NATIONAL NEWS

Hoping for a bigger lift

SEMI-submersible heavy-lift ship Happy Buccaneer delivered a container crane to Patrick’s terminal at the port of Fremantle on Tuesday. While not as large as the post-panamax crane delivered in 2006, the 918-tonne cargo none-the-less drew the attention of locals as BigLift’s Happy Buccaneer entered the inner harbour. The 13,740 dwt vessel used her own cranes to transfer the cargo to the wharf.

WA grain rail up for grabs

CBH plans to appoint the above-rail operator of grain transportation in Western Australia as soon as May next year.

Kembla arrest mystery

THE DELAYED departure of an Indian-flagged bulk carrier docked in Port Kembla has added weight to speculation that her owners have run into some financial trouble.

Stevedores feel ACCC lash in wake of report

AUSTRALIAN Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Graeme Samuel took up the cudgels against Australia’s stevedoring duopoly again this week, saying its rate of return was double the average of the country’s top 200 listed companies, despite the economic downturn.

Rescuers plunge to deck in helicopter drama

A PARAMEDIC and an Australian Helicopters crewman both suffered multiple injuries when they fell to the deck of the 4112 teu Maersk Duffield on Monday afternoon.

Safe stevedoring targeted in OH&S publications push

SAFE Work Australia has released three safety publications for the stevedoring industry.

Shipping Australia battles Gillard on coastal crews

SHIPOWNER peak body Shipping Australia has locked horns with the federal workplace relations minister, Julia Gillard, over coastal shipping crewing.

Melbourne to update box intelligence

THE MOST accurate picture yet of how containers move through the port of Melbourne should be available to users early next year.

Montara plugged, smouldering after epic battle

FIRE FIGHT: The Montara well head platform (above) photographed from the fire fighting vessel last week during a run to within 200 metres of the burning structures to allow Alert Well Control experts onboard for assessment. The cantilever structure – which previously sat over the well head platform – can be seen buckled over onto the helideck. Flames can be

ll-fated ferry never had a chance

AN INQUIRY has revealed substantial safety failings related to the ferry which sank off the coast of Tonga in August, resulting in the deaths of 74 people.

Acid spill contained on boxship calling at Melbourne

MELBOURNE’S Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) scaled down its response to a sulphuric acid spill in a container on a ship berthed at the Patrick termina on Monday. Part of the terminal was evacuated during the incident.

Setback for Southern Sydney Freight Line

CONSTRUCTION of the Southern Sydney Freight Line has hit a number of design hurdles that will probably delay completion of the network by six months, according to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

Coal congestion powers BDI surge

BULK port congestion along Australia’s east coast and growing demand for coal drove the Baltic Dry Index to its sixth weekly increase last week.

Upgrade raises Newcastle coal capacity

COAL capacity at the port of Newcastle has increased to 113mtpa following the completion of a major part of the $458m upgrade at the Kooragang terminal.

Portland feels chipper as year gets better

A DARK year for Victoria’s Portland port, one that saw two major potential woodchip customers fail in the face of the economic downturn, has turned rosier as it nears its end.

Merger plan achievable says outgoing CBFCA chairman

A MERGER of Australia’s forwarding and customs broking peak bodies would not be easy but was very achievable, outgoing Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA) chairman Darryl Sharp told the council’s annual meeting last Friday.

Toll continues promised expansion by acquiring UAE freight forwarder

TOLL’S global freight forwarding expansion has continued following acquisition of United Arab Emirates (UAE) company Logistic Distribution Systems (LDS) for an undisclosed sum.