NATIONAL NEWS

A bump in the day

THE COST of repairs to the Klein Point pier at Flinders Ports could run into six figures after being hit by a ship on Monday, chief executive Vincent Tremaine said.

Asciano signs big coal deal

ASCIANO has produced a strong card in the midst of its sale negotiations, revealing that it had secured a nine-year haulage deal with Macarthur Coal.

Green fingers: another day at the office for Fox and friends

IT WAS indicative of the clout, as well as the respect that Lindsay Fox enjoys that prime minister Kevin Rudd would agree to open Linfox’s new headquarters at Essendon Airport in Melbourne on last Friday.

When big trucks meet small government

COUNCIL vetoes on local road access for high-productivity vehicles (HPVs) are holding up the introduction of Performance Based Standards vehicles and higher mass limits for trucks.

Shipping in safe hands

THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was gearing up for one of the most challenging periods ever, both for itself and the industry, chief executive Graham Peachey told Lloyd’s List DCN.

Quarantine unchanged

THE AUSTRALIAN Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) said its procedures for vessels and people arriving in Australia would not change, despite the continued threat of swine flu.

DP World ISO first

DP WORLD has claimed an Australian first with the terminal operator announcing last week that it had gained the international standard ISO 28000:2007 certification in supply chain security management at all of its Australian container terminals.

Gindalbie wins green light

THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Authority (EPA) has given conditional clearance for a $1.8bn iron ore project in Western Australia’s mid-west region.

Talk is up for regional ports

AUSTRALIA’S regional ports play a unique and crucial role in ensuring both the survival of the local communities that they occupy and the maintenance of the nation’s economic strength.

Key deal boosts Port Bonython proposal

PROSPECTS for a new Spencer Gulf port have been boosted with terms agreed between the South Australian Government and developer Port Bonython Fuels (PBF) for a fuel hub land purchase.

Airfreight volumes stabilise but remain ‘shockingly low’

GLOBAL freight demand steadied in March thanks to the stabilisation of inventory to ratio sales, the International Air Transport Association has said.

Fortescue shortfalls cause dip

SHARES in Pilbara iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group have dipped in the wake of news the group would not meet its production targets in the first three months of 2009.

Toll establishes Indian foothold with BIC stake

THE TOLL Group’s Asian expansion finally has runs on the board in India, with the start of a purchase process for BIC Logistics announced last Friday.

Deregulate smaller ports – report

A DRAFT report into Victorian port regulation released last Friday has recommended the lifting of regulatory pricing regimes on the state’s commercial ports.

ACCC to scrutinise wheat terminals

THE AUSTRALIAN Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced an inquiry into how port grain terminal operators deal with their wheat customers.