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Pacific Adventurer bunkers threaten beaches

by Rob McKay 10:22AM, 12 Mar 2009

Trio to gain flexible road fatigue scheme go-ahead

by Rob McKay 10:22AM, 12 Mar 2009

Rio and Xstrata take cuts of thermal coal contracts

by Daniel O'Leary 10:22AM, 12 Mar 2009

Schenker wins award for best industry practices

by Daniel O'Leary 10:22AM, 12 Mar 2009

Federal Government looks to invest in WA

by Daniel O'Leary 10:22AM, 12 Mar 2009

Victorian Truck Optimisation Plan unveiled next week

by Rob McKay 10:22AM, 12 Mar 2009

Chinese exports down 25%, rates unsustainable

by Lloyd's List in London 10:22AM, 12 Mar 2009

Queensland sigh of relief as Hamish blows out

Some of the nation's largest coal ports reopened this week as cyclone Hamish dissipated out to sea after lashing the Queensland coast.

Training overhaul on track

“Significant progress” has been made towards updating the convention covering standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers, according to International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos.

Truckers welcome SA stops

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has applauded a decision to build 13 truck rest areas in South Australia.

Victorians channel bad blood via ports body

If there was one thing to take out of submissions to the Essential Services Commission's (ESC) Victorian ports regulation review, it might be that Geelong still feels bullied by Melbourne over shared channel charges.

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A time to bunker down

Australia's trade and transport-related employers are well-advanced in efforts to trim staff numbers and rein in unnecessary spending as the global economic downturn hits revenue.

Activists watching animal vessel

With the livestock carrier Al Messilah off Western Australia early this week making animal sewerage improvements, anti-live export activists can be expected to keep the spotlight on her in the hope of disrupting the trade.

ARA chair focus on freight

Australian Rail Track Corporation chief executive David Marchant (ARTC) has been named the new chairman of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA).

Bosses avoid shedding staff

Recruitment firm Manpower has lit a candle amid the gloomy outlook for jobs in transport and utilities, if only a small one.

Change game as boxships take breakbulk jobs

Containerships such as the Concord are finding alternative breakbulk work as they seek to flee the desperate conditions in the container market, reports Ralph Witthohn.

Crew crisis fed by piracy and red tape

Current economic conditions may lead to an easing of the global crewing shortage but is unlikely to eliminate it, according to Arthur Todd, fleet director at UK marine services company James Fisher.

Crushed seafarer dies

The Australian seafarer crushed during a cruise ship safety drill last month, has died of his injuries, the New Zealand press reported on Tuesday.

Findings of first Botany trial released this week

Sydney Ports is analysing the data of the first Port Botany Landside Improve-ment Trial and its findings were to be presented to an industry briefing yesterday.

Fox calls for another $10bn in stimulus

Australian transport heavyweight Lindsay Fox wants the Federal Govern-ment to invest a further $10bn in infrastructure projects.

Highway use set to rise 50%

The Bureau of Infra-structure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has forecast a 50% increase in highway use in the next 20 years compared with 2005, federal transport minister Anthony Albanese revealed this week.

Infrastructure report points to big changes

When the federal infrastructure and transport minister says a report “reflects the views of our very best and brightest”, the industry is behoved to take notice of what it says.

Planners to plot new course for Fremantle

Future expansion of Fremantle Port will be guided by an expert group appointed last week by the Western Australian Government.

Ports violating access: Farmers

The New South Wales Farmers' Association (NSW FA) is concerned about difficulties transporting grain to port this year.

Aussie drop of wine volume as market signals bulk-up

The volume of Australian wine exports fell 5% to 709m litres compared with February 2008, the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation said last week.

CBH revises its grain allocation

Western Australia's main grain handler, CBH, is revising its shipping allocation system because of a backlog of grain which is clogging the network.

China's steel output still set to outstrip its rivals

Howe Robinson has forecast Chinese steel production to rise 5% in 2009.

Mining earnings in reverse ahead of farm export boom

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) has revised its forecasts for Australia's commodity exports in 2009/10 with contrasting assessments of the resources and agricultural sectors.

Vietnamese yards: can they survive the global downturn?

Vietnamese shipbuilding has attracted a lot of attention over the last few years for taking advantage of the tight capacity in major shipbuilding nations and breaking into the international export market.

Breaking Even

This time last year, breakers yards across the Indian subcontinent were struggling to remain open, as owners kept their ageing ships operating at the height of the shipping cycle, refusing to send them on their final journey.

Vessels `ignoring' security

A significant proportion of vessels entering the pirate-infested waters off the coast of Somalia are still not taking adequate security measures.

Kuehne+Nagel: volumes to fall

Kuehne+Nagel, the world's number one sea freight forwarder, is predicting further cargo falls across the spectrum of ocean, air and land logistics in 2009 after posting a 3% rise in turnover to SFr21.6bn (US$18.3bn) for 2008.

Bloated bulker orderbook `disastrous'

The world's bloated bulk carrier orderbook “spells disaster” for shipping markets and could produce “a wave of destruction for banks to rival the subprime crisis”, one of London's most respected shipbrokers has forecast.

Boskalis still eyes Smit

Smit Internationale chief executive Ben Vree is certain Boskalis' acquisition attempt is not yet over.

Boxship lay-ups accelerate

More than 10% of the global containership fleet, or 453 ships, are now unemployed, latest statistics reveal, as lines cancel services and remove vessels from trade routes.

Container lines facing 2009 loss of US$32bn

Container lines face a combined loss this year of US$32bn if conditions remain as they are.

Greenpeace tries to block nuclear cargo

Environmental organisation Greenpeace was trying to drum up opposition to the departure of a shipment of nuclear fuel from the French port of Cherbourg to Japan last week.

India bids bar on all ports

The Indian government has cited national security considerations for its instruction to the 12 major port trusts in the country to exclude bidders from the United Arab Emirates when awarding port projects.

Maersk battens down hatches

Maersk Line, the world's largest containership operator, is expected to suffer another loss this year — after returning to the black in 2008 — as volumes decline and the outlook for rates is “extremely negative”.

One-stop package of piracy insurance

London marine brokers and security consultants have put together a novel one-stop insurance product to safeguard shipowners in their fight against global piracy

Qingdao Port plans expansion

Qingdao Port Group (QPG) is targeting a 5% increase in cargo throughput this year, and will spend Yuan3bn (US$438m) to expand port facilities.

Salvage costs rocket

Wreck removal costs following maritime casualties are spiralling out of control, members of the International Salvage Union heard last week.

Liability net `must be widened'

International Registries Inc managing partner Clay Maitland has called for a greater spread of liability for damages for maritime accidents, including third parties like bankers, classification societies and brokers.

Pirates attack boxship with grenades

Pirates in the Gulf of Aden took advantage of a window of good weather at the start of last week, with at least two confirmed attacks.

Recruitment on hold: but training is still shining

The profound link between trade and the economy is so tight and symbiotic that its arms and related organisations are usually the first to take a hit from the declining financial sector.

Survey finds steady supply of candidates

Recruitment and training dominated the Australian Maritime College's biennial Maritime Transport Forum (MTF) last month like no other issue.

Trainers set sights on recovery

While unemployment rises quickly as the economy declines, it's usually the first thing to spring back when things start to recover.

AFIF wants degree-level recognition for forwarders

Calling all school leavers and freight people.

Captain Bill saw Australian opportunities for shipping

Former ANL chairman Captain William “Bill” Bolitho will be remembered for his indefatigable efforts to both reform and preserve Australian shipping.

Panama resists pressure for cut in tolls

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has shrugged off calls for a cut in tolls to transit the 82-km waterway, but promised to engage with the industry to find ways to improve services for shipowners feeling the heat of the global economic crisis.