Weekly edition 3 May

Mixed reaction to Melbourne dock plan but fast implementation looks likely

AN EXPRESSIONS of interest (EOI) process for the right to operate the proposed new Webb Dock container terminal is expected later this year.

Maritime college emerges from controversy and sets sail for future with experienced educator at the helm

AUSTRALIAN Maritime College chairman Dr Michael Vertigan has spoken of his vision for the nation’s premier maritime training centre in the years to come.

New report casts shadow over Gladstone dredging

While earlier concerns over sickness in marine life in Gladstone harbour appear to have been put to rest by a positive government report, a recently released independent research paper raises some tough questions and has reopened the debate, reports Sineva Toevai

FWA rejects Qube claim of unprotected industrial action on Melbourne docks

STEVEDORING company QUBE Ports suffered a defeat recently when its application for a ‘stop-order’ against the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) was dismissed by Fair Work Australia.

South Australia debates price of port regulation

SOUTH Australia’s Essential Services Commission (ESCOSA) is undertaking a five-yearly review into its regulation of six key South Australian ports. The regulation comes in the form of two regimes: the Ports Pricing Regime and the Ports Access Regime.

China yard to deliver up to 10 valemaxes this year

CHINA Rongsheng Heavy Industries says it is on schedule to deliver up to 10 valemaxes this year and that its buyers have not requested delays, hitting back at media reports that Brazilian mining giant Vale had asked the yard to slow its schedules.

Oman Shipping VLOCs strengthened after valemax scare

FOUR very large ore carriers under construction for Oman Shipping for long-term charter to Brazilian miner Vale have received added strengthening since last year’s damage to Vale Beijing, it has been confirmed.

Boxship capital inflows ‘illogical’ conference told

CONTAINER lines should fund their own investments and not rely on third-party resources, a senior industry executive advised days after Evergreen Line confirmed plan to charter a fleet of 13,800 teu newbuildings rather than order them outright.

California dreaming in ports reborn

MOST outsiders associate Los Angeles with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the luxury homes of the stars hidden in the canyons overlooking Malibu beach.

Seafarers’ champion dies

THE REVEREND Tom Heffer, secretary general of the Mission to Seafarers, has died.

Concerns over low-sulphur shipping fuel

FUEL quality problems could increase as shipowners are forced to use bunkers with lower sulphur content in the future.

Artificial islands to support West Africa iron ore exports

WEST Africa’s accelerating demand for scarce and expensive new port capacity to feed a commodities boom now has a radical engineering alternative: offshore island ports that can handle vessels up to 400,000 dwt.

Indian miners call for cut in tax on iron ore

THE INDIAN mining industry is fighting back against a recent export tax hike that has delivered a devastating blow to the country’s iron-ore exports and to dry bulk trade opportunities.

Prospects dim for Japan LNG imports

LIMITS to capacity at gas plants in Japan will cap the country’s use of liquefied natural gas this year, dampening the prospect of significant increases in LNG imports by ship.

Ripples contained as key player departs

The unexpected withdrawal of one of the stalwarts of the South East Asia trade has been the highlight of an otherwise stable, if underwhelming, year, reports DALE CRISP

High tonnage turnover but little major change

NO NEW mainline container services have appeared since the 2010 arrival of the SAL group and the past 12 months has been characterised only by what might be termed ‘internal realignments’ at Triple A and ASA.

Let the blame game begin

Box lines have lived to regret last year’s rate war madness, reports JANET PORTER

Alliances form new backbone of box trades

FOR ALL the talk in recent years about the need for more consolidation in the container trades, the chances of any further merger and acquisition activity in the foreseeable future appear to be receding.

Hamburg Süd boardroom shuffle brings in new blood

GERMANY’s second largest container carrier saw a shake up to its management board when Hamburg Süd vice-chairman Joachim Konrad retired at the end of last month.

Casualty briefs 3 May 2012

Maritime

Royal Caribbean chief backs cruise industry to ride out casualties

THE COSTA Concordia and other recent cruise ship casualties will have no long-term effect on the industry, according to Royal Caribbean chairman and chief executive Richard Fain.

Investigation as shooting video goes viral

THE VIDEO of armed guards shooting at a pirate skiff recently has gone viral. The incident may end in a criminal prosecution.

Sharp decline in lending shows depth of shipping industry woes

LENDING to shipowners plunged precipitously in the first three months of this year, with loan volumes dropping 68%, compared to the final quarter of 2011, to just US$5.8bn, according to data compiled by Dealogic.

Stolt Nielsen profits pegged back by chemical tanker division

A POOR performance from its chemical tanker division has dramatically hit the first-quarter results of Oslo-listed Stolt Nielsen.

Maersk Line resumes Europe-Asia bookings

MAERSK Line has resumed normal bookings for northern Europe-Asia container shipping services, ending its stoppage earlier than originally expected after around four weeks.

Exmar orders eight medium LPG carriers

BELGIAN gas shipping specialist Exmar is to expand its fleet and has ordered up to eight medium gas carriers designed to meet tough future environmental legislation.

Panamax and cape rates diverge to 10-month high

AVERAGE panamax bulk carrier rates are US$5284 higher than capesize rates, at US$11,882 per day versus US$6598, marking the greatest gap between prices paid for the two vessel classes since mid-June last year.

Capesize market struggles to recover

CAPESIZE rates have come off mildly last week from the previous period, in a sign that the market is struggling to recover from the lows seen since the beginning of 2012.

Box lines: united they stand

The sheer scale of industry losses has forced Asia-Europe carriers to close ranks, reports DIMITRIS MOROCHARTZIS

Lloyd’s List view

Intra-Asia catch-up

Bunkering essentials, and not only for ships’ masters

Standard P&I Club guide is packed with vital information on refuelling, writes MICHAEL GREY

Darwin Port upgrades on the tourism front

AN $18M refurbishment of Stokes Hill Wharf at the port of Darwin has recently increased recreation opportunities for the city’s locals and tourists.

This week in maritime history

40 years ago today – P&O christens Spirit of London

The Grill

This week’s subject of The Grill is Geoff Rose of Hetherington Kingsbury Shipping in Adelaide. Geoff sat down with Lloyd’s List Australia’s OLIVER PROBERT to talk of The Eagles, Justin Bieber and the future of Australian shipping.