08

Controversial Victorian ballast water law takes effect soon

by LLDCN 01:29PM, 08 Jun 2006

Truss set to make major announcement on MSIC

by LLDCN 01:29PM, 08 Jun 2006

AMSA questions relevance of current buoyage system

by LLDCN 01:29PM, 08 Jun 2006

AWB hopes for Indian import

by LLDCN 01:29PM, 08 Jun 2006

Geraldton, Oakajee likely sites of new magnetite plant after Mt Gibson stake sale

by LLDCN 01:29PM, 08 Jun 2006

Rio puts alumina refinery plans on the backburner

by LLDCN 01:29PM, 08 Jun 2006

P&O mops up after virus affects cruise passengers

by LLDCN 01:27PM, 08 Jun 2006

Australian push to update navaid system

THE worldwide maritime buoyage system for navigation is in urgent need of a major overhaul if it is to meet the shipping safety demands of the 21st century.

QR ready for action in the south and the west

Queensland Rail has finalised its $446.5m purchase of the Australian Railroad Group's (ARG) above-rail assets, the state-owned operator said last week.

Spirit III goes after beating sum of all fears

The two and a half year experiment in feeding tourists and their cars from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to Tasmania by ro-ro ferry is over, with TT Line announcing yesterday that the Sydney Devonport would finish in late August and the Spirit of Tasmania III would be sold.

Systemic failure after discovery of hole in hull

The master of a containership with a crack in her side just 1.5 metres above the waterline allegedly disregarded advice from the vessel's charterer and set sail from Melbourne in an unseaworthy condition.

Tzaneros companies open in India, China

AGS, one of Australia's largest non-vessel operating common carriers, opened a new Indian subsidiary in Mumbai on Monday, just weeks after opening new offices in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Qingdao.

Increased profile

French operator CMA CGM is determined to increase its profile in the region, with a view to re-establishing itself as a separate entity from its local subsidiary ANL Container Line.

LMIU portal goes live

LLOYD'S Marine Intelligence Unit last week launched a new website that promises to be the world's best marine database.

Maersk wins Woodside's contract for Vincent oil

MAERSK Contractors has won a contract to supply a floating production storage and offloading vessel for Woodside Energy's Vincent project off Western Australia.

MSC keeps ship in Noumea as Maersk skips a second time

The box ship MSC Caledonien remained alongside in Noumea at press time, her small cargo undischarged well over two weeks after she arrived into a storm of protest over her impact on the island's liner trades.

Newcastle pilots to match Sydney pay

Newcastle's marine pilots have agreed to a new pay agreement with the Newcastle Port Corporation after the protracted negotiations were finally resolved.

Stretched 8s ready in 2009

Boeing has confirmed that first deliveries of its stretched fuselage B747-8 freighter will take place in 2009.

Advertising one's location

In times of conflict, inordinate efforts were made to keep commercial shipping as invisible as possible, lest an enemy discover its whereabouts, or probable route.

Transport's year of wonders

Just over 12 months ago, AP Moller Maersk announced a bid for P&O Nedlloyd that kicked off what was to become a year of extraordinary corporate changes in Australia and abroad. KEVIN CHINNERY takes a look at this fast-moving time and the impacts it might all have .

Fincantieri's first sale sets bar seven decks high

ALMOST two years after it first announced a move into the mega-yacht construction business, Italy's Fincantieri has made its first sale, in the shape of a seven-deck, 130 metre-plus behemoth it claims would today be the second largest privately owned yacht in the world.

BLG eyes up car terminal

GERMANY'S BLG Logistics Group, together with Japan's K-Line, is evaluating the establishment of a car terminal in St Petersburg.

China and Taiwan in big LNG orders

TWO tenders which could involve orders for 10 liquefied natural gas carriers worth more than US$2bn are under way in China and Taiwan.

Commodities boom keeps Seaway busy

The St Lawrence Seaway has seen a strong traffic gain during the early period of the 2006 commercial navigation season, thanks to increases in steel, grain, iron ore and coal shipments responding to US and Canadian demand.

Dry bulk rules are slowing operations

THE slew of new regulations for dry bulk shipping are seriously hampering operations, says major Asian owner IMC Pan Asian Alliance.

Qatar ups stakes with 10-ship order

TEN liquefied natural gas carriers are being ordered by Qatar Gas Transport Co, bringing the company's spending in this sector to about US$5bn in the last two months.

Slow boat to China the way forward to beat oil hikes: GL

PUTTING more ships into a transpacific or Europe-Asia liner service is not the obvious way to save money.

Teekay's outlook `positive' across all sectors

TEEKAY Shipping, the leading aframax and shuttletanker operator, is expecting a “busy” year in its expanding offshore-related businesses as well as predicting another "good” financial performance in 2006.

Why ports must act to ward off costs of an avian flu pandemic

PORTS, airports and all transport nodes will urgently need to look at their health security after the world's governments decided last week to begin immediate implementation of influenza-related parts of the new International Health Regulations.

Gioia Tauro volumes tumble

CONTAINER volumes at Gioia Tauro have tumbled in recent months, prompting Contship Italia, which operates the port's Medcenter Container Terminal, to issue a statement heading off talk of a crisis.

Golar optimistic on outlook for spot market

GOLAR LNG has accompanied improved first quarter results with optimism about an improving spot market for liquefied natural gas carriers.

Golden Ocean tips return to bulk boom

The dry bulk market could return to the dizzy heights experienced in 2004 in the next two years.

Keep immunity, say Asian shipowners

ASIAN shipowners say that antitrust immunity is crucial for the health of the shipping industry.

Kendall lands top job at China Navigation

RICHARD Kendall is set to take over as managing director of China Navigation, the shipping line controlled by London-based John Swire & Sons, in a reshuffle of senior management.

MOL confirms $5.3bn expansion of bulk carrier fleet underway

MITSUI OSK Lines confirmed plans last week to add 43 bulk carriers to its fleet at a cost of US$5.3bn.

Nigeria kidnap hikes up oil price

THE abduction of eight workers from a semi-submersible rig off Nigeria last week has pushed oil prices back above US$71 and once again drawn attention to the escalating risks inherent in working in the region.

Profits under pressure as Hamburg Süd plays catch-up

Further growth in turnover but decreasing profits are the prospects for the year at Hamburg Süd.

Bridge hit

Non specific tanker Gavialis, loaded with 1,500 tonnes of fuel oil, struck the “Steinheimer Brucke”bridge at Hanau, just east of Frankfurt, reportedly due to an unsuccessful turning manoeuvre on the River Main.

Search for five after collision

Greece's coast guard was scouring the seas off the island of Hydra as a search continued for five seafarers missing after a collision between a Panama-flagged cargoship and a modern Greek chemical and oil tanker.

Tragedy near home

IT should have been a cause for celebration. The Volvo Ocean Race fleet made the Western Approaches with the promise of a Blighty call before the final climactic legs to Rotterdam and Gothenburg.

Trial begins without accused ferry owner

Egypt has begun court proceedings against six people charged with the manslaughter of more than 1,000 passengers who died when the ferry Al Salam Boccaccio 98 sank in February, court sources told Reuters.

Virus cuts off Van Gogh's cruise

Around 500 passengers were unable to board a cruiseship in Harwich on Sunday after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency detained the vessel because of a virus outbreak.

Austal seeks staff overseas

Intense competition to attract workers from Australia and an inability to retain existing staff has forced shipbuilder Austal to go overseas for suitable labour.

When a little is enough...

It may be tough to attract school leavers and retain existing employees, but recruitment at the top of the business does not seem to be suffering from the same ailments.

Fill those jobs, industry urged

It is time for Australia's $60bn transport and logistics industry to “get moving” on recruitment and make up ground on other industries before its workforce drives off into the sunset, Australia's freight groups and recruitment bodies say.