Weekly edition 8 September

Empty boxes going online

AN ONLINE booking system aimed at ensuring greater efficiency at Melbourne empty container parks (ECPs) will begin operations today.

Government export credit, insurance activities subject of new probe

TRADE minister Craig Emerson and the assistant treasurer, Bill Shorten, have announced an inquiry by the Productivity Commission into the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.

Inland container port proposed for Hamilton

A new 28-hectare inland port, capable of holding more than one million containers, has been proposed for New Zealand’s north island.

Shipyard appeals court compo decision

A FAR north Queensland shipyard is appealing a Federal Court decision to dismiss its multi-million dollar lawsuit against its insurer.

Cruise sector warns of world boom, importance of forward planning

A PUSH to build a new $60m cruise facility at White Bay should be reconsidered, according to a speaker at this year’s Cruise Down Under conference held in Newcastle recently.

Engineers fail to retrieve lost pay after protected work ban

AN APPLICATION by the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE), to lessen the payment-reduction to its engineers during industrial action, has been dismissed.

NSW rolls out Pt Botany disposal to fund roads

THE NEW South Wales Government has decided to lease Port Botany for 99 years to fund an upgrade of the state’s roads.

Forklift tragedy in Sydney

WORKCOVER New South Wales is investigating an accident at stevedore Patrick’s Port Botany terminal late last week.

Caltex to triple bitumen capacity

CALTEX Australia will look to make about one shipment of bitumen a month to Sydney to service the new bitumen import facility, a spokesman said.

TSA revenue index to support longer deals

A NEW freight rate index to be published by major transpacific container lines for the first time will provide a benchmark that can be used by carriers and shippers to negotiate long-term contracts.

Boxship owners shaken by MSC bargain charter

THE containership charter market has been shocked by a major carrier taking a modern 5000 teu vessel at an ultra-low rate.

China steel mills use local ore

CHINESE steel production has been hovering around record levels for months, but iron ore imports are yet to follow suit.

China’s largest coal producer reports increasing volumes

CHINA Shenhua Energy, one of the country’s largest coal and energy groups, reported a dramatic increase in coal production in July that reflects a growing trend of domestic volumes being shipped and consumed within China.

Markets this week 8 September 2011

Capesize rates look to maintain their upward push

Inquiry to measure fitness for future

NEW ZEALAND’S Productivity Commission is carrying out an enquiry into the nation’s freight transport services.

Cautious welcome for freight probe

Organisations are preparing submissions for the New Zealand Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the nation’s freight transport services, reports RHIANNON ZANETIC

Ports appear to prosper in strong year

IT HAS been a successful year for New Zealand trade ports, with many reporting a boost in volumes.

Tauranga sees record and gears up for growth

NEW Zealand’s Tauranga Port has recorded annual container trade growth of 15%, handling 590,506 teu compared with 511,343 teu in 2010.

Not just for the dedicated

It’s been almost 15 years since the demise of union agreements that saw the two-way trans-Tasman trade preserved for Australian and NZ-manned ships. As DALE CRISP reports, despite dire predictions at the time, dedicated services remain and prosper, integrated with a huge range of cross-traders.

More for the mix

2011 HAS been noteworthy so far for the number of new Australasian services that incorporate trans-Tasman legs, adding to the competition on existing links and introducing some interesting port pairs.

Thoresen Thai unveils its dry bulk shake-up

BANGKOK-listed Thoresen Thai Agencies (TTA) has announced a set of sweeping organisational changes aimed at cutting costs and building a leaner dry bulk business in view of deteriorating environment for shipping.

Japan downgrade threatens top three shipping carriers

RATING agency Moody’s decision to cut Japan’s long-term sovereign credit debt rating fromAa2 to Aa3 due to worries over Japan’s government deficit and borrowing will not have a direct impact on the ratings of the big three Japanese shipping groups or other maritime companies such as shipbuilders.

Smaller ships will give it the edge says Evergreen

EVERGREEN Marine remains convinced its strategy of limiting ship sizes to below10,000 teu is the correct one that will pay dividends in the long run.

Deregulation hint for Indian dry bulk deals

INDIA has hinted at possible liberalisation of protectionist rules that force nationalised steelmakers to use state monopoly shipbroker Transchart and instead allow them to place two-thirds of their business wherever they like.

Casualty briefs 8 September 2011

Maritime

WSC survey slashes container numbers lost at sea

THE NUMBER of containers lost at sea each year is far lower than generally thought, with the annual average running into hundreds rather than thousands.

Hong Kong shipowners targeted by fraudsters

HONG KONG Shipowners Association (HKSOA) has urged members to exercise caution when dealing with individuals purporting to represent the Chinese Government or mainland media – but whose real aim is fraud.

PIL uses Singapore sale form

PACIFIC International Lines (PIL) has used the Singapore Ship Sale Form for the purchase of two container vessels in June, in a move set to boost the new model.

Japan’s efficiency investment strategy starting to pay off

THE POLITICS of greenhouse gas emission reduction may still be centre stage within the International Maritime Organization, but the quietly pragmatic response from Japan has already started to bear fruit.

Short history lesson that is well worth learning

Longevity of claims agent WK Webster, now in its 150th year, has much to teach us, writes MICHAEL GREY

Five years have passed and still the issues linger

AUSTRALIA’S crocodile hunter, fishy nitrate, “sacred cows” and the appointment of a former prisoner to a high-profile position were features of the Lloyd’s List DCN five years ago.

Questions over Vietnam’s LNG port plans

PETRO VIETNAM Gas has received approval to build a US$1bn port that would allow Vietnam to begin importing liquefied natural gas, but analysts doubt whether the project will ever see the light of day and point to a slew of daunting political, financial and economic barriers that must first be overcome.

The Chinese lending noose tightens

China’s tough credit conditions could be root of friction between owners and charterers, reports TOM LEANDER

Time to turn green debate on its head

Shipping is the cleanest form of transportation in the world, when we are green, writes JOHN AC CARTNER*

Banks could turn to Dutch remedy for seizures

Banks can take action against a debtor’s assets in the Netherlands even if the debtor is in liquidation or subject to similar proceedings, writes HACO VAN DER HOUVEN VAN OORDT*