Weekly Edition 18th March 2010

Market opens for China entrants — by Dale Crisp — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

IN A massive vote of confidence in the strength of trade between China and Australia, the CKA consortium is to be significantly boosted through two new members and the introduction of substantially larger ships.

Carpenters set to launch new regional shipping line — by Dale Crisp — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

BACKED by Malaysian conglomerate MBf, a new shipping service linking Asia, Papua New Guinea. the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia will get underway by the end of the week.

Peak bodies to seek empty workaround — by Rob McKay — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THERE were reasons for optimism last week that Melbourne can get past its empty container problems, following the Victorian Transport Association

Lawyers see good case for offshore energy clientele — by Sam Collyer — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

UK LAW firm Norton Rose is planning an Australian hiring frenzy over coming months to follow through on aspirations to be a dominant force in financing and leasing work in the booming mining and offshore energy sectors.

Europe-Oceania recovery holds momentum — by Sam Collyer and — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THERE has been a solid recovery in southbound container volumes into the Australia/Oceania region from Europe, but the region’s export volumes bucked an otherwise positive global growth trend.

Improvement at Patrick Port Botany — by Sineva Toevai — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE TRUCK turnaround time at Patrick’s Port Botany terminal has improved since last year’s excessive waiting periods and queues frustrated the landside logistics industry.

FreightLink set for sale — by Sineva Toevai — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

PREPARATIONS for the sale of Freightlink are well underway and, if all goes according to plan, the owner-operator of the Darwin to Adelaide freight rail line could have a new proprietor by June.

Industry bid for QR a stunt says treasurer — by Sam Collyer — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

A FIERCE debate over the future of Queensland’s bulk haulage tracks intensified at the weekend with the state’s treasurer, Andrew Fraser, accusing the coal industry of undermining the controversial infrastructure sell-off.

Oil spill probe looks to clear confusion on legal framework — by Rob McKay — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

A LEADING maritime law academic has backed the call by safety authorities for a legal underpinning of Australia’s national oil spill plan.

Maersk denies FPSO safety culture is poor — by Rob McKay — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

WHILE admitting shortcomings, Maersk FPSO has rejected the Danish Maritime Authority’s adverse finding on safety culture aboard one of its floating production, storage and offloading vessels. This follows an explosion and fire aboard the Ngujima-Jin off Western Australia last April.

PoMC to keep harbour control in its tower — by Rob McKay — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE PORT of Melbourne Corporation has countered speculation that operations will be moved to headquarters in the city.

Survey: rail tops transport industry confidence meter — by Sam Collyer — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE RAIL sector has emerged as the most optimistic about its sustainability in 2010, although there are signs some global transport companies have seen light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel.

QR shakes up Seafreighter — by Rob McKay — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

QR HAS further rejigged its Seafreighter rail services to the port of Brisbane, with the changes benefiting Gladstone and Bundaberg.

Linfox is green – and going greener still — by Rob McKay — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THERE IS no magic bullet for Linfox in saving fuel and reducing emissions, according to group environment and climate change general manager David McInnes.

Time called on HV licensing — by Sineva Toevai — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE TRUCKING industry will face a skills shortage if Australia’s transport ministers fail to relax the existing licensing system, the Australian Trucking Association said.

Cadets in danger of being marooned — by JOHN MCLAUGHLIN — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

Space is at a premium in today’s pared-down shipping fleet, not least to train the next generation of seafarers. So acute is the problem that the idea of a lifetime career in shipping is under threat, writes JOHN MCLAUGHLIN

Social networks bound to spur sea change at work — by Sam Ignarski — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE RISE of the Web 2.0, otherwise known as social networking, is well under way.

CMA CGM eyes new investors — by Andrew Spurrier Paris — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

FRANCE’S CMA CGM has begun testing the intentions of investors who have expressed interest in providing the fresh capital it needs to restore itself to financial health. According to French reports, the group gave investors until Monday to detail their propositions for investing in the group.

Wilhelmsen eyes emerging markets with new listing — by Craig Eason, Oslo — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

NORWEGIAN shipowner and logistics company Wilh. Wilhelmsen is to restructure itself and offer a new listed company on the Oslo exchange.

Marching forward – Evergreen heading back into the black — by Hui Ching-ho, Hong Kong — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

TAIWAN’S largest container line, Evergreen Marine, expects its business to return to the black in 2010 following net losses of T$2.6bn (US$81.6m) in the third quarter of last year.

Valles Steamship boss Koo dies — by Keith Wallis, Hong Kong — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

HONG Kong’s shipping community is mourning the loss of one of its most venerable figures following the death on the weekend of Koo Kou-ming, head of Hong Kong and Vancouver-based tanker/bulker operator Valles Steamship.

Coming out from the cold — by Sineva Toevai — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE COLD foods transportation services offered by OOCL performed relatively well last year given that the gloomy world economy put a dent in many businesses across the globe.

Asia will bring meat to the table — by Sineva Toevai — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE STRONG Australian dollar and competition in the country’s key export markets for meat will pose challenges for the industry over the short term.

Bleak outlook for future of reeferships — by Michelle Wiese Bockmann — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

PROSPECTS in 2010 remain depressed for the world’s estimated 1,160 reefer vessels, with rates to remain below five-year averages, even though the ageing global fleet is set to shrink further as the eldest are scrapped and little fresh tonnage begins trading.

Why slow steaming may put a spanner in the works for global supply chain — by Roger Hailey, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

BOXSHIP slow steaming may be the current container line response to an imbalance in supply and demand, but a shippers’ think-tank suggests there is no long-term substitute for speed in global supply chains.

Profit surge for bulk fuels specialist Vopak — by Roger Hailey, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

ROYAL Vopak benefited from the rising tide of “robust demand for tank storage services” to record a 20% increase in group operating profit, excluding exceptional items, to €385m ($578m) in 2009.

Sinotrans sets aside fund to expand fleet — by Hui Ching-hoo, Hong Kong — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

CHINESE shipping giant Sinotrans Shipping is planning nearly US$323m of capital expenditure in the next two years, including US$295.4m this year, the company confirmed last week.

UK port volumes dip by10% — by Roger Hailey, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

TOTAL UK port traffic volumes for 2009 fell 10% on 2008 to 494m tonnes, with inbound volumes down 11% and outward traffic declining 7%, according to provisional statistics published by the British Department for Transport (DfT).

US box ports see some signs of import growth — by Janet Porter, Los Angeles — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

US CONTAINER ports are on track to report a 13% growth in inbound volumes this month, with double-digit increases expected to last through the summer as the economy continues to pull out of recession.

China’s new appetite for container imports — by Janet Porter — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

CHINA’S international trade in containerised goods tipped dramatically in favour of imports last year as the deep recession in Europe and the US hit the country’s exports,.

CSCL boss calls for cut in tonnage tax — by Hui Ching-hoo, Hong Kong — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

CHINA Shipping Container Lines chairman Li Shaode has called on the government to reduce taxation on the country’s shipping companies to enhance the competitiveness of the shipping industry.

Yangtze dredging nears completion — by Jim Wilson — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

SHIPS navigating China’s Yangtze river from Shanghai upstream to Jiangsu province are set to benefit following the completion of a Yuan15bn (US$221m) dredging project that will deepen a 92 km channel.

Shift to iron ore spot sales boosts hedging — by Michelle Wiese Bockmann, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

AN ESTIMATED one third of traders in the nascent iron ore swaps market are also trading in dry freight derivatives as part of their risk management strategies.

Analysts cool on North Korea coal hub plan — by Hui Ching-hoo, Hong Kong — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

PLANS by China to take a 10-year lease on the North Korean port of Rajin in an effort to boost coal shipments from China’s northern Jilin province have been met with a muted response from brokers and analysts.

Baltic trial rate aims at paper trades — by Julian Macqueen and Michelle Wiese Bockmann, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

THE BALTIC Exchange has moved to boost its relevance to the fledgling iron ore swaps market, trialling a new voyage rate assessment on a key iron ore shipping route from India to China.

New South Africa coal plan — by Jim Wilson — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

A NEW South African thermal coal export terminal will be built this year at South Dunes near Richards Bay. It could start shipments as early as June. Two junior coal mining companies have been pushing for the new terminal to be built by the National Ports Authority, sources close to the deal said. The new terminal will start at a rate of around 1.2m tonnes per year but this could rise with facility upgrades. If South African state rail operator Transnet Freight Rail cannot provide a rail link British railfreight company Freightliner was willing to partner Transnet to do so, sources said. International coal traders who have been seeking additional South African coal export capacity could take stakes in the terminal and have shown interest. However, exporters and traders shipping from Richards Bay coal terminal, the country’s dominant port with a capacity of over 70m tonnes per year, said they were sceptical that any new terminal would be built at South Dunes.

Chinese iron ore imports up — by Jim Wilson — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

 

Global trends pointing to economic recovery — by Stephen Matthews, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

AS THE global economy emerges from a damaging recession and shipping markets show signs of recovery, shipowners have become optimistic that the worst is over and they can start to look towards better times.

Boxship oversupply may end in 2011 – consultant — by Janet Porter, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

SURPLUS containership capacity could be eradicated within 15 months, earlier than many had anticipated when owners and operators first started to put ships into lay-up at the start of the industry collapse.

Deutsche Post in capacity warning — by Roger Hailey, London — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

DEUTSCHE Post DHL has warned that 2010 capacity for ocean freight, especially ex-Asia, “remains tight” and that rates will “stay high or even increase”.

Tiger ushers in year of defiance for Melbourne logistics outfit — by Jim Wilson — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

FAMOUS Pacific Shipping’s (FPS) Melbourne office again hosted its traditional Chinese New Year function to celebrate the year of the tiger.

Cruise tragedy raises questions of design — by Michael Grey — last modified Mar 29, 2010 02:15 PM

YOU DO not go cruising to be smashed up by heavy weather and the truly horrible death of two passengers after a window was stoved in by a heavy sea coming aboard the Louis Majesty is a matter for both sorrow and sympathy.

Somalia food aid distribution corrupt — by Richard Meade, London — last modified Mar 30, 2010 01:36 PM

GOING MISSING: WFP supplies in a warehouse in Mombasa, Kenya, awaiting distribution to other African nations: a report says that aid intended for Somalia is being intercepted.

Kenya sends strong signal with 20-year sentences for pirates — by Richard Meade, London — last modified Mar 30, 2010 01:38 PM

HANDOVER: A suspected Somali pirates is handed over to a Kenyan police officer by a masked Spanish Commando in May 2009. Some 117 suspected pirates are awaiting prosecution in Kenya out of a total of 400 suspected pirates facing trial in various states.

Hijacked ships face bunker shortages on release — by stephb — last modified Mar 30, 2010 01:41 PM

CORRIDOR: it has been suggested that a safe shipping corridor be created in the Indian Ocean to give naval forces a more manageable area to patrol. French frigate Le Floreal patrolling the waters off the coast of Somalia.

Casualty Reports - 18th March 2010 — by Lloyd's List DCN — last modified Mar 30, 2010 01:45 PM