Megastar Shipping launches Singapore-to-Batam, Indonesia service

Megastar Shipping Pte Ltd has announced the addition of a new Batam-Singapore service to its liner trade, operated by two sets of tugs and barges between Singapore and Batam Port on the Riau Islands in Indonesia to provide a daily service Monday to Saturday.

The barges, Global 2 and Global 3, are fitted with cranes capable of lifting up to 30 tons of cargo, towed by tugs, Osco VII and Sumber XXV. The service caters to container cargo, break bulk, LCL and project cargoes.Furthermore, tugs and barges are made available every Saturday to carry project cargo weighing up to 1,500 tons.The service runs Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays with Global 2 departing from Batam at 0900 hrs for Singapore. On Thursdays and Fridays, the Global 3 departs from Batam and is scheduled to arrive in Singapore the next morning at 0630 hrs. On Saturdays, the Global 3 is scheduled to depart from Singapore at 1700 hrs from Jurong Port J3. The service receives cargo daily until 2200 hrs. At Batam, the service berths are at Batu Ampar.

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CMA CGM to develop, operate Maltese box terminal for 65 years

The Maltese government has extended the terminal concession for the world's third largest container shipping company, CMA CGM, to enable the French group's subsidiary to operate Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd in the Port of Marsaxlokk for a further 30 years.

CMA CGM was originally awarded a 30-year concession to operate and develop Malta Freeport Terminals in October 2004. The new terminal concession agreement paves the way for an ambitious expansion and modernisation programme of the port's infrastructure and equipment. These developments come in response to increasing international traffic and will facilitate the berthing of the world's largest vessels, those exceeding 13,000 TEU. The largest shipping operator in Malta with 14 weekly services, CMA CGM will continue to operate Malta Freeport as a common user facility and bolster its transhipment activities given that the port is strategically located at the crossroads of some of the globe's main shipping routes serving Asia, the Middle East, the Aegean, Adriatic and Black Seas along with Europe.

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Maersk to replace 200 Danes with cheaper international crew

Some200 Danish stewards and ratings will be replaced with foreign crew aboard Maersk containerships and tankers flying the flag of Denmark as a cost-cutting measure, AP Moller-Maersk has announced.Most layoffs will happen in six months for ratings while the stewards will be dismissed into 2009.

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