INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Freight forward index shows positive signs

DANSKE Bank’s latest freight forwarder index suggests that a gradual recovery is in sight, at least in Europe.

Panama Canal offers small concessions to pacify lines

THE Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has resisted pressure to postpone a 14% toll increase for the container industry, but has offered timid concessions to its biggest users to demonstrate its “sensitivity to customer needs”.

Hapag-Lloyd cuts working hours

GERMAN container line Hapag-Lloyd will introduce reduced working hours for part of its German staff in May to trim its wage bill.

China ore and coal demand drives rates

CAPESIZE and Pacific panamax rates are set to climb further in the next few weeks as China’s infrastructure engine continues to speed up.

Panama takes swine flu precautions

THE Panama Canal Authority has implemented new measures to help restrict the spread of the H1N1 swine flu virus.

Why the time has come to arm crews

FIREARMS on ships are likely to become more common as the problem of piracy gets worse before improving.

Only the law of the jungle can work for shipbuilding

THE law of the jungle is the only viable way to restore equilibrium to the world shipbuilding industry, which is likely to result in significantly more cancellations and the elimination of several weaker or newer shipyards.

TOO MANY SHIPS

As shipowners struggle with one of the worst downturns the industry has ever experienced and a huge amount of unwanted capacity, competition lawyer Niels Ersbøll (above) asks whether there are legal precedents that would permit co-ordinated action to remove structural surpluses

China key to dry bulk freight rates rebound

SHIPOWNERS and operators highlighted increased reliance on China for any sustained rebound in freight rates for the global fleet of bulk carriers, at first quarter earnings conference calls last week.

Cosco set for 50% plunge

SUBSTANTIAL full-year losses are forecast for China Cosco’s container shipping business after it issued warning that interim profits would dive more than 50%.

South Korea doubles aid package to yards

THE South Korean government is preparing to inject a total Won21trn (US$16.4bn) into the domestic and foreign shipping market this year in an attempt to shore up its ailing shipbuilding industry.

Denmark floats idea of global bunker fuel tax

DENMARK will propose what amounts to the world’s first universal tax at the next session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee.

Maersk warns of dire box outlook

SHIPPING and oil major AP Moller-Maersk told its shareholders last week that its outlook for the container shipping market this year was particularly dire.

Don’t stop the carnival

Australia’s main rival in iron ore exports sees the downturn as an opportunity. Not so long ago, ships were queuing to get into its ports. But the sharply reduced number of ship calls is seen as an ideal chance for port reform. Rainbow Nelson reports from Sao Paulo

US Shipping goes into bankruptcy

US SHIPPING Partners has applied to the US Bankruptcy Court for Chapter 11 protection, one year after first revealing its troubles with lenders.

Khan quits Emirates Shipping

TAIWAN’S TS Lines has teamed up with Emirates Shipping Line in a move that saw TS Lines founder TS Chen take over as chairman of Emirates from Vikas Khan, who resigned from the carrier last week.

Panama Canal maintains steady flow of box traffic

THE Panama Canal has kept up steady levels of containership traffic, with 2.97m teu transiting in the first quarter of 2009, down just 1% on the same period last year.

OOCL faces box fee boycott

SHIPPERS in southern China have threatened to boycott Orient Overseas Container Lines if it goes ahead with plans to introduce a container seal fee this month on shipments from Hong Kong and locations in southern and western China.

Leaving the parley to experts

In matters of life or death, it is no surprise that dealing with pirates is best left to the specialists

Overworked seafarers press for revised code

WHEN seafarers hear someone mention the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), a typical reaction is a resigned shrug of the shoulders.