INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Crew competence is still a cause for concern

YEARS ago, and long before the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code had banished the casual caller from port premises, two of us were sitting on a pile of railway sleepers in an East Anglian port watching a small chemical tanker arrive.

Crew training is key to better ship energy use and efficiency

SHIPOWNERS need to be aware of the impact well-trained crews can make on a vessel’s overall efficiency and environmental performance.

Box industry struggles to get out of the doldrums

NEPTUNE Orient Lines posted a 14% recovery in cargo volumes during the month to mid-October, but industry-wide figures contain little to cheer about.

Somali pirates capture ship carrying missiles

SOMALI pirates may now have their hands on short- and medium-range missiles, after the capture of an unnamed vessel laden with weapons on Monday morning, according to private security sources with good connections in the Gulf of Aden.

Maersk asks to rejoin TSA as Pacific deteriorates

LOSSES have soared to such alarming proportions on the container trades between Asia and the US that Maersk Line has asked to rejoin the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) in order to contribute to the search for an industry-wide solution to the deepening crisis.

China acts to boost cruise sector

THE CHINESE Government has launched a slew of concessionary measures to expand the country’s cruise business.

Evergreen earmarks 17 boxships for mothballing

TAIWAN’s Evergreen Marine has confirmed plans to lay up 17 containerships by the end of this year as part of a wide-ranging fleet rationalisation that has already included scrapping older tonnage and returning chartered vessels.

No value seen in private guards

MANY private security guards used by shipowners and managers for anti-piracy duties onboard ships are a waste of money and well-trained seafarers would offer better value, Nick Davis, chairman of the Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre, a non-profit making organisation advising shipping companies, said.

Queensland ports gearing for growth

NORTH Queensland Ports Corporation has been very busy with a number of projects since taking charge of sea port facilities at Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point, Weipa and Maryborough four months ago.

Demand slump for oil, gas puts more rigs into lay-up

DECLINING demand for oil and gas offshore drilling rigs has led to a 35% increase in the number of these rigs laid up around the world since June.

Challenging’ conditions to curb broker

POOR freight rates continue to hamper Clarksons’ broking division, the global shipping service company’s major revenue driver, even though transaction volumes have been maintained or increased over the last four months.

China congestion is pushing up rates

CAPESIZE rates are expected to continue climbing into December as the number of vessels available in the spot market shrinks due to congestion levels rising again at loading and discharge ports.

Container lines need to tighten belts further

CONTAINER lines need to remove more capacity before achieving any sustained recovery in freight rates. That is the warning from Alphaliner after analysing third quarter results published so far which show that the liner shipping industry remains deep in the red.

Rigbuilding helps drive record profit

SINGAPORE shipyard group Sembcorp Marine has racked up a record third-quarter net profit, backed by higher margins from rigbuilding projects.

Vopak will seek notes issue in US

DUTCH tank terminal operator Royal Vopak has said it will issue a further US$680m of unsecured notes in the US private placement market.

Dutch call for level playing field for shipbuilding firms

DUTCH prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende has rejected criticism that his government has been too slow in offering support to the country’s shipbuilding industry.

Maersk chief warns state bailouts pose serious recovery risk

MAERSK Line chief executive Eivind Kolding has warned that state bailouts of shipping lines could delay a very necessary restructuring of the container shipping industry.

Zim rescued after knife-edge vote

ZIM has been hauled back from the brink by a US$550m bailout after a day of high drama.

Coking coal stays strong

CONTINUED strength in China has led to bullish industry sentiment for coking coal.

Eagle Bulk’s wings clipped

SUPRAMAX owner Eagle Bulk Shipping has blamed lower charter rates earned by some of its 25 bulk carriers for a sharp plunge in third quarter profits.