NATIONAL NEWS

New entrant on China trade?

DESPITE no signs of a recovery in China-Australia container volumes, a new weekly service could be introduced within a matter of months.

New lease on life after long wait for DP World

DP WORLD is close to securing a new lease to continue operating at Port Botany.

Botany fees up to keep plans on track

SYDNEY Ports Corporation will raise its fees in line with consumer price index (CPI) increases as it battles to ensure it has enough funds for the $1bn Port Botany expansion.

Online extension

LLOYD’S LIST DCN has extended its free online access period until the end of May.

Senate mulls next move on quarantine cost recovery

NON-LABOR senators were waiting on the detail before deciding whether to block quarantine cost recovery moves flagged in this month’s Budget.

Peak bodies in cautious welcome to centralised transport regulations

THE AUSTRALIAN Transport Council gave land transport peak bodies a glimpse of the holy grail of national regulation last Friday.

Port Bonython application in

PORT Bonython Fuels this week lodged a development application with the South Australian Government for the construction and operation of its fuel storage and distribution facility at Port Bonython in the state’s Upper Spencer Gulf.

Cruise delay after swine flu detected

THE CARNIVAL P&O cruise ship, Pacific Dawn, was held in Sydney for several hours on Monday after the company’s screening process returned positive human swine flu tests on two incoming passengers.

Swire speeds up services

SWIRE Shipping’s services shake-up continues apace with changes to its South East Asia-Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands service announced by the line on Monday.

Farmers oppose ABB Grain plan

VITERRA will struggle to win over farmers who control 45% of ABB Grain as it bids $1.6bn to take over the Adelaide agribusiness.

Barge arrives in Newcastle after mishap off coast

A SALVAGE crew was able to secure an unmanned barge drifting in rough conditions off the New South Wales coast at the weekend.

Back to school for trucking talent

QUEENSLAND has launched two freight transport education initiatives this month.

Port Kembla biodiesel plant now one step closer to construction

THE $243m soybean processing and biodiesel production plant at Port Kembla has been granted planning approval, New South Wales lands minister Tony Kelly said last week.

Hunter coal capacity cut

PORT Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) will cut export capacity through the port of Newcastle next month in a bid to reduce the size of the queue off the port.

Key investment down

INVESTMENT in machinery and transport equipment fell in April reflecting an overall decline in imports of overseas goods, the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show.

Independent marine surveyors – and the survival of the species

The changing role of the independent marine surveyor has been forced by the dramatic changes in shipping of the last 15-20 years

Trade logistics industry set to weather the storm

SERVICE providers in international trade logistics and supply chain management, particularly small to medium enterprises face a challenging business continuum with the downturn of international trade.

Grand plan to the rescue

Fishing boats still disappear, fishermen get swept away from their remote Pacific islands and yachtsmen perish

New life for lifeboats

After more than six years of research, the Safecrafts project has developed an innovative new approach to the safe abandonment of ships at sea.