Weekly edition 23rd December

Melbourne rides China dragon to box bonanza

A HIGH proportion of Chinese-sourced import goods have helped drive soaring freight movements through the port of Melbourne in recent months.

Empties box row blows up in Melbourne again

Maersk Line recently announced that it would extend the operating hours at a key container park in Melbourne. This would allow customers to collect and stuff containers earlier and return empty containers later. This was an attempt to add flexibility for customers and transport providers.

Mid East, India box trades are safe havens

THE MIDDLE East and Indian subcontinent container (MEISC) trades proved to be a relatively safe haven during the ravages of the global economic downturn and the subsequent pick-up in activity is widely seen to herald a period of healthy growth.

Ballast water clean-up looms

Convention stipulating water treatment technology set to take effect in next two years, but will shipowners meet the deadlines? CRAIG EASON reports

US beset by uncertainty as patchwork of rules emerges

THE BALLAST water regulatory landscape in the US will develop significantly next year as two federal organisations release data and proposals for new rule-making, writes Craig Eason.

Complex new regime could bring some expensive problems

ENFORCEMENT of the ballast water convention when it comes into force will be difficult and potentially expensive, writes Craig Eason.

Terminal operators weather the storms in a changing world

Large scale investments extend global reach, reports JOHN FOSSEY*

Bulk chemicals trade volumes set to expand

SEABORNE trade of bulk chemicals could rise by 20m tonnes in the next two years to 189m tonnes as global demand for organic chemicals used in the petrochemical industry and vegetable oils for cooking and producing personal hygiene products grows.

Philippines makes bid to halt illegal seafarer recruitment

A crackdown on recruitment booths in Manila’s Luneta Park aims to provide better protection for seafarers and to prevent owners from poaching officers, reports STEVE MATTHEWS

How Deepwater Horizon will change liability law

US Gulf disaster will have a major effect on oil industry regulation, writes GEORGE EDDINGS

Chinese yards warn owners to mind the financing gap

Concerns have been raised over the ability of Western owners to access Chinese loans, reports COLUM MURPHY

Germans furious over U-turn

GERMAN shipowners are furious over a government decision that could result in owners missing out on anticipated subsidies.

Norden orders handysize ships for Rio Tinto alumina contract

DANISH shipowner Norden has re-entered the newbuilding market agreeing contracts for two handysize ice-classed vessels at Japan’s Onomichi shipyard and two standard specification vessels from Hyundai-Mipo yard in Vietnam.

Firm Chinese demand – tight Indian supply

OFFERS to sell imported iron ore in China rose as tight Indian supplies continued to buoy prices last week, with key indices climbing to fresh seven-month peaks, Reuters reports.

Torm to hire handymaxes for Chinese steel deal

DANISH shipping group Torm plans to hire in handymax dry bulk carriers to transport Indonesian iron ore and coal to China as part of contract of affreightment deal it has signed with Hong-Kong listed steel producer China Nickel Resources.

Indonesia energy rush on

INDONESIA’S efforts to increase its oil and gas production is likely to boost business for offshore support vessels next year, Bloomberg reports.

Markets this week

VLCC owners pay the price for tonnage glut

Markets this week

Slow steaming could ease tanker woes

Lines and shippers urged to cooperate

Federal Maritime Commission will ask alliances to provide fleet data, reports JANET PORTER

DSME signs US$1bn order from US owner

SOUTH Korean shipbuilding giant Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) has secured an order worth Won1.2trn (US$1.1bn) for one drillship and one semisubmersible drilling rig from an undisclosed US shipowner.

New York and New Jersey ports to cut 200 more jobs next year

THE planned elimination of 200 more jobs in 2011 will bring the workforce headcount at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to the lowest level in 40 years, a threshold that has already been breached twice in the two previous years.

Casualty briefs 23 December 2010

Maritime

Shipowners turning to armed guards for protection

SHIPOWNERS are ignoring official advice and routinely employing armed guards on ships sailing in pirate-infested waters.

Entrepreneurial salvors face being squeezed out, says one of the last

Reluctance of insurers to pay for salvage cited as one of the key trends blighting the sector

Svitzer fuel research bears fruit in big savings

Tug study on its UK fleet finds average fuel consumption can be cut by 15%, reports GAVIN VAN MARLE