Archive
International News Services archives articles supplied to clients one year or more after initial publication. These articles are protected by a password and not made available to readers without permission from clients. They are used as a background resource by agency journalists. Upon client requests, International News Services will remove such articles from the archive or not upload them in the first place. They are included to demonstrate the breadth of topics undertaken by the agency and also to help promote clients’ coverage.
SPANISH TONNAGE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has approved a special Tonnage Tax in Spain, where the country’s maritime shipping companies pay tax on the capacity of their ships rather than the profit or loss that they generate.
Brussels approved the plan under its EU internal market powers, because it matches policies stated in the 1997 Commission guidelines on state aid to maritime transport and its new transport white paper.…
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADD
BY KEITH NUTHALL
Council secretariat officials have told Lloyds List that the March 25th and 26th transport and telecommunications Council of Ministers will try to reach political agreement on the establishment of a single EU committee on safe seas and on the prevention of pollution by ships, which would replace a number of committees covering these policy areas.…
RUSSIA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
RADIO navigation is to be improved in the Gulf of Finland, notably in Russian waters, because of a planned European Bank for Reconstruction and Development-funded project. The Maritime Port Authority of St Petersburg has formally applied for a loan from the bank for a US$5.4 million project to set up three radio towers on the islands of Gogland, Sommers and Skar, part of a regional navigational safety project.…
EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE NETHERLANDS Shipbuilding Industry Association (VNSI) has welcomed the oncoming agreement of the Euro 16.2 billion EU Sixth Framework Programme for research as giving the European industry a chance to compete effectively against far East suppliers, such as those from South Korea.…
GREECE
BY ALAN OSBORN
THE EUROPEAN Commission has decided to bring an action against Greece in the European Court of Justice over its interpretation of the EU’s maritime cabotage regulation of 1992 and its application to the number of crew on board cruise and other vessels engaged in services between the Greek islands.…
SAFE SAW
BY MATTHEW BRACE
A NEW “safe saw” hits the market in April, which could find favour with plant hire companies keen to prevent accidents involving their ‘amateur’ customers.
The brainchild of Arbortech Industries Ltd, in Western Australia, the blades of the Australian KS150 Kango Saw cut with an orbital action slicing through masonry, wood and tough composite materials but not breaking the skin if they accidentally hit flesh.…
ICAO CONFERENCE
BY MONICA DOBIE, in Montreal
A PROGRAMME to strengthen commercial aviation security on a global scale, primarily through a mandatory audit of national services, has been agreed by all 187 Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) at a two day High-Level, Ministerial Conference held at its headquarters in Montreal, Canada.…
CAMBODIA
BY MARK ROWE
CAMBODIAN tourism authorities have announced a US$73m plan to redevelop Siem Reap airport near the ruins of the famous Angkor Wat temple. The French consortium Societe Concessionaire de l’Aeroport, which is overseeing the development announced last week it would invest US$23 million in the first phase of development which includes building a new terminal.…
AIRPORT NOISE
Keith Nuthall
THE EUROPEAN Parliament has voted to accept the latest European Commission airport noise directive, while passing some technical amendments that would make the legislation tougher than originally proposed.
MEP’s voted for changes time-limiting for 10 years an exemption allowing the noisiest aircraft registered in developing countries to continue operating in Europe, adding that these aeroplanes must be prevented from moving to new routes in the EU.…
WAR RISK COMPANY
Keith Nuthall
EXPERTS at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) are discussing a proposal to set up a non-profit company that would offer airports, ground handlers and airlines third-party war risk liability insurance cover from US$50 million per insured, should the commercial market withdraw such protection.…