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Patrick set to take on Toll in domestic rail freight

Patrick is set to take control of the Gibbins family's interstate container operation, FCL, in a move that would see it selling domestic freight in direct competition with Toll, its joint venture rail owning partner in Pacific National.

RCL upgrades two ships and new southeast Asian service kicks off

Regional Container Line is to upgrade its two ships in the Australia/southeast Asia ASA consortium service with Lloyd Triestino and Hanjin.

Victoria promises a fair go in access to railways freight lines

VICTORIAN transport minister Peter Batchelor has moved to defend the state's rail access regime, saying the government is working closely with rail operators to ensure third-party access to the rail network.

Australasia helps drive 'best-ever' P&O Nedlloyd result

Royal P&O Nedlloyd has turned in a fivefold increase operating profit during 2004, with the promise of more during 2005.

Cargo from MSC Denisse to stay with ship under repair

The Australian-bound cargo from the stricken MSC Denisse is to stay with the ship for the next three to four weeks while the ship is repaired in Jakarta.

Customs disputes claims of `flawed' CMR import system

The Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia says it has grave reservations about the usability of the import systems in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) computer programs at the heart of Cargo Management Re-engineering project.

`Geelong plans are confusing the public'

Victorian transport minister Peter Batchelor said there appears to be some confusion in the public's mind between the Geelong master plan and the Terminals proposal for further chemical storage at its Geelong facility.

HUAL name is getting the heave-Hoegh

Norway's Leif Hoegh is to drop the 35-year-old HUAL brand from its worldwide car carrier operations and operate all of its ro-ro services under one Hoegh Autoliners flag.

Ingrid holds up ships and services

The port of Darwin was closed through the early hours of Monday morning as the eye of Cyclone Ingrid passed 100 km north of the Northern Territory capital, battering Croker and Melville Islands on its way.

Adelaide Outer Harbor to be deepened by late 2005

The much-vaunted channel-deepening project for the port of Adelaide got the government seal of approval on Friday with the state agreeing to commit $15m towards the $45m project.

Batchelor confident of finding rail access solution

Victorian transport minister Peter Batchelor has moved to defend the state's rail access regime, stating that the Government is working closely with rail operators to ensure that third-party access to the rail network will be unimpeded.

Jail term for bad Karma

The owner of the former gravel barge Karma , which grounded then sank off Queensland in November 2003, has been jailed for six months.

Kuehne & Nagel signs global deal with Pacific Brands

Kuehne & Nagel has won the global logistics business of Australasian brand management giant Pacific Brands.

Liner shipping in 'super cycle', but warnings on infrastructure

A leading liner analyst says that the container shipping sector may be heading for a "super cycle" with no sign of the bumper market conditions coming to an end despite the bulging new order book.

National Rail `had agreed access to Acacia Ridge', says Graham

Pacific National's predecessor National Rail Corporation had an understanding with Queensland Rail for long-term access to the Acacia Ridge freight terminal, the Federal Court heard on Monday.

New SE Asia service kicks off in Brisbane

The lead-off vessel in the new Australia-southeast Asia Express (AUSE) service, Scotia , made its first call at Brisbane's Fisherman Islands on March 7.

PN will force QR to shape up: O'Donnell

Pacific National's imminent entry into Queensland's containerised rail freight market should stimulate improvements in Queensland Rail (QR), Pacific National chief executive Stephen O'Donnell said.

SAL says triangulation is a distraction, not a fix

Apart from the operation of a ship itself, container operations and their management is a shipping line's largest cost centre.

Shipping Australia puts case to ministers on Part X

A Shipping Australia delegation was to meet senior federal ministers and departmental officials in Canberra yesterday to explain the importance of the Part X liner shipping regulations.

Spirit III service given a three-year reprieve

The Tasmanian Government has given its financially troubled Devonport-Sydney ferry service a reprieve and will be retained for a further three years.

The book of freight yields third edition

A Melbourne customs broker of 35 years, Russell Burke, has delivered a third edition of his international logistics and freight forwarding manual.

Toll and Patrick look to different targets

For some years, the prospect of a merger between transport and logistics giants Toll Holdings and Patrick Corporation has never been very far from the surface.

China growth still a wild card

As China introduces calming measures into its economy, market leaders have predicted the impending end of the Chinese steel industry boom.

Five-year LNG spree

Shipping will account for a third of the spending as the liquified natural gas industry gears up for a capital outlay of more than US$65bn in the next five years.

Safeguards for industry in China pact

Federal trade minister Mark Vaile has dismissed concerns that the potential Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China will leave Australia vulnerable to dumping.

DHL lifting air cargo volumes to Sydney

DHL will begin a daily air freighter service between Sydney and Melbourne as it ramps up throughput at its newly opened $20m Oceania hub at Sydney Airport.

Khne+Nagel rules out Panalpina stake

Katrin Berkenkopf, Zurich

Record China cargo the factor

Cathay Pacific posted a record 972, 416 tonnes of cargo for 2004, driven by major demand for manufactured goods from China.

Jet-set shipping tycoon inspired a generation

On Saturday, March 15, 1975, the most famous shipowner of all died in the American Hospital in Paris, prompting worldwide news headlines.

Watch this balancing act

So did Australian infrastructure investment just fall behind because of political complacency? Or did Chinese demand for commodities shoot ahead in ways no-one could have foreseen?

China Shipping to take 39 steps towards top three berth by 2010

China's No. 2 line, China Shipping, has outlined an aggressive expansion plan.

Cosco liner arm eyes HK listing

China Ocean Shipping (Group) has embarked on the long-awaited Hong Kong listing for its liner shipping subsidiary, a deal estimated to be worth HK$23.4bn (US$3bn).

End in sight for the Exxon Valdez law saga

EQuitas can begin sorting out a complex US$780m claims roundabout after a judgment in the Court of Appeal in London brought clarity to a reinsurance dispute related to the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Malaysia surveillance plea

Malaysia is turning to Britain for help in increasing its surveillance capabilities in the Malacca Strait.

Mixed message for shippers on US west coast congestion

THOUSANDS of importers across the US are receiving mixed messages from shipping lines and the country's largest ports as they gear up for one of the most critical contract renewal seasons ever.

Mystery meetings of the box kings

As relations between the industry and regulators have deteriorated, the Box Club has shunned the limelight, writes Janet Porter, London

Chemical leak in container

A Maersk boxship was forced to offload a container at Algeciras after formaldehyde solution starting leaking from one or more drums inside the box.

Danes want zero alcohol rule

DANISH shipowners and unions are ready to consider a zero alcohol limit after the multipurpose containership Karen Danielsen crashed into the 18 km Great Belt Bridge on March 3.

Gas scare closes Bosporus

The Bosporus was closed to shipping on Sunday after seven 22-tonne tanks of highly flammable LPG floated free from a ro-ro that sank in bad weather.

Maritime casualties

ALEXANDROS (Panama)

Picking up the pieces after tragic methanol blast sinks tanker

The operation to remove the wreck of Ultragas's chemical tanker Vicua is close to completion after the removal of four key sections of the vessel.

Pirates seize tanker in return to trade after tsunamai

The hijacking and kidnap of two crew from an Indonesian product tanker by heavily armed pirates in the Malacca Strait has stoked fears of maritime terrorism in the region.