uranium cargo damaged in storm AN incident in which uranium containers being shipped to France suffered storm damage has rekindled fears among campaigners of a serious nuclear accident at sea.
Privatisation approved for Keelung stevedoring TAIWAN's Provincial Transportation Department has approved an NT$8.5bn (US$258m) plan to privatise stevedoring and warehousing activities at the busy northern port of Keelung.
Offshore Systems loss grows CANADIAN electronic chart and positioning systems firm Offshore Systems International has reported a third quarter net income loss of C$846,000, (US$548,460) bringing to C$3.66m its total loss for the year's first nine months, ended at August 31.
CMA-CGM will appeal against merger decision CMA-CGM, the French shipping group, will appeal against a court decision suspending the planned merger of its two main operating subsidiaries, Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement and Compagnie Generale Maritime.
USCG calls off search for barque Fantome THE US Coast Guard has suspended its eight-day search for the historic barque Fantome, which went missing on October 27 while trying to outrun or avoid Hurricane Mitch in Caribbean waters off Honduras.
IMO calls for ban on toxic paints from 2003 WORLD shipping faces a radical change in its use of marine paints after a committee of the International Maritime Organisation recommended a ban from January 2003 on the use of controversial organotin compounds in anti-fouling systems.
Border police AN Israeli policeman helps a border policewoman away from the scene of the suicide car bombing in Jerusalem yesterday which killed two and injured 21 others. The bomber was among the dead. The blast occured as the Israeli government was meeting in a cabinet session to ratify the Wye peace accords. Israeli police have received a telphone call acknowledging responsibility from someone claiming to belong to the Islamic militant group Hamas.
Sri Lankan port projects to start next year WORK on the Colombo and Galle port projects will begin next year, Sri Lanka's deputy finance minister GL Peiris told parliament yesterday.
Philippines arrests sugar smugglers A CAMPAIGN launched by the Philippines government against the black market in sugar has resulted in the arrest of a ship suspected of smuggling.
Waterfront plans $10m share issue WATERFRONT Shipping, the Norwegian product tanker company, plans to strengthen its capital base by a share issue.
Crisis will not stop containership progress THE race towards the creation of ever-larger container carriers will not be slowed by the world's current economic turbulence, according to Lutz Wittenberg of Germanischer Lloyd.
Maltese union hits back over closure advice MALTA'S General Workers Union has slammed the Federation of Malta Industries for advising the government to close both Malta Drydocks and Malta Shipbuilding.
CSSC and HDW sign co-operation deal CHINA State Shipbuilding Corp and German builder HDW have signed an agreement to co-operate on shipbuilding.
Polish Steamship removes managing director POLISH Steamship Company has removed its md, Janusz Lembas, in favour of a temporary manager, PZM group manager Pawel Brzezicki.
Market sentiment hits Cosco issue POOR market sentiment in Hong Kong has forced Cosco to extend the closing date on a $200m commercial paper programme.
Thai rice exports hit record RICE exports from Thailand, the world's largest rice exporter, are expected to reach a record 6.1m tonnes this year.
Shun Tak to buy into CTS Parkview SHUN Tak Holdings has been granted an option to acquire 50 per cent of CTS Parkview Holdings, which operates fast ferry services on the Hong Kong-Macau route.
Angra dos Reis port sold ANGRA dos Reis, the Brazilian port, was sold at auction yesterday.
Taiwan seeks Chinese coal STATE-controlled Taiwan Power Co is seeking long-term coal supplies from China to diversify its import sources, according to company officials.
Vessels trapped by high water MORE than 100 river vessels were trapped recently when the German inland port of Duisburg was cut off by high water levels.
Lakes bunkering facility opens A NEW bunkering service operated by Murphy Oil USA has started operations at the Lake Superior port of Duluth.
Halter bids for Italian builder HALTER Marine, one of the largest US builders of ships and equipment for the offshore oil industry, has made a joint bid with ASEA Brown Boveri for Belleli Offshore.
Adelaide throughput surges PORT Adelaide, which has been put up for sale by the government of South Australia, has recorded a near doubling of throughput in the past three years.
HHLA cuts back on conventional cargo HAMBURG port terminal company HHLA is reducing its conventional cargo activities.
Le tribunal de Nanterre suspend le processus de fusion CMA-CGM Le Tribunal de Commerce de Nanterre (banlieue parisienne) vient de prendre une ordonnance qui suspend les opérations préparatoires à la fusion de la Compagnie Maritime d'Affrètement (CMA, Marseille) et de la Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM, Paris). Dès le 4 novembre au soir, les sociétés CMA et CGM annonçaient leur décision de faire appel. L'intervention du Tribunal de Commerce de Nanterre s'inscrit bien sûr dans le cadre des multiples rebondissements du différend qui oppose les deux frères Jacques R. et Johnny Saadé. Le premier étant majoritaire et le second minoritaire dans le capital du groupe CMA-CGM que préside Jacques R. Saadé. En attendant le résultat de l'appel, la décision du 4 novembre apparaît évidemment comme un coup dur pour Jacques R. Saadé et ses alliés.
Le groupe américain ProLogis devrait racheter Garonor La société française d'assurances AGF a décidé de vendre sa filiale d'exploitation de plates-formes logistiques Garonor au groupe américain ProLogis. Celui-ci bénéficie d'une clause de "due diligence" afin d'étudier le dossier à fond et de vérifier s'il n'y a pas de cadavres dans les placards. Selon toute probabilité, il devrait prendre une décision d'achat définitive dans les prochaines semaines et très certainement avant la fin de l'année. C'est ce que nous avons appris à très bonne source. Chez Garonor, c'est la satisfaction, car le nouvel actionnaire devrait lui permettre de réaliser ses projets d'extension actuels.
Autriche: le road pricing du trafic de fret devrait rapporter 2,5 mia. d'ATS par an L'Autobahnen- und Schnellstrassen-finanzierungs AG (Ansfinag) utilisera les revenus du road pricing pour camions, qui sera introduit sur les autoroutes autrichiennes dès 2002, pour financer le programme d'infrastructure de 30 mia. d'ATS. Le profit net du système de road pricing devrait s'élever à 2,5 mia. d'ATS par an.
VIAG envisage la vente de toute la division logistique Lors d'une conférence de presse lundi prochain à Munich, la direction du holding allemand VIAG annoncera la stratégie à laquelle le groupe adhérera à l'avenir. Le nouveau président, Dr. Wilhem Simson, a fait analysé l'entreprise et déclarait, il y a quelques semaines, qu'il n'était plus intéressé par les participations minoritaires du groupe, comme p.ex. celle de Kühne & Nagel. Diverses sources semblent indiquer qu'il voudrait encore aller plus loin et se défaire de la division logistique du groupe. Une décision qui paraît bizarre, puisque cette division génère 42% du chiffre de vente totale du groupe.
VCA tonnages up, revenue down The Victorian Channels Authority has completed its second full year of operation and its financial results show an after tax profit for 1997-98 of $5.258 million. During the year dividends of $3.13 million were paid to the state government. Total income for the year to 30 June was $20.767 million, a reduction of almost $1 million over 1996-97. On 1 July 1997, the VCA reduced its charges from 40 cents a gross ton to 35.5 cents a gross ton, and a further reduction to 30.4 cents a gross ton was introduced on 1 July this year. VCA ceo Ian Edwards told DCN: "If we had continued with the 40 cent base rate during the year we would have made $2.5 million more than we did." He said the effect of the decreases had been a 24 per cent reduction in tonnage charges since VCA began operating in March 1996.
Melbourne tug of war ends in draw Less than a week after their introduction, new tug-ordering practices by Melbourne Tug Services have been shelved after criticism from the Port Phillip Sea Pilots and the shipping industry. The short-lived changes required ships' agents to advise the number of tugs required for a vessel at least an hour before the vessel's arrival or departure, with the scrapping of ordering 'to pilots' requirements'. Any tugs ordered that left the wharf to attend a vessel, were to incur normal charges whether or not the tug was used. After a meeting on Wednesday between representatives of the pilots, tugs and ships agents, a mutual resolution to the issue has resulted in the system being modified. The alterations, which will allow more flexibility, will see the re-introduction of 'to pilots requirements' after the re-issuing of a new 'pilot tug requirements sheet' which will be distributed to all ships' agents as soon as possible.
Dispute compo claims sought THE Official Receiver of New South Wales, George Caddy, has called for those small businesses which suffered damages as a result of the 7 April to 2 September waterfront dispute between the MUA and Patrick Stevedores, to lodge claims for compensation by 31 March 1999. Under an agreement reached early last month between Patrick, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the MUA, Patrick agreed to pay up to $7.5 million to cover damages claimed by small businesses in a deal based on all patties withdrawing threats of litigation arising out of the dispute.
PWCS dispute not affecting exports THE Australian Industrial Relations Commission was yesterday afternoon dealing with a dispute which has arisen at the Port Waratah Coal Services site in Newcastle. It is understood that a dispute in terms of section 99 of the Workplace Relations Act had been notified by the company, one of the country's largest coal exporting terminals, following a stopwork meeting which extended beyond the authorised time-frame. The Commission hearing was expected to involve two unions at a federal level: the Maritime Union of Australia and the Transport Workers Union, while a separate hearing was being sought at state level for unions whose members are employed under state awards.
Govt under fire over roads THE federal government, and in particular the new federal Transport Minister John Anderson, have come under fire in Victoria this week for the commonwealth's road funding commitments to the state. An editorial in yesterday's Herald Sun attacked Mr Anderson's refusal to provide federal funds to re-build the Melbourne-Geelong freeway, described as "Victoria's deadliest road" with 86 fatalities in the past eight years. The editorial said Mr Anderson showed "callous indifference towards the families of the dead" for refusing to explain why the government would not provide the $100 million needed to match a similar contribution by the Victorian government to fix the road.
They have big distribution dreams in Costa Rica. A $2.2 billion project would encompass a transshipment port for large ships, a marine salvage and drydock center, high-speed rail line, cruise ship terminal, leisure resort with casinos as well as an industrial complex and other investment plans such as homes, apartments, off-shore banking centers and timber and reforestation projects. The project would take up 50 square miles and with a cost approximately equal to Costa Rica's national debt. A pipedream? The Costa Rican government doesn't think so and is taking a serious interest in the progress of the project. Traffic World travels to Lim'n, Costa Rica, for a status report.
A Republican who possesses a Jeffersonian distrust of big government and who believes private-sector disputes should be settled privately is likely to join the federal government in an agency whose function is to settle private-sector disputes. Wayne Burkes, a Mississippi highway commissioner, is widely expected to replace Gus Owen as the Republican on the three-member Surface Transportation Board. The appointment of Burkes is expected after the 106th Congress convenes and takes its first recess at the end of January.
The National Small Shipments Traffic Conference is entering a new era. Joseph F.H. Cutrona is leaving the small shippers group after 20 years as executive director. A highly decorated ex-general who used his battlefield experience to help shippers ease into a deregulated environment, Cutrona will stay with the group for three years as "general consultant." A nationwide search is under way for Cutrona's successor, although the man known as "General Joe" will be difficult to replace.
You may never have heard of Matina, Costa Rica, but Alfred Wheathey Burton Jr. wants you to. He's the mayor of Matina. He has the idea to make his Costa Rican hamlet a major cargo center for the next century. Confidence is running high on his proposal and Matina has what some believe is the ideal confluence of road, river and rail access to the Caribbean to make it the tropical crossroads of freight.
Progress is not a word being used to describe the contentious labor unrest between FedEx management and its pilots. Talks broke down again on Oct. 30 and a new start date is nowhere in sight. The company claims it has been sitting at the table in good faith "giving and giving and giving." Meanwhile, the pilots are holding out for more money and refuse to take the company's contract proposal back to the membership for a vote. While FedEx attempts to quell customers' fear of a strike or slowdown, the union is taking its employer to court to solidify its right to take job actions if so desired.
Plan ahead. That's the message of Gillette Co. and Merck & Co. after they decided to launch global distribution systems to replace their homegrown U.S. order processing system. They discovered early bugs and concluded that testing and training go a long way to solving them. Meanwhile, health care manufacturers are counting on enterprise resource planning software to replace their homegrown solutions as the anchor of their information technology.
The Union Pacific Railroad may turn out to be the only major railroad objector to the proposed Canadian National Railway and Illinois Central merger. CSX and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway have settled their differences in the CN-IC merger. UP is opposing the merger because it believes there's a third railroad - Kansas City Southern - that is not included in the merger application. KCS is a longtime UP protagonist and the nation's largest railroad appears to be getting some payback time.
Logistics execution software company McHugh Software International has received a $50 million investment from Advent International, a private equity company, and GE Capital, the investment arm of General Electric Co. It will allow McHugh to separate from Pinnacle Automation and become independent. The company plans to use the investment to hasten product research and development. Plans are in place to expand into Asia and South America. The company also is reviewing its software lineup and increasing attention on its core markets.
They're on a diet up on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Ships have been ordered to lighten their loads entering the seaway because of low water levels throughout the Great Lakes. A three-inch draft reduction to 26 feet was ordered Nov. 2. That reduction could cause problems for "salties," the ocean-going vessels already loaded and headed for the Great Lakes. This time of year mariners have another problem: high winds cause short-term reductions of water levels that can result in delays to vessels loaded to maximum allowable draft, officials said.
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