SPECIAL REPORT

Federal Government acts to bring all maritime law under one roof

THE FEDERAL Government has moved to consolidate its maritime enforcement powers under a single act.

Innovative lifeboat set to make waves

A FORMER Danish seafarer says he has revolutionised the launch process of the modern enclosed lifeboat.

Shipping security under fire at union congress

THE PIRACY upsurge exposes the “appalling” state of shipping security, which would not be permitted in other transport sectors, an officers’ union leader told the British Trades Union Congress conference in Liverpool last week Mark Dickinson, general secretary of Nautilus International, said that seafarers remained “out of sight, out of mind” for most people and that their safety accordingly took a back seat.

Thriving on diversity

EVEN in the darkest economic times, the New South Wales Government can still count on the port of Newcastle to deliver a bright light in an otherwise dark tunnel.

Gas and sand are prospects for the future

THE NEWCASTLE Port Corporation still considers it early days, but there is no doubting the interest being shown in using Australia’s oldest commercial export harbour for one of the country’s fastest-growing energy trades.

New pilot vessel to cost $2.5m

NEWCASTLE Port Corporation will spend $2.5m replacing its 20-year-old pilot boat, E C Close, with a new aluminium cutter.

Local stevedore staves off gloom

GEOFF Beesley can be a hard man to pin down for a chat.

Success in tender would mean new berth for Newcastle Stevedores

NEWCASTLE Stevedores is positioning itself for a tilt at finally having its own berth at the port of Newcastle after 12 years operating in various locations around the harbour.

BHP slips last link into troubled coal chain

WITH one holstered pen, the world’s biggest mining company had held the world’s biggest coal export chain to ransom. Or so its rivals felt.