BRIEFS

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New UASC itinerary cuts transit times HKSC nominated for tripartite group membership Textainer introduces new logistics division German rail tonnage makes '98 gains Dragonair takes delivery of sixth A330 Lufthansa Cargo expands time-definite services Delivery marks the start of fleet renewal at US Airways

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NOVEMBER 13, 1998
'Virtual merger between KLM and Alitalia in cargo' European Commission wants to revise legislation As of 2010 aviation wants to land 'offshore' Strong third quarter 1998 for UPS Appointments Emery Worldwide Strike FedEx might be dangerous for e-commerce

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IMF rescue of Brazil: Could more be needed?
Union ties job losses to steel dumping
China inquiries hit export licenses
Holt bid to replace ACL board raises uncertainties
Brazil is not Russia: Rubin
U.S. Treasury calls on APEC summit to address private-sector issues
Commerce Department tightens curbs on exports to India and Pakistan
Fire is out on burning Brazilian ship
Port of New Orleans will waive fees for ships carrying Hurricane Mitch relief
Sea-Land's Clancey wins AOTUS award, slams Clinton proposal on harbor tax
Channel Tunnel train engineers to go on one day strikes
FAA orders inspection of MD-11 cockpit switches

Transportation

FedEx, pilots seem a bit more willing to talk
UTU-BLE merger negotiations continue as deadline passes
Viag sale of Kuehne & Nagel counters trend to jump on logistics bandwagon
Decrepit Brazilian rail to get big investment
Deregulation will top discussion agenda
UP to hire 60,000 workers by 2010; crewmen can earn up to $100,000
Mexico approves six bidders to vie for nine airports
Aerolineas Argentinas revamps
Political agenda being developed
UP service improving; STB action pending
Industry gets ready for Conrail division
Europe rail: no middle ground in battle to lure truck freight
Family business helps shape intermodal industry

Maritime

China seeks foreign help in shipping
Bigger, faster vessels on the horizon
Barge industry hopes for quiet '99
Trailer Bridge adds fourth barge, posts third-quarter net loss of $435,605
Europe tries to assure safety of bulk carriers
NITL: Industry to profit from ship reform
TACA's direction remains unclear

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Home

IMF rescue of Brazil: Could more be needed?
Union ties job losses to steel dumping
China inquiries hit export licenses
Holt bid to replace ACL board raises uncertainties
Brazil is not Russia: Rubin
U.S. Treasury calls on APEC summit to address private-sector issues
Commerce Department tightens curbs on exports to India and Pakistan
Fire is out on burning Brazilian ship
Port of New Orleans will waive fees for ships carrying Hurricane Mitch relief
Sea-Land's Clancey wins AOTUS award, slams Clinton proposal on harbor tax
Channel Tunnel train engineers to go on one day strikes
FAA orders inspection of MD-11 cockpit switches

Transportation

FedEx, pilots seem a bit more willing to talk
UTU-BLE merger negotiations continue as deadline passes
Viag sale of Kuehne & Nagel counters trend to jump on logistics bandwagon
Decrepit Brazilian rail to get big investment
Deregulation will top discussion agenda
UP to hire 60,000 workers by 2010; crewmen can earn up to $100,000
Mexico approves six bidders to vie for nine airports
Aerolineas Argentinas revamps
Political agenda being developed
UP service improving; STB action pending
Industry gets ready for Conrail division
Europe rail: no middle ground in battle to lure truck freight
Family business helps shape intermodal industry

Maritime

China seeks foreign help in shipping
Bigger, faster vessels on the horizon
Barge industry hopes for quiet '99
Trailer Bridge adds fourth barge, posts third-quarter net loss of $435,605
Europe tries to assure safety of bulk carriers
NITL: Industry to profit from ship reform
TACA's direction remains unclear

web site

Home

IMF rescue of Brazil: Could more be needed?
Union ties job losses to steel dumping
China inquiries hit export licenses
Holt bid to replace ACL board raises uncertainties
Brazil is not Russia: Rubin
U.S. Treasury calls on APEC summit to address private-sector issues
Commerce Department tightens curbs on exports to India and Pakistan
Fire is out on burning Brazilian ship
Port of New Orleans will waive fees for ships carrying Hurricane Mitch relief
Sea-Land's Clancey wins AOTUS award, slams Clinton proposal on harbor tax
Channel Tunnel train engineers to go on one day strikes
FAA orders inspection of MD-11 cockpit switches

Transportation

FedEx, pilots seem a bit more willing to talk
UTU-BLE merger negotiations continue as deadline passes
Viag sale of Kuehne & Nagel counters trend to jump on logistics bandwagon
Decrepit Brazilian rail to get big investment
Deregulation will top discussion agenda
UP to hire 60,000 workers by 2010; crewmen can earn up to $100,000
Mexico approves six bidders to vie for nine airports
Aerolineas Argentinas revamps
Political agenda being developed
UP service improving; STB action pending
Industry gets ready for Conrail division
Europe rail: no middle ground in battle to lure truck freight
Family business helps shape intermodal industry

Maritime

China seeks foreign help in shipping
Bigger, faster vessels on the horizon
Barge industry hopes for quiet '99
Trailer Bridge adds fourth barge, posts third-quarter net loss of $435,605
Europe tries to assure safety of bulk carriers
NITL: Industry to profit from ship reform
TACA's direction remains unclear

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Mid-East Conference to Meet JSC on THC Japan-Australia High-Level Talks on Transportation ECU-Line Creates Business Bases in US Singapore Logistics Seminar in Tokyo on Dec 2

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NOVEMBER 13, 1998
Debate rages on about fuel contaminants The trouble with Polypropylene New GEM for Malaysian Bunkering A new record in bunkers? Company News and Updates

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Shake up in Wärtsilä NSD top management Parent Metra Corporation has announced a number of top management changes at diesel manufacturer Wärtsilä NSD, all effective January 1, 1999. Metra also announced that Wärtsilä NSD will move its head office functions from Zurich to Helsinki by mid-1999. Aker Maritime/Kværner alliance awards hull contract Kvaerner Oil & Gas Norway has, on behalf of the alliance between Aker Maritime and Kvaerner, awarded Dragados Offshore, Cadiz, a contract to build the hull for the North Sea Snorre B platform.

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Bribes case official quits MarAd US Maritime Administration ship operations and maintenance official William Martin has resigned his position after pleading guilty at US District Court, Norfolk, to soliciting and receiving an unlawful gratuity. India mulls foreign control of ship firms INDIA'S coalition government is poised to allow overseas investors to take complete ownership of local shipping companies. Manila may adopt ISM code on domestic routes THE Philippines is considering applying a modified version of the ISM code for ships operating along domestic routes. Subic Bay freeport set for rise in revenues DESPITE the regional economic crisis and the recent chairmanship controversy, the Philippines' first freeport in Subic Bay expects port revenues to hit more than Peso70m ($1.6m) by the end of the year, topping last year's Peso67.2m, writes Alec Almazan, Manila. Role for clubs in US carriage of goods act THE US Maritime Law Association has offered P&I clubs input into revisions to the US Carriage of Goods at Sea Act 1936 ( US Cogsa) in a bid to smooth their passage through Congress. Global warming action urged AVIATION and maritime fuels should be subject to greenhouse gas limitations to slow global warming, said German environment minister Jurgen Tritten. "It is very important'we push in the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation for greenhouse gas limitation'in the respective sectors," he told the UN climate convention in Buenos Aires. Austal wins first cruise cat contract WESTERN Australian shipbuilder Austal Ships has won its first ever contract for a cruise catamaran, opening a new avenue of opportunity for its aluminium shipbuilding expertise. Star families urge jail for runaway director FAMILIES of those who died in the Scandinavian Star ferry disaster have made an urgent appeal to Spain to ensure that a former shipping executive serves a jail sentence.

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NOVEMBER 13, 1998
Legal hitches block Lloyd Brasileiro auction LLOYD Brasileiro's giant auction, planned to take place on November 9, has been postponed because of legal problems. Shanghai-Taiwan service inaugurated THE first containership operating a liner service from Shanghai to Taiwan set sail earlier this month. Eurotunnel lifts peak fares by 25 per cent EUROTUNNEL is to increase its fares for cars using the Channel tunnel during next year's peak season by 25 per cent. Indian power major to buy Omani lng ENRON, the Indian power major, has signed an agreement to lift 1.7m tonnes of liquefied natural gas from the gulf state of Oman. P&O Stena crew praised for liferaft rescue CREW members of P&O Stena Line's European Pathway have been praised for picking up seven French fishermen from a liferaft this morning. Busker slams subsidy imbalance FRED Busker, chairman of the Dutch shipbuilders' association, has slammed "the endless flow of subsidies, causing a financial hurricane over Europe..." Philippines stops ferry operation PHILIPPINES' Maritime Industry Authority has stopped the operations of a company that provides ferry services in Metropolitan Manila. San Diego considers water tanker project NATURAL Resources Corp has received interest in its plan to use single-hull tankers to carry water from Alaska and British Columbia to California. China to acquire 100 dredgers CHINA is planning to take delivery of 40 dredgers next year out of a total 100 by 2000 as part of a massive project to improve the flow of the country's rivers. P&O confirms Vadhavan withdrawal P&O PORTS (Australia) has announced that it will back out of the $1bn greenfield Vadhavan port project in India. INMA yard to be sold to SEC INMA, the Italian shiprepair, conversion and building yard based in La Spezia, is to be sold to SEC shipyard in Viareggio. China tests commercial WIG-craft TEST flights have been carried out on China's first commercial surface effect WIG-craft design, according to the Jiefang Daily. Export gloom for NZ exporters NEW ZEALAND'S primary exporters have been unable to take advantage of the weak NZ dollar in the midst of the Asian economic meltdown. Bonn to hear of Pallas fiasco GERMAN transport minister Franz Muntefering says he will give parliament a detailed report on the poor handling of the fire on the cargo ship Pallas. OSG builds barriers to takeover DIRECTORS of Overseas Shipholding Group have adopted a stockholder rights plan "to guard against attempts to take over the company." South African repairers in turmoil SOUTH African ship repair has been thrown into turmoil by a Portnet proposal to raise drydocking costs by more than 300 per cent. South Korea told to deregulate ports SOUTH Korea must increase efforts to deregulate its port and maritime industries to attract foreign investors, experts said yesterday at a Korea Maritime Institute seminar. Australia extends export credits AUSTRALIA has extended its export credit scheme to underwrite commodity trade as part of the government's plan to insulate the nation from Asia's economic problems. US/EU trade war looms THE US has threatened to slap 100 per cent import duties on a long list of EU products, following an escalation in the banana dispute between the two regions.

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If two companies get their way, importers, exporters, shippers, carriers and forwarders engaged in international trade all will use the same standards to transmit documents electronically. Enter Bolero, or the Bill of Lading Electronic Registry Organization, a joint venture between Through Transit Club, a London-based transport company, and the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial and Telecommunications. Bolero is promising an electronic document delivery system that will move shipments through the paperless netherworld of the Internet without fear of fraud or forgery. But it may be better for banks than shippers. The 48 new members who will stride into Washington for the 106th Congress are light on transportation experience, to say the least. Not one of the new members of Congress has anything close to real transportation experience, but 12 of the 48 newly elected lawmakers have expressed interest in sitting on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The committee, which swelled to an unmanageable 75 members last year, most likely will be pared down significantly in the next Congress. Even at its present size, there are only five vacancies. Potholes are every driver's problem. But a new study says states would rather build new roads than pave over potholes on existing roads. The economics of the road construction industry are such that it's much more lucrative to build new highways - sometimes at a tab of $100 million a mile in a high land-value urban location - than to repair existing roads. States have the money, thanks to the influx of highway cash provided for in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. The new president of the Council of Logistics Management is ready to make the best even better. Kathleen Strange, director of logistics strategy and implementation at Staples Inc., took the helm of the venerable international logistics society at last month's annual conference in Anaheim, Calif. Strange intends to deepen the association's logistics research and broaden its appeal to women and minorities. During its 34-year history the council has grown from a group of domestic transportation and distribution managers into a worldwide network of 12,000 members and 66 local roundtables. Attendance at its annual conferences now hovers around 6,000 people. The prospect of managing such a large and diverse organization doesn't faze Strange. "Our feedback tells us that are delivering a high-quality program. As long as we do that, we are succeeding." Aeris Communications is drawing upon technology of yesteryear to improve trucking companies' ability to keep track of their assets and those of customers. By using existing cellular phone technology, Aeris, through its Microburst technology, can cover all of Canada and 70 percent of the United States tracking down empty trailers, shipments and vehicles. San Jose, Calif.-based Aeris has forged alliances with cell phone manufacturers and service providers like Qualcomm and NSR to market and sell its system. Microburst is being touted as the low-cost answer to data messaging needs. Miami has had the reputation of being a thief's playground. Now the port of Miami has taken some bold steps to try and shed that image. "Miami is no longer the No. 1 port for stolen cars," the head of marketing for the port said proudly. For years the port has been known as a smugglers' haven for stolen cars and other illegal cargo. Whenever cargo theft figures are tallied, Miami was always No. 1 or No. 2. The port is borrowing from programs used by the U.S. government and port of Los Angeles to beef up security and ferret out thieves. Canadian National and Illinois Central should have little trouble meeting the environmental mitigation measures as recommended by the Surface Transportation Board in the proposed merger. This should come as no surprise, given that it is an end-to-end merger where traffic volumes of hazardous materials are not expected to change significantly on any given corridor. In that regard, CN-IC's environmental analysis is significantly different from that of the Conrail acquisition, according to the man responsible for both analyses. Federal Express shifted gears last week by moving away from trying to seal a deal with its pilots to ironing out a contingency plan to go into effect if the disgruntled group decides to walk. Talks between the FedEx Pilots Association and management have all but collapsed. No progress was made last week and no new talks were scheduled. Instead, FedEx chose to focus on how it will meet its express deliveries for all of its customers with or without its pilots. Canada's highways may be crumbling under the weight of trucks, but the government is not ready to pony up any cash to fix them. For now, patching up the country's medicare system is taking priority. But the transport minister is looking into the possibility of public-private partnerships to help rebuild the roads, 40 percent of which are considered substandard.