Record first quarter for Carnival Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL) reported net income of $171.5 million ($0.28 diluted EPS) on revenues of $824.9 million for its first quarter ended February 29, 2000, compared to net income of $157.8 million ($0.26 diluted EPS) on revenues of $748.3 million for the same quarter in 1999.
Norshipco plans layoffs With the Navy canceling solicitations fora repair job, Norshipco will lay off 15% of its workforce
Violence erupts as Chen wins More than 1,000 demonstrators attacked riot police guarding the headquarters of Taiwan's Nationalist party in Taipei yesterday after an opposition candidate won the presidential elections. The demonstrators were venting their fury at party chairman Lee Teng-hui after Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party ended more than five decades of Nationalist rule. Riot police with water canons pushed back the protesters, who pelted them with rocks and empty cans. In Washington and Brussels there was relief after Mr Chen offered Beijing "constructive dialogue", defusing Chinese anger at his victory.
Greeks stalk Golden Ocean Bentley Investments, a company representing a number of Greek shipowners, has emerged as the holder of between 10% and 20% of Golden Ocean's junk bonds after quietly building up an influential position since last December, Lloyd's List can reveal.
Marked turnaround at OOCL ORIENT Overseas (International) achieved a sharp profits recovery last year as market conditions rapidly improved in the second half.
India raises box rates from April Export container rates out of India are to go up by $150 per teu and $300 per feu from April 1, the India Pakistan Bangladesh Ceylon Conference has announced.
Nedlloyd faces a soul search THE final chapter or the start of a brand new chapter? That is the soul-searching decision which Nedlloyd directors must take as they ponder the future of the Dutch company that for years was the flagship of the country's merchant marine.
Tyne marchers to protest 30,000 shipyard job losses THOUSANDS of redundant shipyard and offshore workers and their families are expected to join a protest march on Tyneside.
Babcock buys up FBM Marine UK engineering concern Babcock International has made a second significant acquisition in little under two months, buying FBM Marine for an initial consideration of '4.7m ($7.8m).
Russia Russian soldiers sit on top of an armoured vehicle at Adler checkpoint in Ingushetia. Acting president Vladimir Putin on Saturday firmly ruled out talks with Chechen guerrillas as Russian warplanes struck rebel positions in the southern mountains of the breakaway region.
Dunkerque: IFB et Barra en joint-venture au terminal transmanche du port-ouest Ce dimanche sera présent au port-ouest de Dunkerque le nouveau roulier que l'armement Norfolk Line aligne dans le service régulier qu'il lance entre ce port français et Douvres, ainsi qu'évoqué précédemment dans ces colonnes. Pour cette opération une nouvelle entreprise de manutention vient d'être créée à savoir Short Sea Terminal, une joint-venture entre Inter Ferry Boats et la firme française locale Barra, qui s'installe au terminal transmanche pour y traiter ce service.
La France va-t-elle trouver la formule "miracle" pour le décolage du short sea? Le démarrage à grande échelle tant attendu du short sea ou cabotage intra-européen, a fait l'objet d'intéressants débats lors de la conférence SITL, qui se déroule ces jours-ci à Paris. On y a certes répété les avantages qu'il y a à promouvoir cette formule de transport qui doit soulager les réseaux routiers, mais aussi les nombreux obstacles qui entravent son envolée en tant qu'alternative que tant l'UE que les Etats-membres veulent voir se concrétiser. Toutefois, le point de vue des autorités françaises, développé par l'entremise de Claude Gressier, directeur des Transports maritimes, des ports et du littoral, n'a pas manqué d'attirer l'attention, mais aussi de susciter des interrogations.
Nedlloyd et P&O Nedlloyd n'ont pas encore remonté la pente Koninklijke Nedlloyd a enregistré un résultat net de 246 mio. d'EUR en 1999, mais a en fait dû encaisser une perte de 31 mio. d'EUR. L'entreprise est toujours en positif grâce à la vente des activités terrestres, qui ont rapporté 277 mio. d'EUR. P&O Nedlloyd - dans lequel Nedlloyd détient une participation de 50% - est tout de même parvenu à réaliser un résultat d'exploitation avant décompte des coûts de réorganisation de 7 mio. d'USD, mais a clôturé l'exercice par une perte avant impôts de 51 mio. d'USD. Le CEO Tim Harris a également parlé d'un nouveau service sur la route transatlantique, sans donner davantage de détails.
E-commerce: les entreprises postales ne peuvent pas rater le train Il n'était pas surprenant que la première matinée du congrès annuel de l'iea (institute of economic affairs) concernant les services postaux mondiaux - organisé à Génève cette année - traiterait des thèmes comme la nécessité de libéraliser, de privatiser et d'agir pro-activement dans une société en pleine expansion. Les conférenciers des postes britannique, néerlandaise et allemande avançaient dans leurs discours des variations sur le même thème: les entreprises postales doivent recevoir plus de liberté d'action pour demeurer compétitifs sur le marché. Ils traitaient en outre plus à fond les nouvelles opportunités dans leur niche traditionnelle. Le segment du courrier, souvent générateur de pertes, sera devancé par l'internet: e-mail et e-business rendront les lettres superflues, mais créeront en même temps le besoin de distribution. Ceci est une opportunité à laquelle aucune entreprise postale peut renoncer, estimaient les conférenciers.
"Our customers are and will remain the forwarders." Peter Jenssen, director liner services at Poseidon, talks about the challenges facing his company and its sister carrier, Finncarriers.
Maritime
Delmas: a good start to 2000. The investments made by the Bollor' group, especially the acquisition of Otal, have strengthened Delmas' position.
Hoegh was in the red in 1999, after a healthy profit in 1998.
Americana Ships sells its stake in CTE to the Odiel group.
NYK/HMM in slot charter pact.
Calendar of events: Communications and IT in Shipping; Environmental Management Strategies in Shipping.
New publications: Liner Trades Review 1999 (Dynamar).
Ports and Terminals
The world's top 30 container ports: Hong Kong's provisional throughput figures for 1999 put it back firmly in top place, ousting Singapore.
Intermodal
Standards, standards: Rune Svensson of the ICC Land Transport Committee pleads for keeping current ISO norms in the interest of saving on costs.
Aviation
Cargo 2000: onward! The Iata common interest group is going ahead in setting uniform standards to help members enter the time-definite business.
TPG, the British Post Office and Singapore Post form a global joint venture for business mail.
Tower under Chapter 11.
Emirates adds Sydney and nonstop flights to Milan to its schedule.
Swissair will fly more routes to the US and Asia this summer.
"Our customers are and will remain the forwarders." Peter Jenssen, director liner services at Poseidon, talks about the challenges facing his company and its sister carrier, Finncarriers.
Maritime
Delmas: a good start to 2000. The investments made by the Bollor' group, especially the acquisition of Otal, have strengthened Delmas' position.
Hoegh was in the red in 1999, after a healthy profit in 1998.
Americana Ships sells its stake in CTE to the Odiel group.
NYK/HMM in slot charter pact.
Calendar of events: Communications and IT in Shipping; Environmental Management Strategies in Shipping.
New publications: Liner Trades Review 1999 (Dynamar).
Ports and Terminals
The world's top 30 container ports: Hong Kong's provisional throughput figures for 1999 put it back firmly in top place, ousting Singapore.
Intermodal
Standards, standards: Rune Svensson of the ICC Land Transport Committee pleads for keeping current ISO norms in the interest of saving on costs.
Aviation
Cargo 2000: onward! The Iata common interest group is going ahead in setting uniform standards to help members enter the time-definite business.
TPG, the British Post Office and Singapore Post form a global joint venture for business mail.
Tower under Chapter 11.
Emirates adds Sydney and nonstop flights to Milan to its schedule.
Swissair will fly more routes to the US and Asia this summer.
"Our customers are and will remain the forwarders." Peter Jenssen, director liner services at Poseidon, talks about the challenges facing his company and its sister carrier, Finncarriers.
Maritime
Delmas: a good start to 2000. The investments made by the Bollor' group, especially the acquisition of Otal, have strengthened Delmas' position.
Hoegh was in the red in 1999, after a healthy profit in 1998.
Americana Ships sells its stake in CTE to the Odiel group.
NYK/HMM in slot charter pact.
Calendar of events: Communications and IT in Shipping; Environmental Management Strategies in Shipping.
New publications: Liner Trades Review 1999 (Dynamar).
Ports and Terminals
The world's top 30 container ports: Hong Kong's provisional throughput figures for 1999 put it back firmly in top place, ousting Singapore.
Intermodal
Standards, standards: Rune Svensson of the ICC Land Transport Committee pleads for keeping current ISO norms in the interest of saving on costs.
Aviation
Cargo 2000: onward! The Iata common interest group is going ahead in setting uniform standards to help members enter the time-definite business.
TPG, the British Post Office and Singapore Post form a global joint venture for business mail.
Tower under Chapter 11.
Emirates adds Sydney and nonstop flights to Milan to its schedule.
Swissair will fly more routes to the US and Asia this summer.
"Our customers are and will remain the forwarders." Peter Jenssen, director liner services at Poseidon, talks about the challenges facing his company and its sister carrier, Finncarriers.
Maritime
Delmas: a good start to 2000. The investments made by the Bollor' group, especially the acquisition of Otal, have strengthened Delmas' position.
Hoegh was in the red in 1999, after a healthy profit in 1998.
Americana Ships sells its stake in CTE to the Odiel group.
NYK/HMM in slot charter pact.
Calendar of events: Communications and IT in Shipping; Environmental Management Strategies in Shipping.
New publications: Liner Trades Review 1999 (Dynamar).
Ports and Terminals
The world's top 30 container ports: Hong Kong's provisional throughput figures for 1999 put it back firmly in top place, ousting Singapore.
Intermodal
Standards, standards: Rune Svensson of the ICC Land Transport Committee pleads for keeping current ISO norms in the interest of saving on costs.
Aviation
Cargo 2000: onward! The Iata common interest group is going ahead in setting uniform standards to help members enter the time-definite business.
TPG, the British Post Office and Singapore Post form a global joint venture for business mail.
Tower under Chapter 11.
Emirates adds Sydney and nonstop flights to Milan to its schedule.
Swissair will fly more routes to the US and Asia this summer.
"Our customers are and will remain the forwarders." Peter Jenssen, director liner services at Poseidon, talks about the challenges facing his company and its sister carrier, Finncarriers.
Maritime
Delmas: a good start to 2000. The investments made by the Bollor' group, especially the acquisition of Otal, have strengthened Delmas' position.
Hoegh was in the red in 1999, after a healthy profit in 1998.
Americana Ships sells its stake in CTE to the Odiel group.
NYK/HMM in slot charter pact.
Calendar of events: Communications and IT in Shipping; Environmental Management Strategies in Shipping.
New publications: Liner Trades Review 1999 (Dynamar).
Ports and Terminals
The world's top 30 container ports: Hong Kong's provisional throughput figures for 1999 put it back firmly in top place, ousting Singapore.
Intermodal
Standards, standards: Rune Svensson of the ICC Land Transport Committee pleads for keeping current ISO norms in the interest of saving on costs.
Aviation
Cargo 2000: onward! The Iata common interest group is going ahead in setting uniform standards to help members enter the time-definite business.
TPG, the British Post Office and Singapore Post form a global joint venture for business mail.
Tower under Chapter 11.
Emirates adds Sydney and nonstop flights to Milan to its schedule.
Swissair will fly more routes to the US and Asia this summer.
The capacity crunch is driving six of the nation's leading truckload carriers to merge their logistics operations and create a web-based joint venture called Transplace.com. Their main goal is to deliver "guaranteed capacity" to shippers via the Internet by pooling resources and using optimization software. Just as important, if less well defined, is their plan to create a new end-to-end logistics service that will compete with traditional third-party logistics providers and Internet-based transportation marketplaces. The move shows just how quickly the logistics marketplace is changing and how concrete business-to-business e-commerce has become.
The American Trucking Associations —but not all trucking groups—calls reduction of motor fuel taxes, in the face of record pump prices, essential to continued economic prosperity. Road builders, however, term any trimming of the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal motor fuel tax a destructive raid on the Highway Trust Fund that finances road construction, repair and safety programs. And while airlines, barge operators and big railroads support permanent elimination of a 4.3-cent-per-gallon deficit-reduction fuel tax they pay, small railroads aren't necessarily supportive. Congress is equally divided even though in an election year it can be suicide to oppose a tax cut. A political brouhaha has commenced.
BASF AG, Europe's largest chemical company, held its first Internet auction of raw materials and bought several thousand metric tons of methanol at a price significantly below the market rate. The event represents another step in the multinational's move into cyberspace and underlines the web-inspired changes that are transforming the chemical business. Said Wolfgang Moerike, president of BASF's raw materials purchasing division, "I believe that a large proportion of our business will soon be handled this way."
If there was one underlying theme at the second annual Traffic World and KPMG Strategic Technology Conference, it was this: keep it short. To get web-enabled, companies need to focus on short projects and short cycle times. The maximum amount of time mentioned for a project? Fifteen months. The average project time mentioned? Ninety days. Building communities, sharing information and exploring new avenues also were mentioned as being at the core of a solid e-business strategy.
Fuel is approaching $1.50 a gallon, up 50 percent in less than a year. Drivers are hard to find. When you do find drivers, their pay is rising faster than the NASDAQ market. Margins are flat as shippers play one carrier against another. Fuel surcharges are an option but getting them in place is as pleasant as a root canal. Now the bottom has fallen out of the used truck market so that even if some carriers wanted to liquidate, their rolling stock may not be worth what is owed. If all this is happening in the best economic times in recent history, some truckload industry leaders ask what will be the fallout if the economy hits a speed bump?
One year after it approved the merger of Canadian National Railway and Illinois Central, the Surface Transportation Board said it will initiate, as it did with the Conrail and Union Pacific-Southern Pacific railroad mergers, an oversight proceeding on the merger's implementation. The STB said it would look at several issues, including CN-IC's marketing agreement with Kansas City Southern Railway, specifically as it relates to the Baton Rouge-New Orleans chemical district in Louisiana; North Dakota grain shippers with respect to the Chicago gateway; and "any merger-related link to any unfair pricing practices in the lumber industry." Although serious issues regarding rates and service are not expected to be brought to the board, it may be too early to tell - at least where shippers are concerned - whether the merger is creating the desired benefits.
FedEx Home Delivery began in earnest amid great anticipation from shippers looking for alternatives to United Parcel Service, the dominant player in the home delivery sector for decades. Taking a page from the successful RPS playbook, FedEx Home Delivery is starting slow and choosing its customers carefully. The company has hired 500 contract drivers and opened 67 terminals in 31 major metropolitan areas across the country to support the new service. FedEx is entering the market on the premise that customers want another option to UPS along with more bells and whistles tailored to meet the needs of 21st century online shoppers.
Project cargo shippers are anticipating some good news when they meet later this month with the Maritime Administration. The U.S. Exporters Competitive Maritime Council, a trade group that represents shippers of project cargoes, has proposed reforms to make it easier for U.S. companies to compete in world markets and Marad will deliver its response at the meeting. "We expect to see how Marad has incorporated our requests into their plans," said Greg Cowans, ECMC chairman and transportation manager at ABB Alstom Power. The company supplies power generation equipment. Marad's report has not been released to the shippers' group but Cowans is optimistic that "ECMC concerns are going to be addressed."
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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