05

Coastal shipping to the rescue of Cairns

by Rob McKay 10:58AM, 05 Feb 2009

Fortescue and Bocimar settle contract dispute

by Lloyd's List in London 10:59AM, 05 Feb 2009

ATSB finds deficiencies in MSC Lugano incident

by Sam Collyer 10:59AM, 05 Feb 2009

Delays at Newcastle highlight learning curve

by Daniel O'Leary 10:59AM, 05 Feb 2009

Truck sales down in January

by Lauren Lewis 10:59AM, 05 Feb 2009

Qantas Freight records slight fall in the interim

by Rob McKay 10:59AM, 05 Feb 2009

AUSMEPA develops coastal conservation education

by Lauren Lewis 10:59AM, 05 Feb 2009

BORDER WATCH

A cup full of heroin

Derailments block major West Australian lines

Australia's east-west rail line should now be repaired after an unpleasant episode for the freight mode late last week.

Golden rule guide to riding risk and spreading the load

If the golden rule of investment is to spread risk, then perhaps the golden rule of shipping is to spread both your load and your risk.

Heatwave stops Melbourne and Adelaide docks

Ships were held at container terminals in Melbourne and Adelaide last week when workers exposed to the sun ceased operations.

Honours for shipping and transport

Shipping and transport professionals have again featured in the Australia Day honours list, with one industry leader claiming the recognition was proof the sector was increasing its influence in Australian society.

Lead carbonate transport arrangement sealed in WA

Western Australian environment minister Donna Faragher gave Magellan Metals the go-ahead this week to export lead carbonate concentrate through the port of Fremantle.

Local DP World boost

DP World recorded a 10% rise in throughput for the region that includes Australia, the terminal operator said last week.

Maldon-Dombarton line study leaves the station

Port Kembla Port Corporation chief Dom Figliomeni said the pre-feasibility study for the Maldon-Dombarton rail line was continuing as planned.

New IR laws could send commercial shipping offshore

The commercial shipping industry could be forced to move offshore if the Federal Government's new industrial relations laws were applied, according to the Australian Shipowners Association (ASA).

Old firm steps up to future

Port transport and services firm L.Arthur is in the midst of transforming and upgrading its operation in the port of Melbourne.

Parcelling up a nice little niche out west

The last two years have been a difficult time to be in bulk grain shipping, particularly for those whose business is in Australia.

Patrick strike evokes `dark age' memories

Last week's snap strike at Patrick Stevedore's Port Botany terminal was reminiscent of the disastrous industrial action which crippled trade in the late 20th century, said Shipping Australia chief Llew Russell.

Ship lines are silent research partners

It is not the sort of thing most shipping lines will advertise when they want more of their customers' containers to be loaded on their ships.

Stevedores still taking care of shipside - SAL

Sydney stevedores would be keeping their eyes on key performance indicators in contracts with shipping lines when restructuring their businesses to better cater for roadside operations, Shipping Australia Limited (SAL) said last week.

Technology

Scientists have set up a network of 3,000 “futuristic, 1.5 metre-tall ocean robots” that simultaneously measure all of the world's oceans.

TradeCoast appoints new GM

Brisbane's port and airport manager Australia TradeCoast has appointed a new general manager.

Trial sets Sydney for shake up

Sydney Ports Corporation will begin detailed monitoring of Port Botany's landside operation from February 16 as part of the first of three trials for the port.

Why today's finance system was made for yesterday's economies

Leaving aside for the moment the complicated issues connected with the valuing of complex financial devices, it appears that their overall impact on the global financial crisis has been exaggerated.

Fortescue lowers ore expectations

Fortescue Metals Group said it expected iron ore production of 23.8m tonnes for the first six months of 2009, taking the output target for the full fiscal year to a downwardly revised 39m tonnes, Lloyd's List reports.

LNG projects tighten markets

Prospects for new liquefied natural gas projects being given the go-ahead in the next two years could lead to tight markets beyond 2013.

Richards Bay faces further delays

Australia's major coal export rival, Richards Bay Coal Terminal in South Africa, had last week suffered a further setback in its plan to turn around declining volumes.

Utah Pt deal signals high mark for M&CC

Perth coastal building firm Marine & Civil Construction was enjoying its latest port contract late last month but keeping a weather eye on dark economic clouds on the horizon.

Underwriters see no light in near future

Marine insurance industry leaders have warned underwriters that the knock-on effect from the “devastating” global economic and seatrade downturn could last into 2011.

Chinese ports chart new era of single-digit growth figures

Initial port figures have signalled the beginning of the decline of China's double-digit throughput growth era.

Diversion plans hope for Nemo to go via Cape

CMA CGM could be about to divert its Nemo service from Australia around southern Africa rather than transit the Suez Canal.

Dutch owners call for official pirate courage

Dutch shipowners have slammed the government over its inaction in protecting its merchant fleet from piracy and urged that a navy frigate be sent to Gulf of Aden as soon as possible.

Engine maker faces crisis on orderbook

Wrtsil, one of the largest ship engine makers, faces losing up to E800m (US$1bn) of its existing orderbook to cancellations.

Japan's big three issue grave profit warnings

Japan's top three operators all reported disappointing results and issued revised profit forecasts for the year-ending March 31, 2009.

MSC joins Cape move to avoid costly canal route

Mediterranean Shipping Co is the latest container line to re-route ships heading from Europe to Asia round the Cape of Good Hope in order to avoid the expensive Suez Canal.

Suez traffic down 50%, says agency

The number of vessels transiting the Suez Canal is down by almost half on normal volumes, according to a prominent local ship agency.

Asia piracy less visible but still real concern

With the Gulf of Aden proving to be the hot spot for piracy during 2008, the spotlight moved away from the traditional Asian danger areas.

Boom falls on alumina carrier

The vessel used to test Fortescue Metals Group's iron ore shiploading equipment last year has been damaged in South Africa.

Danger money is revised as new sea lanes take effect

Shipowners and maritime unions have changed the small print of the deal under which many seafarers are entitled to double pay danger money for serving in the piracy-prone Gulf of Aden, following the introduction of a new transit lane system from last Sunday, Lloyds List reported.