American Shipper articles from March 1993

American Shipper archives from March 1993

Numbers game. (shipping rates)
March 1, 1993... When you compare new TAA rates with 1992, they are higher. But if you go back to 1989, they're still lower for most shippers. The TAA responds to protests filed by British and French shipper councils. Armed with statistics galore, the 11...

Fed Ex: scrap those bilaterals, negotiate multilaterals. (Federal Express Corp)
March 1, 1993... The system developed 50 years ago has outlived its usefulness and is hurting U.S. carriers, says Federal Express chairman Frederick Smith. Is there a new day coming for international air carriers under which they will be able to fly anywhere...

First hurdle. (maritime subsidy program)
March 1, 1993... U.S.-flag lines unite on $275-million wish list but must sell it to administration and Congress. Deals may be needed with shippers and shipbuilders. Result could be omnibus bill with changes to 1984 Shipping Act. U.S.-flag ship lines have...

Mattel's contract. (Mattel Inc.)
March 1, 1993... ANERA offers a February 1 start date, tests new ideas with toy, footwear importers. In a move that departs from tradition in two ways, the Asia North America Eastbound Rate Agreement announced the signing of a year-long service contract with...

Tough choices for Pacific Northwest/Europe shippers.
March 1, 1993... End to all-water container service will cause problems. Solution is needed. Pacific Northwest shippers are preparing to live without all-water container service to Europe. The changes are a result of a decision made by Compagnie Generale...

Sally faces an imperfect world. (Sally Corp.)
March 1, 1993... In a perfect world, animated robotics manufacturer would create smoother-running forwarders, customs agents. The shipping manager at Sally Corp. learned you have to be careful when filling a body bag. When a neighborhood couple out for a...

Import associations air their gripes. (complainst against shipping conferences)
March 1, 1993... Shipper associations, forwarders, NVOs complain about conferences at FMC hearing on service contracts. They want commission to act. After telling a Federal Maritime Commission panel he was not there to bash ANERA, Hubert Wiesenmaier proceeded...

ANERA defends its policies. (Asia North America Eastbound Rate Agreement)
March 1, 1993... Data and explanation of rationale provided by Albert Pierce at hearing. Federal Maritime Commissioner Ming Hsu hopes to wrap up a series of hearings concerning conferences' service-contract policies and practices by the end of March. And...

Intelligence reveals more than inspection.
March 1, 1993... EDITOR'S NOTE: American Shipper's February issue published an article written by a customs broker under a pseudonym. The author warned that Customs' automation would not eliminate fraud and abuse. While the article pointed out problems, it...

Iron highway. (intermodal transport)
March 1, 1993... New kind of train ready for testing. CSX Intermodal/New York Air Brake design targets short-haul trucks (under 750 miles). When testing is completed on a high-tech, piggyback train for hauling highway trailers, a new generation of intermodal...

New ways to ship steel. (steel shipments handling)
March 1, 1993... NS joins Conrail in using CoilShield designs. Conrail, IC use C.W.S. flatrack containers. As shippers continue to demand improved quality for steel shipments, railroads are investing in specialized equipment to minimize damage. Norfolk...

'Waterbridge' to Mexico. (water transportation between US and South America)
March 1, 1993... NAFTA kindles interest in water links between U.S. inland points, Mexico, Central and South America. Tom Coyne is a businessman and a dreamer. His business: Exporting rice. His dream: Developing a more efficient way of transporting U.S....

Shipbuilding consortium works on financing. (US Shipbuilding Consortium Inc.)
March 1, 1993... McDermott to be financial as well as operating partner in shipbuilding consortium. USSC bids on Texaco contract. Block by block, bulk shipping executive Ole Skaarup continues to put the pieces together on his new shipbuilding venture....

Houston ILA cuts pay for breakbulk. (International Longshoremen's Association)
March 1, 1993... Containerized cargo not affected. Cost cuts estimated at 20 percent. Will New Orleans follow? Stung by non-union competition, the International Longshoremen's Association has accepted pay cuts in Houston--and has signaled willingness to...

U.S. port industry not all cities, containers and foreign trade.
March 1, 1993... Many small cities are in the 'top 50,' including ports which handle virtually no foreign-trade cargo. The biggest port in the U.S. is Los Angeles. Right? Wrong. New York? Wrong again. Long Beach? Strike three, you're out. The nation's...

Honda exports switch to New York. (American Honda Inc.)
March 1, 1993... Logistics and quality handling key elements in U.S. unit's decision to change port of export for European-bound autos. American Honda Co. has switched its export port for U.S.-manufactured automobiles bound for Europe and Israel from...

TAA fights back. (Trans-Atlantic Agreement)
March 1, 1993... TAA takes its case to the court of public opinion. "We ain't gonna crumble because we can't afford to crumble." That's how Trans-Atlantic Agreement chairman Olav K. Rakkenes recently answered critics who claim the 11-carrier pricing and...

Bilspedition sells two shipping units. (Bilspedition AB)
March 1, 1993... ACL still up for sale. No buyers in the offing. Group predicts first loss in 40 years. Shareholders take a firmer hand. The Bilspedition Group of Sweden reached agreement in January to sell two of the three shipping companies it targeted last...

Future regulatory debates. (maritime regulation)
March 1, 1993... EDITOR'S NOTE: In speeches to Propeller Clubs in Seattle, Wash., and Jacksonville, Fla., during January, FMC chairman Christopher Koch described the upcoming regulatory debates between shippers and carriers and the likely outcome. The following...

Brussels' foreign lobby. (European maritime reforms)
March 1, 1993... About 3,000 special interest groups employ 10,000. EC sets up rules. The European Commission and its accessibility to special interest groups and their lobbyists is the focus of new guidelines proposed by President Jacques Delors and adopted...