Weekly Edition 19th August

Reefer cargos could increase owing to WTO ruling

INCREASED volumes of reefer cargos, most likely containerised cargos of food, will be the likely result of a recent decision of the World Trade Organisation.

First of Smit’s Gladstone tugs on the way

SMIT Koongo, the first of five new tugs for Smit Marine Australia’s (SMA) towage contract in the port of Gladstone, sailed from Izmit in Turkey on Monday and is expected in Queensland in late October.

Port of Hastings integration in the balance

ELECTORAL and political issues have made uncertain any integrated future of the small port of Hastings on Victoria’s Westernport Bay with the port of Melbourne.

News in Brief

 

Minister vows change on tax and training

FEDERAL transport minister Anthony Albanese’s policy announcement at the Australian Shipowners Association lunch in Melbourne last Friday (see story front page), would greatly alter shipping companies tax and training situation.

Industry reacts to master plan

TAX CHANGES aimed at rebuilding the Australian maritime industry will succeed or fail depending on how they are implemented, shipping industry figures say.

Albanese unveils broad range of shipping policies

ANTHONY Albanese, the current federal transport minister, has vowed that the Gillard administration will introduce a wide range of policies to revitalise the Australian shipping industry.