NATIONAL NEWS

ACCC parks ports case

THE CURIOUS and controversial case of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) legal action over the formation of Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT) looks soon to be resolved.

Sky is the limit for container automation in Brisbane

WORLD CLASS: Patrick showcases one of its new automated straddles introduced as part of its $125m AutoStrad facility at Brisbane’s Berth 10. The 39 ha facility, said to be the world’s first fully-automated marine container terminal, has 900 metres of quay length and will have capacity for 800,000 teu a year.

ABB lends Adelaide Brighton a helping hand

ABB Grain has stepped in to help Adelaide Brighton Cement maintain continuity of limestone shipments from its Yorke Peninsula mine.

Trucking tension building

TRANSPORT Certification Australia (TCA) has sought to rebut comments by road haulage peak bodies highlighting weaknesses in the implementation of intelligent access in New South Wales and Queensland.

Truce called as WA grain goes back onto rail with cash pledge

AUSTRALIA’S biggest grain handler, CBH Group, is relieved that it can put its grain back on Western Australia’s rail network after the reopening of four lines suspended by WestNet Rail on June 15.

Toll marching forward with big contract and acquisitions

TOLL sealed a three-year, $180m logistics deal with Chevron Australia to manage the Barrow Island supply base and logistics services operation for the Gorgon Project, the acquisitive logistics firm revealed this week. The Greater Gorgon gas fields are Australia’s largest-known gas resource and contain about 40trn cu ft of gas.

ANL’s arresting move on partner’s vessels

ANL Container Line’s Singapore subsidiary has taken the unusual step of arresting two ships owned by its AAX consortium partner, PT Djakarta Lloyd (Persero), over unpaid slot charter bills.

Energy agency slashes oil forecast

THE International Energy Agency has slashed its forecast for global oil demand growth because of the worldwide economic recession.

Woodchip exporters happy with benchmark price

AUSTRALIAN woodchip exporters have sealed a benchmark price with Japan at the current rate, ITC Limited chief executive Vince Erasmus said this week.

Local insurers wary of financial flu

PROVIDERS of Australian marine insurance have their work cut out in the next six months as they look to minimise the impact of the global financial crisis, according to Associated Marine Insurance Agents, a unit of Zurich Financial Services.

WA port mergers off despite political barbs

WESTERN Australia put the mooted super-port authority for the Pilbara firmly on the back burner last week – but did not reject it outright.

Norton Rose and Deacons Australia agree to merge

INTERNATIONAL law firm Norton Rose has announced it will join forces with Deacons Australia in a major move to boost its position in the Asia Pacific region.

Coal trucks to get full access to Port Kembla

TRUCKS are now free to move coal and bulk goods to Port Kembla Coal Terminal 24-hours a day, seven-days a week after the New South Wales Government removed a 27-year-old curfew.

Tasmanian rail freight back on track

TASMANIA’S north-south rail line opened to freight last week with the completion of track repairs following a May derailment in the Rhyndaston area.

Asia’s thermal coal demand falls for first time in a decade

ASIAN demand for imported thermal coal will wane for the first time in 10 years on reduced power consumption in key importing nations, an Australian government forecast has shown.

Iron ore, grain exports tipped for big increase

IRON ORE exports are poised to rise as miners such as Fortescue Metal Group ramp up their production, according to the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARE) June quarter commodities report.

Half Qantas 787 fleet slashed

QANTAS has denied any connection between design flaws and delays to Boeing’s 787 and its decision last week to postpone or cancel delivery of almost half its original order of the new aircraft.