Two new container berths at Port of Xiamen commence operation

The expanded No 20 Berth and newly-built No 21 Berth at Xiamen's Dongdu port area have passed project completion inspection and have commenced operations as January came to a close.

The two berths are operated by the Xiamen International Trade Group Corp. The expanded No 20 berth can handle a 50,000-tonne containership, has a quay length of 355.2 metres and a water depth of 13.5 metres, costing CNY9.8 million (US$1.4 million) to build.The No 21 berth was a multi-use berth with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes. It has a quay length of 195 metres and a water depth of 13.5 metres.

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UN agency advances proposed cargo reform towards General Assembly approval

A Proposed United Nations standard shipping treaty will now do the rounds of member governments ahead of being submitted to the annual meeting of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in June before it is brought to the General Assembly for approval later in the year.

If passed, reported the American Shipper, the UN treaty will likely bring amendment to national shipping laws which are passed based on previous international agreements. For example, the US Carriage of Goods at Sea Act, is based on the old Hague Rules, though other countries use a different form called the Hague-Visby rules and still others, have adopted the so-called Hamburg Rules.

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Melbourne dredging awaits okay from Labor environment-minister

The Port of Melbourne Corporation is keeping its fingers crossed that a controversial plan to dredge the shipping channel will receive approval from recently appointed Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

A spokeswoman said Mr Garrett has been locked in talks with advisers in Canberra to formulate the details for the A$1 billion (US$906.74 million) project's environmental management plan to ensure the 16 extra conditions he placed on the project will come to fruition, a report by the Melbourne Herald Sun said. The report said the delay in the dredging has cost the Port of Melbourne Corporation A$1 million so far amid calls from industry members to scrap all or part of the planned works. However, global port operator DP World, with five container terminals in Australia, is urging the project be given the green light, after its Australia managing director, Jack Williams, said further delay would leave Australia with infrastructure unable to meet international shipping needs.

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