Proposed Shipping Legislation to Jeopardise$100-million Investment in Australia
Australian-owned Bass Strait shipping operator SeaRoad Holdings has warned the Federal Government that its proposed Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill could jeopardise its $100-million investment on a second cargo vessel. A report in ABC quoted SeaRoad CEO Michael Easy, saying that the proposed legislation "is likely to severely impact our current ship replacement plans". The company said proposed changes to the legislation would only benefit foreign shipping interests. He said the removal of cabotage — the restrictions on foreign operators working coastal port-to-port business — would not bring benefits. Michael said his company was in danger of losing its bank finance for two cargo ships…
MH370 Indian Ocean Search Extended South
Australia, Malaysia and China have decided to extend the search area in the southern Indian Ocean, which represents the highest priority for future search efforts for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, informs Australia’s JACC. An expert satellite working group has reviewed all existing information in order to define a search zone of up to 60,000 square kilometers along the arc in the southern Indian Ocean. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the latest search area refinement had involved the efforts and expertise of specialists from around the world. “Specialists have…
Australia Proposes Coastal Trading Overhaul
On April 8, 2014 the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon Warren Truss MP, announced the release of an options paper on approaches to regulating coastal shipping in Australia. The Department is currently seeking views from interested parties about approaches to the regulation of coastal trading. Written submissions will be accepted until Saturday, May 31, 2014. All submissions received, except those marked as in-confidence, will be published on the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development website. The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development will conduct consultative sessions and meetings by appointment with interested parties across Australia in May 2014.
