NATIONAL NEWS

Cutting down to the Swire

SWIRE Shipping will concentrate on its core Australasia-Pacific business after deciding to close its two round-the-world services and cut some 200 of its 550 liner trades staff.

Brisbane escapes NZ-Asia cull

SOUTHBOUND weekly Brisbane calls have survived a major shake-up of New Zealand-North & East Asia services, where three strings are being merged into two due to a substantial fall in NZ imports.

OVSA changes as string pulled

THE OCEANIA Vessel Sharing Agreement (OVSA) has officially abandoned its fortnightly PSW-2 string, the remnant of the old USL/ANL service, between Australia/New Zealand and West Coast North America. The third OVSA string was created last August after the CMA CGM Group joined the OVSA and folded in the hitherto weekly USK/ANL operation.

WA considers u-turn on grain trains

THE WESTERN Australian Government could reconsider a request for a $45m investment into the state’s troubled grain rail network after the closure of four branch lines last week.

Recognition for achievements and success in Australian transport

EXCELLENCE, achievement and endeavour will be recognised at the 14th annual Lloyd’s List DCN Australian Shipping and Transport Awards which will take place on November 26 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

DP World names new chief for Australia

 

BBI faces UK port blow

BABCOCK & Brown Infrastructure (BBI) may have to cut its estimated £450m ($937m) price tag for the north east UK ports and logistics operator, PD Ports.

Petronas secures gas from Gladstone hub

MALAYSIA’S Petronas has sent the strongest signal yet of the viability of plans for a liquefied natural gas hub at Gladstone, signing a deal with Santos that could be worth up to $40bn at current prices.

Rowsthorn welcome to a Brisbane berth

ASCIANO managing director Mark Rowsthorn officially opened Patrick’s Berth 10 Autostrad Terminal in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Australia trumps Brazil in latest round of iron ore export stakes

AUSTRALIA trumped Brazil in 2008 to regain its status as the world’s largest exporter of iron ore.

Track condition contributed to derailment: ATSB

AN INVESTIGATION has found that worn tracks contributed to the derailment of 21 wagons from an Interail Australia freight train in Victoria last year.

Tasmanian Government in rail freight takeover

THE TASMANIAN Government has agreed to assume control of the state’s rail network from Pacific National Tasmania (PNT) by November 30.

Derailments seven times more likely in Tasmania

TASMANIA has seven times the derailment rates of other states and had lost 16% of its freight tonnage in five years, the Tasmanian Auditor-General’s contract management special report revealed last week.

Toll takes on Cambodia’s rail network

AUSTRALIAN logistics services provider Toll Holdings has formed a partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia to operate the country’s rail network.

Classic Maritime takes two Fortescue relets

GEORGE Economou’s Classic Maritime has chartered two capesize vessels from Fortescue Metals Group.

Positive Boeing sees long-term growth in Asia-Pacific air cargo

ANNUAL growth in air cargo traffic will be almost lower than forecast over the next 20 years because of the slump in airfreight which started about two years ago, according to Boeing.

ConocoPhillips replaces rig on Browse project

CONOCOPHILLIPS has contracted the semi-submersible Transocean Legend to drill a well in the Browse basin off Western Australia after a similar Transocean rig was forced to pull out.

Supply chain: the more action, less talk option

RATHER than drumming up more ideas, Australia needs to sit up and start implementing existing strategies to ensure the sustainability of the nation’s supply chain.