INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Raft of US green legislation is about to make its impact felt

Coast Guard and environmental watchdog push for greater regulation of ships within US waters, reports JERRY FRANK

New life for lighter ships

Composite materials could cut fuel consumption, make ships greener and boost cargo capacity, reports CRAIG EASON

Non-tank’ owners urged to respond

SEPARATELY, the US Coast Guard has proposed that owners and operators of non-tank vessels prepare and submit oil spill non-tank vessel response plans (NTVRPs).

Lass is ready to hit the market

THE FIRST phase of Lass, the lightweight construction applications at sea project, has resulted in three of the participating companies forming an alliance to try to market the possibilities in the maritime industry.

ASA backs emissions plan

A CAP-and-trade system for global shipping will be both consistent and compatible with other carbon emission schemes, a conference in Melbourne has heard.

Industry push to retain IMO leadership on CO2 reduction

A DIPLOMATIC charm offensive is under way to convince governments that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) should be entrusted with the overriding responsibility for reducing the shipping industry’s carbon dioxide emissions.

CMA CGM silent over reported debt deal

A FRENCH press report has claimed that container line operator CMA CGM was looking for a one-year moratorium on debt repayments as one of a number of options for extricating itself from its current financial difficulties

Chinese yards to halve orderbook

CHINESE shipyards could see the volume of new orders plummet by 50% over the next five years as overcapacity in the merchant fleet, coupled with the weak global economy, takes its toll on shipbuilders, the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) has predicted.

Iron ore demand will not save dry bulk sector from new lows

MAJOR Asian dry bulk owners and operators have warned that the worst is yet to come for the market as an onslaught of newbuildings enter the fleet, outstripping demand.

OOIL leads box lines through the storm

Chairman calls for cooperation between rivals even as antitrust exemptions come under fire, writes Tom Leander

China, India could save dry bulk, says Fortis

ABOUT 40% of the world’s outstanding dry bulk orderbook might never be delivered, Fortis Bank has said.

STX Pan Ocean signs 25-year, US$6bn Vale ore carrier deal

STX Pan Ocean said last week it would tie up eight very large ore carriers (VLOCs) to perform the largest consecutive voyage contract in shipping’s history.

Further container rate rises unlikely this year despite uptick, says Cosco

CHINA Cosco Holdings, the listed arm of China Ocean Shipping (Group), said its container business had seen some recovery in freight rates, but was unsure there would be further increases.

Graincorp confident on revised terminal plan

GRAINCORP is confident that its revised port terminal plan submitted to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) last week will satisfy the competition watchdog’s requirements.

Ukraine president calls for UN anti-piracy centre

THE UNITED Nations should lead the fightback against piracy in the Gulf of Aden as existing efforts to tackle the problem are insufficient, the president of Ukraine told the UN General Assembly in New York last week.

Chinese ports reveal a volume recovery

VOLUME throughput figures at China’s top container ports are suggesting the first signs of a recovery.

Russia set to pursue port expansion

RUSSIA is determined to go ahead with a raft of port projects to increase cargo handling capacity despite the current adverse economic conditions.

Political stability is key to Somali solution

THE continuing epidemic of piracy attacks off of the Horn of Africa cannot be fully eradicated until a stable government is established in Somalia, according to the Judge Advocate General of the US Coast Guard.

Signs good as Rotterdam Rules debut . . .

MARITIME industry groups have welcomed the official debut of the Rotterdam Rules as 15 countries, including the US, put pen to paper at the official signing ceremony for the new cargo liability regime last week.

. . . but long-time critics blast ‘low’ sign-up launch

EUROPEAN shippers have questioned the level of international support for the new Rotterdam Rules maritime liability convention, with the ink barely dry after last week’s ceremonial signing by 16 nations.