MISC will not sell liner business
MALAYSIA International Shipping Corporation (MISC) has announced that the company intends to remain in the container shipping business, refuting various media reports this month that suggested it was planning to exit the sector.
A statement from the company said: "MISC will continue to be in the container shipping business in support of national interests as well as to provide total logistics solution to its customers through its logistics arm, MISC Integrated Logistics Services (MILS)."
The shipping company added that it plans to maintain its focus on long-haul container shipping and continue to rationalise its intra-Asia service.




Cross-border bridges to increase HK-China trade
TWO cross-border infrastructure projects have recently opened and are expected to help facilitate the flow of goods between Hong Kong and the mainland, according to the Hong Kong Government.
The two projects are: the Lok Ma Chau to Huanggang bridge and the bridge between Sha Tau Kok and Shatoujiao control points.
The Sha Tau Kok crossing has two-lanes for northbound traffic (towards China) and one for Hong Kong-bound traffic.
This, the government said, is expected to improve the flow of traffic between the two areas, and will cut down the heavy-vehicle congestion problem that has previously affected drivers going between the two places.




Northern mainland ports increase throughput in 2004
CARGO volume handled by the Dalian Port Group grew by 15 per cent last year over 2003 to 100.44 million tonnes, while container througput surged 31.7 per cent year-on-year to 2.20 million TEU, Xinhua reported citing official statistics.
The report pointed out that most of the freight handled by the port group were oil, ore, steel, ro-ro cargo and containers. However, the figures show that corn exports fell in 2004.
Meanwhile, coastal ports in Shangdong province broke through the 300 million tonne mark last year by handling 301.56 million tonnes of cargo, an 18.2 per cent increase over 2003.
Xinhua also reported that container throughput at the various ports in Shangdong reached 5.74 million TEU, a growth of more than 20 per cent over the previous year, according to Zhou Qiutian, the Director of Communication Authority in Shandong.
The report pointed out that the ports in Shangdong started operations in 1946 and it took them 46 years to reach the 100 million tonne mark. It then took another nine years after that to surpass the 300 million tonne mark, an official said.




Shippers rate Tacoma top US port
THE Port of Tacoma has been rated the top US seaport in terms of productivity, reliability and cost by respondents to a poll conducted by domestic trade publication, Marine Digest and Cargo Business News, according to a statement by port authorities.
"One of our goals is to be the most efficient and reliable intermodal gateway in North America," said Port of Tacoma Executive Director Timothy Farrell.
"The result of our operating knowledge and forward thinking has been cargo growth. Between 1998 and year-end 2004, our container volume grew by 52 per cent without adding a single new steamship line."




CMA CGM (UK) gains new COO
GRAHAM Fraser has joined CMA CGM (UK) Ltd as Chief Operating Officer and will be based in the English port city of Liverpool.
Mr Fraser will also join the firm´s board of directors and report to executive chairman, David Halliday, said a company release.
The new COO is said to bring significant industry experience to CMA CGM (UK) after having held senior management positions in a number of container shipping companies including Canada Maritime, Contship Containerlines, Kent Line and CSAV.
David Halliday said: "The CMA CGM Group is becoming an increasingly significant player with a developing maturity in the UK. All told, we´ve now got over 270 staff at eight offices across the United Kingdom.
"Having worked with Graham at Contship Containerlines, I have first hand knowledge of his abilities in a number of business areas which will be most useful as we enhance the efficiency of various business functions within CMA CGM UK."




Crowley men switch jobs
CROWLEY Maritime Corporation has appointed Rinus Schepen as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley Logistics, and John Hourihan as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley Liner Services´ Latin America group.
The company said the two were long-time Crowley managers, and were switching positions with each other, but will remain domiciled in Jacksonville and continue to report to Tom Crowley Jr., chairman, president and CEO of parent company, Crowley Maritime.
Mr Schepen has run Crowley´s Central America liner shipping operation since 1991, and Mr Hourihan has run the company´s logistics business since its inception in 1998.
"Each of these gentlemen brings a wealth of experience to his new position," said Mr Crowley.
"I am confident this new arrangement will encourage a broader view by both our liner and logistics business units of the developing commercial opportunities in Central America. As such, their transition will add value to our customers with an expanded awareness of all of the Crowley service offerings in the region."
Mr Schepen, a native of Netherlands, joined Crowley in 1987 as a vice president in the company´s former European liner services operation, and his international experience includes assignments in the UK, Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands and the US.
Mr Hourihan also joined the company in 1987 as a vice president in the company´s former Far East shipping operation, but was later relocated to The Netherlands to head up Crowley´s European service. In 1998, he was chosen to lead Crowley´s new logistics company.





2005/01/18