Weekly edition 12 May

No compensation for Patrick IT meltdown

A TEMPORARY break down in Patrick Stevedores’ IT system last month will not incur fees under the new landside regulations.

Port Otago upgrade proposal facing stiff public opposition

PORT Otago has applied for resource consent to deepen and widen the lower harbour channel, the swing area and the Port Chalmers berths. It also wished to extend the multipurpose wharf at Port Chalmers.

Adani group wins US$2bn bid for Abbot Point terminal lease

A UNIT of India’s Adani group has won a bid for a 99-year lease on Australia’s Abbot Point Coal Terminal from the Queensland Government for $1.8bn (US$2bn).

Another spill clean up for Newcastle

NEWCASTLE Port Corporation (NPC) says work is underway to clean up a fuel spill at the harbour last week.

South Australia to pioneer floating capesize vessel loading platform for iron ore exports

YEARS OF frustration in South Australia will be partly resolved if recently announced plans to develop an ingenious and novel deepwater port-like facility go ahead.

MLC ‘crucial’ to Oz shipping

INTRODUCTION of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) will “revitalise Australian shipping” according to Paddy Crumlin, president of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia.

Union praise for ship manager after recognition

AUSTRALIAN International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) coordinator Dean Summers has praised a ship management company for helping end an industrial dispute.

Contract fear over ships sailing near Fukushima

IT IS still too early to judge the overall impact of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on the shipping industry, while the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station could yet add further unpredictable dimensions to the situation, according to Marie Kelly, a partner in the Athens office of Norton Rose.

Ince &Co Singapore’s cautious welcome

LAST month’s move by Ince & Co Singapore to form an alliance with a newly-formed Singapore law firm has been welcomed in principle by one of Singapore’s leading maritime law firms.

Glencore oil freight desk reveals substantial losses

COMMODITIES giant Glencore International has laid out for the first time its commanding position as a shipowner and charterer in the global shipping industry and revealed that low tanker rates saw its oil freight desk report “substantial” losses in 2009 and 2010.

Meet the dark horse of the global maritime cluster

Shanghai’s North Bund will become the nerve centre of a new global powerhouse, reports TOM LEANDER

reen tech raises bar on sea trials

NEWBUILDING sea trials are likely to be scrutinised more thoroughly in the future as fuel efficiency and speed become critical to overall performance.

LA terminal completion

CHINA Shipping has announced the completion of a US$48m expansion of its West Basin Container Terminal (WBCT) at the port of Los Angeles, the largest port in the US.

Rickmers upbeat on container prospects

THE CONTAINERSHIP industry is holding its breath in expectation of volume and freight increases on Asia-Europe trades ahead of the peak season but faces the spectre of increased lay-ups if a recovery does not materialise.

Darwin in ups and downs but future looks bright

IT WAS a year of two halves for Darwin Port Corporation (DPC) in 2010.

Meat in the sandwich as Indonesia changes rules

REGULATIONS introduced by Indonesia on Australian livestock last year caused a headache for the Northern Territory’s cattle exporters who rely heavily on that market.

Foot on gas peddle to boost trade

LNG DEVELOPMENTS and a number of other multi-million dollar projects are poised strengthen the Northern Territory economy this year.

Growth challenges NT transport and logistics

WITH THE expected uptick in mining and LNG activity, the Northern Territory’s transport and logistics faces two big challenges: infrastructure and distance.

Bond issue inspires big investment ideas

IF A recent survey of shipping executive confidence is to be believed, shipping companies are giving serious consideration to making a “major investment or significant development over the next 12 months”.

Schenker upbeat on China rail box link

FREIGHT forwarder DB Schenker is hoping to establish a regular freight rail link between China and Germany later this year, following the successful completion of a test trip between Chingqong and the port of Duisburg.

Schenker upbeat on China rail box link

FREIGHT forwarder DB Schenker is hoping to establish a regular freight rail link between China and Germany later this year, following the successful completion of a test trip between Chingqong and the port of Duisburg.

Turkey shining out as green recycling pioneer

NESTLED halfway along Turkey’s eastern coast between the busy shipping lanes that pass Canakkalle to the north and the tourist holiday destination of Bodrum to the south, is the town of Aliaga.

China electricity cuts in China to hit steel, iron ore production

CHINESE steel production and iron ore demand – key drivers of global bulk carrier freight rates – are set to come under pressure from government-mandated electricity allocation restrictions in coming months, according to Commodore Research.

US grain houses eye fledgling box swaps

NORTH American grain exporters could be a catalyst for the fledgling container derivatives market as a new index provides them with the first genuine opportunity to hedge their freight rates risks.

Cocoa flows freely as Côte d’Ivoire returns to normal

OPERATIONS at the Côte d’Ivoire port of Abidjan are returning to normal following resolution of the bitter dispute over the outcome of the November 2010 election, with the new president finally taking office and the lifting of international sanctions.

Markets this week 12 May 2011

Capesize rates squeezed by excess tonnage

Age of ships at auction falling as arrests grow

THE AGE of ships being sold at auction by banks is decreasing as a rising number of modern vessels are arrested from owners unable to repay bank loans.

Scrubber use to rise as owners face low-sulphur shortage

SCRUBBING technology is set to take a bigger slice in the market for controlling ships’ emissions as owners face up to a likely dearth of low-sulphur fuel oil, according to a leading industry voice.

Smaller boxships dominate new orders

FOUR separate newbuilding containership orders emerged last month, with deals bucking the trend for large vessels and instead being pencilled for smaller tramp-sized ships.

CMA CGM officers die in lifeboat exercise

TWO officers on CMA CGM’s 13,830 teu boxship Christophe Colomb have died in a lifeboat exercise accident while the vessel was alongside in the Chinese port of Yantian.

Casualties 12 May 2011

Maritime, Seizures and arrests

Systemic failure at heart of Deepwater Horizon disaster

A CATASTROPHIC “maritime safety net” system failure that involved several parties beyond lease operator BP was the root cause of the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon casualty, a preliminary US report has found.

Asia’s trade prowess is rooted in its past

More than 40 centuries ago, early maritime traders built a lost world complete with traffic jams and stone credit cards, writes NURY VITTACHI*

History in a box – from feast to famine – 10 years ago

IT WAS a fairly short and definitely a savage swing. Australia was awash in empty container boxes and the local port authorities started to get the hump. They encouraged the carriers to take all the empties away.

Wall Street bearish about shipping

Companies planning a share offering will be pinning their hopes on a dramatic and lasting market recovery, writes PAUL SLATER

US security rule is a curse on seafarers

Three cases show how the Transportation Worker Identification Credential is being administered by a misguided and misconceived bureau, writes JOHN AC CARTNER*

US security rule is a curse on seafarers

Three cases show how the Transportation Worker Identification Credential is being administered by a misguided and misconceived bureau, writes JOHN AC CARTNER*