This International Maritime Organisation certification comes 10 months ahead of the implementation deadline for the code.

The code comes into effect on July 1, 2004, and requirements include an approved shipboard security plan and extensive security training of a shore-based company security officer and a ship-based ship security officer. Lloyds’s Register certified the vessel and Neptune Orient Lines’ (NOL) subsidiary NSSPL, which will be required by the Singapore Flag Administration, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to meet IMO regulations as of July next year.

The funds are in addition to $149,500 spent by the port to begin the clean-up operation in mid-September.

San Pedro Boat Works abandoned the polluted site in November 2002.

The expenditure comes after Los Angeles County Fire Department’s direction to San Pedro Boat Works to clean up the site by August 28.

When San Pedro Boat Works did not comply, the County Fire Department then directed the port, as landowner, to clean the area by October 1.

“We worked very hard to get San Pedro Boat Works to clean up their operations and our property,” said Larry Keller, port executive director.

“Port environmental management staff closely monitor the effects of our tenant’s operations on the environment. This is, unfortunately, a case where the tenant continued making insufficient steps towards the programmes set up by the port and in the end did not live up to their commitments.

“The port is willing to spend whatever it takes in time and funds to correct the damage caused by San Pedro Boat Works.”

In addition, nearly 1 million tons of cargo were transported through the canal on the same day.

Never before has the canal broken two significant records in the same day, the ACP said in a statement.

Recent canal improvements and operational efficiencies have reduced canal waters time (CWT), particularly important to transiting Panamax vessels and enhancing reliability.

The previous Panamax record was 21 vessels in one day, set on December 2, 2002, while the previous tonnage record was 929,915 tons, set on November 14, 2002.

He will continue to have responsibility for Latin American operations.

“Curtis is talented, experienced and has in-depth knowledge of terminal operations and issues. His prior experience in all aspects of operating container terminals makes him well qualified for these important responsibilities,” said Arno Dimmling, senior vice president and chief operating officer for CSXWT.

“One of his principal tasks will be to provide a pivotal leadership role as CSXWT continues its vision to develop and run the most efficient terminals in the world.” Mr Foltz will continue to report to Mr Dimmling in his new position.

Mr Foltz was vice president and general manager Latin America since 2001 and began his career with CSX when he joined Sea-Land Service in 1986 as a supervisor in New Orleans. Since then, he has held positions as manager port operations in Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Charleston and Tacoma and general manager terminal management resources in Charlotte.

Under the terms of the tentative agreement, rental payments for each aircraft, 22 A319s, eight A330s and eight A340s, will be restructured consistent with Air Canada’s restructuring plan.

The agreement is subject to the fulfillment of various conditions and internal credit and other approvals of interested parties. The detailed terms of the agreement are confidential.

“Air Canada’s restructuring continues at a rapid pace,” said Calin Rovinescu, executive vice-president and chief restructuring officer.

“While the current focus is on raising equity capital to provide a stable financial base for the airline upon emergence from CCAA, we are at the same time moving forward with the claims process and working to complete the renegotiation of aircraft leases.

“This agreement brings to 170 the total number of aircraft with restructured terms. To date, 18 aircraft have been returned to lessors and with this latest agreement we can now make clearer decisions on what leases are to be repudiated to complete the process,” said Mr Rovinescu.

Air Canada and its financial advisors are involved in intensive negotiations with aircraft lessors and lenders on revised aircraft lease arrangements consistent with current rates and the company’s restructuring plan. The company will resume aircraft lease payments as new agreements are reached.

The result of the annual event was announced at the gala dinner held at the Ritz Carlton Millennia Hotel in Singapore.

The Asia Logistics Awards gives recognition to Asia’s top-performing players in the logistics industry.

Speaking at the award gala dinner, Hactl’s managing director Anthony Wong said: “We are very honoured to be voted “Air Cargo Terminal of the Year” for the second year in succession. The award is an industry recognition of Hactl’s excellence in providing efficient and reliable cargo handling services at the world’s most modern air cargo terminal.

“It is also a tribute to the efforts of the Hong Kong International Airport in enhancing Hong Kong’s position as the premier air cargo hub in the region.”

This grant money is in addition to US$97 million for domestic carriers that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on April 9 for the same purpose.

“Over the past two years, the airline industry has made tremendous progress in enhancing aviation security,” said Admiral Loy. “The reinforcing and hardening of cockpit doors is just one example of how the government and private industry have partnered in our efforts to keep the skies secure.”

Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act mandating the FAA to require airplanes flying in the US to have reinforced cockpit doors to prevent intruders from gaining access to the flight deck.

The airlines complied, first by strengthening cockpit doors as a short-term solution, and then by installing new, reinforced and ballistic resistant doors to meet the new standards. The mandate covered some 5,800 domestic aircraft and 4,200 foreign aircraft. This work was completed by the April 9 deadline.

Congress appropriated funds to TSA to reimburse domestic air carriers as part of the Emergency War Supplemental Appropriations Act. The TSA, working with FAA, compiled requests for reimbursement from the airlines. The grants will cover direct costs for the purchase and installation of the new reinforced doors.

The top four reimbursements were: American Airlines – $22.2 million; United Airlines – $14.47 million; Delta Airlines – $11.41 million; and Northwest $11.03 million.

Capt. Jiafu said the company is now considering the transfer of some ships to subsidiary, Cosco (UK).

He said the vessels being registered in the UK would include container ships and oil tankers.

Cosco is believed to be considering ship relocation as the UK looks set to reduce shipowner’s tax.

Cosco (UK) has a total of 130 staff and manages seven 5,400 TEU vessels.

Mr Wei said his company is also planning to increase its fleet by 100 per cent by the year 2020, adding the number of oil tankers will be increased from the present five to 20 in order to meet China’s demand for oil.

The company is also seeking to establish a ship chartering company, and has submitted a plan to China’s central government.

Under the plan, the new company will invite foreign investors to participate in the venture.

The company’s president added Cosco will diversify and expand its global logistics business, with a view to becoming a Fortune 500 company by 2010.

Import and export container volumes increased 9 per cent and 1 per cent respectively for the 12 months ended August.

For the month of August import container volumes were up 3 per cent and export volumes were unchanged.

Transshipment volumes were the same in August as compared to August 2002 and down 3 per cent for the 12 month-period ended last month.

Containers comprise approximately 70 per cent of Ports of Auckland’s throughput and about 85 per cent of its business activity.

Governor Sonny Perdue and Charles Graves, commissioner of planning and development for the City of Atlanta, joined the Association of American Railroads (AAR), CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation, to recognise Atlanta for its role as a vital freight rail hub.

Consumer goods represent more than 60 per cent of all the products moving through Atlanta on more than 2 million freight cars each year, meaning 6 million trucks don’t travel on the highways and interstates of Georgia’s capital city.

The public benefits from the environmental and traffic congestion relief that comes from using rail to transport goods instead of trucks.

“Most people would be surprised by the wide variety of consumer products that today’s freight railroads are moving,” said Governor Perdue. “They’re hauling computers, cars, clothing, appliances and food – items that consumers need for their homes and businesses need to operate. Freight rail is more connected to consumers and businesses than ever before.”

Both CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads have recently opened intermodal facilities in the Atlanta area – CSX’s Fairburn Intermodal Terminal south of the city and Norfolk Southern’s Whitaker Intermodal Terminal in Austell, the largest intermodal facility east of the Mississippi.

Intermodal combines the economic and environmental benefits of freight rail with the flexibility of trucks, loading trailers and containers.

With US freight demand expected to nearly double in the next 20 years, intermodal transportation is the best way to handle the growth, said Edward Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads.

“Freight rail movement of consumer goods as part of the intermodal network has been the fastest growing segment of the US freight railroad industry over the past 10 years,” said Mr Hamberger.