NATIONAL NEWS

Linfox bites off biggest deal

LINFOX has signed a 10-year, $2bn logistics deal with National Foods.

Scale of feedback slows reply

SYDNEY Ports Corporation was this week still sifting through an unprecedented volume of feedback on its proposed Port Botany peak pricing system.

Asciano heads change for new era

THE SUM of experience and understanding of Asciano’s core ports and rail businesses will be reduced significantly as the company loses Doug Schultz and Don Telford within a few months of each other.

Airfreight exports hold, imports plummet

EXPORTS have again emerged as the sole source of light in an increasingly-gloomy outlook for Australia’s air cargo sector.

Big business joins union for big push on coastal shipping

THE MARITIME Union of Australia (MUA) joined Rio Tinto last week in calling for the speedy introduction of coastal shipping reforms.

Port Hedland pulls clear as biggest port

TRADE through Port Hedland and the port of Dampier in Western Australia’s Pilbara region reached a record 300m tonnes in the 2008/09 financial year.

Felix in spat over coal deal: calls on Asciano to ‘put up or shut up’

FELIX Resources managing director Brian Flannery issued a “put up or shut up” challenge to Asciano this week over claims relating to a Felix deal with QR Coal.

Salvaging an element of speed to save lives and vessels at sea

The long history of disasters at sea has evolved increasingly effective salvage methods and systems. Michael Underdown details how today’s contracts can speed the process, saving lives and property

Dark cloud looms over heavy imports sector

SKELTON Sherborne director Brad Skelton issued a gloomy outlook for the the transport of mining and construction equipment in the coming year as the global credit crisis forces companies to tighten budgets and downsize their operations.

Riverwijs bolsters fleet with four new tugs

THE BURGEONING demand for natural gas and the increase in size of tankers has driven Queensland tug operator Riverwijs to undertake a $30m upgrade of its fleet.

Portland chips in for big deal

GUNNS has convinced Port of Portland Ltd (POPL) that it was best placed to create a second hardwood chip export facility in the western Victorian coastal town.

Port Alma to expand

COAL was expected to drive the development of Port Alma to become a major Queensland export facility, Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) confirmed last week. The news came as GPC said it had begun developing a strategic plan for the port and related infrastructure over the next 12-18 months.

POTA acquires empties rival

P&O Trans Australia (POTA) has confirmed a binding agreement to acquire all of the shares in Sydney rival Maritime Container Services (MCS).

Port Botany sees record box trade despite downturn

WHILE total, full-containerised imports at Port Botany dipped by 1.3% in 2008/09, the port still managed to set a new container trade record of 1.78m teu.

No sale as Tasmanian rail deadline passes

THE SALE deadline for the Pacific National Tasmania (PNT)-owned Melba Line passed last Friday without the deal being finalised.

Farmers seek better deal from rail

NEW South Wales farmers will ramp up pressure on the state government to give greater attention to rail transport for freight and produce.

National rail reform lagging – ARA chief

AUSTRALIA was not meeting the challenges of rail regulation and operation quickly enough, Australasian Railway Association chief executive Bryan Nye has told a Melbourne conference.

Sea SA bucks the trend with revenue increase

SEA SA has defied the economic downturn posting an 11% rise in revenue, the Spencer Gulf ro-ro company has revealed.