Weekly Edition 10th December 2009

Casualty Briefs - 10th December 2009

 

WATERFRONT VIEW - ACC plays security card on crime

THE AUSTRALIAN Crime Commission (ACC) has rejected a critique of its submission to a parliamentary committee that linked port security to anti-crime measures.

Montara rig deemed a write off

THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has wrapped up its Montara spill response as Seadrill accepted that its near-new West Atlas drilling rig was a write-off.

Report sees Sydney challenge to cruise success

CRUISE firm Carnival Australia and Sydney Ports Corporation both welcomed an Access Economics report released on Monday that valued the cruise sector at $1.2bn.

Miners lock in Hunter capacity

COAL producers want to export 6.6m tonnes more than the Hunter coal chain can handle next year. Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) said coal producers had been quick to lock in long-term supply contracts as part of an industry-wide agreement to take effect from January 1.

Watchdog applies limits to vehicle stevedore’s power

THE AUSTRALIAN Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave something to both sides of the vehicle stevedoring debate when it granted conditional authorisation to Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT).

Chevron LNG deal puts Ashburton North port in frame

CHEVRON and Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) have signed a heads of agreement for the delivery of 4.1m tonnes a year (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for up to 20 years from the Wheatstone natural gas project.

Queensland port and rail assets catch Asciano’s eye

ASCIANO chief Mark Rowsthorn has expressed interest in picking up rail and port assets due to become available from the Queensland Government in coming years.

Report recommends big lift for NSW freight awareness

THE FREIGHT and logistics industry needs better collaboration, planning and more consistent regulations, a report by the Freight and Logistics Council of New South Wales (FALCONSW) has revealed.

Mermaid in the swim with gas boom

A FAT year for Mermaid Marine got fatter last week after the offshore energy services firm sealed a five-year offtake support vessel (OSV) deal with BHP Billiton Petroleum.

AANA and NEAX back together in Asian trade as peak fades

MAKING good on a pledge to rationalise space quickly when peak volumes showed signs of fading, two leading groups in the north and east Asia-Australia trade recombined their services last week.

Australian Christmas goods stuck in China snow lane

IMPORTERS eagerly awaiting Christmas goods from east Asia will likely be frustrated to find ships off-window on arrival in Australia thanks to bad weather conditions in Chinese ports. Carriers are reporting delays of several days at Qingdao and Shanghai, with the situation exacerbated by the loss of at least 20 containers from a Yangtze River barge prompting navigation restrictions.

WA grain report delivered but state still mulls findings

THE WESTERN Australian Government is currently mulling over the future of the state’s decaying grain rail network after the Strategic Network Committee submitted its much anticipated report.

Industrial war goes offshore

EMPLOYERS and the Maritime Union of Australia have continued to trade blows over industrial action in the offshore energy construction sector.

Tasmanian Railway replaces PN

TASMANIAN Railway, the newly established state government-owned rail company, was launched last week. The board consists of Bob Annells as executive chairman, supported by Roger Gill, Bob Neil, Sarah Merridew and John Fullerton.

Maersk charges a mixed bag for local shippers

CONTAINER giant Maersk has given Australian shippers mixed news on surcharges for next year.

Albanese push for pollution rules change at IMO . . .

FEDERAL transport minister Anthony Albanese lobbied for greater compensation in the event of a bunker spill when he appeared before the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London last week.

K&S to enter WA with Pacific play

K&S Corporation will buy Perth’s privately-owned Pacific Transport for an undisclosed sum, the South Australian company said last week.

Asciano secures $500m 12-year coal haulage deal

ASCIANO has won a 12-year, $500m contract to haul coal for Idemitsu from the Boggabri mine in the Gunnedah Basin.

Lost in the gloom - Hamburg searches for answers as its market share fades

Germany’s largest port is in turmoil. The global recession may be easing, but trade is moving to rivals and now there are fears that its woes could outlast the current downturn, reports ALEXANDER BAKST

Laid-up FPSOs at record high after year of contract drought

Demand has collapsed since fields stopped producing, reports Martyn Wingrove

Pick-up predicted with new projects

UP TO 170 offshore oil and gas projects involving floating production systems are in the planning phase, according to International Maritime Associates.

Asia-Europe trades signal worst may be over for boxes

FREIGHT rates in the Asia to Europe container trades are heading back towards 2008 levels as cargo volumes pick up after the worst slump ever experienced.

Dubai World considers asset sale

DEBT-laden conglomerate Dubai World – whose empire includes global ports operator DP World – may sell off assets to raise cash, according to a senior government official quoted by news agencies.

MOL to reduce exposure to containers

JAPANESE shipping conglomerate Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) will focus more on owning tankers and gas carriers in reaction to this year’s slump in demand for containerships.

Aircargo volumes take off as box lines cut back

CAPACITY shortages in ocean freight and a stronger-than-expected rebound in US and European retail sales have helped drive a surge in aircargo volumes in the past three months.

Asia-Pacific airfreight numbers seen as a positive sign for ocean cargo

ASIA-PACIFIC airfreight is on the rise after recording 1.9% growth in October on the back of a 3.1% decline in September.

New tonnage in pipeline as more projects near fruition

Energy giants eye new projects and lack of surplus LNG carriers means sector is likely to embark on order spree to service these ventures, writes MARTYN WINGROVE

Japanese fleet giants to expand gas carrier numbers

JAPAN’S two largest lines, Mitsui OSK Lines and Nippon Yusen Kaisha, are aiming to expand their liquefied natural gas carrier fleets despite industry concerns about overcapacity in the sector and LNG project delays.

Australia set to become major gas exporter

AUSTRALIA will become the second largest liquefied natural gas exporting nation by 2020 as a host of new projects are built along the country’s west and east coasts. The country’s vast onshore and offshore gas resources will be recovered and exported to Asian markets from a multitude of production plants that will be built in Western Australia and Queensland.

The number of countries importing gas is ever growing

MORE countries are becoming liquefied natural gas importers, opening up even more opportunities to LNG shippers in the next decade.

Sectors join to make floating production systems a reality

ENERGY companies and the LNG industry are joining forces to build the first floating LNG production systems.

US pushes back plan for 100% box screening

THE US Government has backed down on enforcing laws that require the scanning of all import containers from July 2012.

Maersk Alabama crew blame master for hijack

THE MAERSK boxship master taken hostage during a botched hijack attempt off Somalia in April has been accused of taking a shortcut through the area to save fuel.

German shipowners support calls for state aid to industry

THE GERMAN shipping industry needs government aid in order to survive the crisis, according to Hapag-Lloyd chief executive and head of the German shipowners’ association VDR, Michael Behrendt.

Speed cuts lift rates

SLOW steaming is starting to have a noticeable impact on the container trades, with capacity being absorbed and charter rates inching upwards as operators bring in extra ships to compensate for lower speeds

Climate deal could leave a US$10bn hole for shipping

THE SHIPPING industry could end up paying twice for a global climate change deal, thanks to the emergence of a new plan for a US$10bn annual levy on shipping emissions that has won the backing of African states.

Suez channel plan to ease pressure on Port Said

 

Cosco chief Wei casts doubt over 40% of newbuildings

CHINA Ocean Shipping (Group) president and chief executive Wei Jiafu forecasts that 40% of newbuildings on order will be cancelled or delayed.

China urged to join body Marcus Hand, Shanghai

INTERNATIONAL Chamber of Shipping (ICS) chairman Spyros Polemis has called on the China Shipowners’ Association (CSA) to join the chamber, as a greater voice from China was sought.

Chinese turnaround still in the pipeline

Exports of containerised merchandise from China remain well down on a year ago, dispelling any immediate hopes that the liner shipping industry could be on the mend. But the next few weeks may be more revealing, if past trading patterns for this time of the year are anything to go by.

Hamburg group sets out urgent rescue plan for German shipping

A WORKING group in Hamburg is drawing up a rescue plan for German ship financing and shipping, which will be presented to the Federal Government.

Retreat in Atlantic rates could bring out cargoes

RATES to hire panamax bulk carriers in the Atlantic market have retreated below US$40,000 per day for voyages to Asa after charterers held back cargoes from the spot market.

Sugar the future fuel

UNTIL the economic slowdown, commodities were a must-have for any aspiring investor’s portfolio. Except for one: sugar.

Surge in Chinese coal imports set to slow

CHINESE coal imports are forecast to fall next year as the price differential between imported and domestic coal narrows.

Copenhagen: Chance to show the positive side of shipping

SHIPOWNERS in Copenhagen believe the highly-publicised climate change summit in their capital will offer an opportunity for the shipping industry to gain some much-needed exposure.

Maersk pushes on with slow steaming research

SPEED reduction and the idea of saving fuel is nothing new, according to Maersk chief specialist Jakob Buus Petersen.

Arrests on the rise

With Rule B now ruled out and many shipowners expected to run short of cash next year, MARCUS HAND assesses the procedural requirements and legal advantages offered by the Singaporean and South African courts

Europe votes to ease customs restrictions

EUROPEAN Union member states have voted to ease customs restrictions for ships sailing within the EU but have stopped short of establishing the hoped-for internal market.

CMA CGM steps up pressure on South Korean shipyards

CMA CGM’s immediate future could rest with South Korean shipbuilders, which must decide within the next few weeks whether to reschedule the French line’s huge orderbook.

Global law firm’s new Sydney berth

 

Orion finds long-sought second cruise ship

THE 100-passenger Clelia II, believed to be controlled by Lindos Maritime of Piraeus, recently underwent a €13m ($21m) refurbishment involving technical enhancements and upgraded environmental systems.

War risk zone extended due to piracy threat

LONDON-based underwriters have extended massively the area of the Indian Ocean in which war risk insurance is required, as the threat of piracy spreads.

Ukraine leads move to step up anti-piracy measures

THE INTERNATIONAL community is stepping up the fight against piracy, with Ukraine set to assign special forces troops to ship-protection duties in the Gulf of Aden and France promising to share anti-piracy expertise with Malaysia.