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Shipping News

Dockworkers face huge task of clearing a million boxes
US West Coast longshoremen returned to the docks on Wednesday evening Pacific time - for the first time since Sept 29 - with the momentous task of clearing nearly a million containers from over 200 vessels potentially taking over two months to fully clear.
First come, first served
Goods-laden trucks leave Mexico for US
Indon govt acts against illegal activities at sea

Air and Land Transport

Iata hits out at profiteering by some airline partners
THE world's dominant airline representative group yesterday hit out strongly at what it labelled as 'profiteering' by its partners - airports, air traffic control and computer reservation systems - who glean their income exclusively from the air travel industry.
DHL to tap Asian market with 30% stake in Cathay cargo unit
Air Canada's Sept traffic soars
United, unions fail to strike deal as debt payment deadline nears
AMR pilots begin using text messages with controllers

web site

Shipping News

Dockworkers face huge task of clearing a million boxes
US West Coast longshoremen returned to the docks on Wednesday evening Pacific time - for the first time since Sept 29 - with the momentous task of clearing nearly a million containers from over 200 vessels potentially taking over two months to fully clear.
First come, first served
Goods-laden trucks leave Mexico for US
Indon govt acts against illegal activities at sea

Air and Land Transport

Iata hits out at profiteering by some airline partners
THE world's dominant airline representative group yesterday hit out strongly at what it labelled as 'profiteering' by its partners - airports, air traffic control and computer reservation systems - who glean their income exclusively from the air travel industry.
DHL to tap Asian market with 30% stake in Cathay cargo unit
Air Canada's Sept traffic soars
United, unions fail to strike deal as debt payment deadline nears
AMR pilots begin using text messages with controllers

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HK Government predicts two-week wait for containers Future of Hong Kong's ports to be debated at forum Kuehne & Nagel signs up for C-TPAT initiative Maersk Sealand adds new service to Guinea Bissau DHL, Cathay invest in new fleet Japan Airlines to take delivery of new freighters in 2004 Baluch elected next FIATA president in Turkey

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
US ports to re-open US West Coast ports reopened for the first time in 10 days overnight after the White House forced an end to a crippling shutdown that has cost the US and Asian economies billions of dollars. Boeing Opens Scotland office Boeing established its first office in Scotland to boost support to the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense, or MoD. Bax new Chairman of Vopak Royal Vopak announced the nomination of Mr. J.D. Bax (66) for appointment to the Supervisory Board by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on November 6, 2002. Iata warns against war War in the Middle East poses the biggest threat to the recovery of the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association stated. IBM chooses Geodis for reverse logistics The Geodis group in France signed a new contract with IBM covering the collection of IBM's hardware at the end of the leasing period from its user customers Europe-wide: i.e., almost 100,000 units per year (PCs or servers). Atlas and Polar: '60 extra flights' The West Coast port shutdown caused Atlas Air and its sister company, Polar Air Cargo, to fly a combined total of 60 additional charter flights this month, they said. Asian unions angry Asian waterfront unions have joined their international counterparts in condemning shipping lines negotiators for using 'irresponsible and aggressive tactics' and hiding behind 'guaranteed White House intervention'.

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Major carriers confirm plans for improved services in Europe-Australasia-North America trade Tuscor Lloyds opens own office in Rio De Janeiro New conventional service from Far East HMM continues advance into China market with new route Hanjin adds Xiamen to Pendulum Express service swing MSC makes Capt. Pontiff safety and security director Port of Trieste changing direction to lure Asian trade Xantic, MISC sign pact New President for FIATA Haba-Sped opens in South Africa Maersk Sealand wins 2 Maritime Asia awards - Best MLO & tanker operator Port Klang may become mega distribution hub Rickmers Tianjin brings No. 5 Elbe home to Hamburg after 70 years in US CSAV, Kien Hung & NYK revamp SGEX service IICL releases new bulletin on plywood standards Shreyas Shipping's m.v. Orient Prosperity brings 100x40' Indian rice traders oppose move to form cartel Sinha exhorts EU to view trade in proper perspective Linking of DEPB entitlements with PMV lands exporters in dilemma Cochin Port Trust records 24 pc rise in cargo handling during H1 All 29 US West Coast ports swing back into action - Court grants 80-day 'cooling-off' period Emirates SkyCargo to receive A380Fs in 2008 British Airways carries 39 pc more cargo in Sept. Qatar Airways looks forward to its first freighter JAL, JAS merger begins DAS Air Cargo to link New York via London Mof taking sharp look at tax reliefs, waivers Petronet LNG to achieve financial closure by June 2003 SEZ units can open forex accounts now Rana tells trade to export non-mulberry silks Delhi govt forms new high-level committee to help resolve exporters' problems Saudi SSI team may visit India Rice export target fixed at 5.5 mt Timber importers seek customs duty rationalisation Silk Board seeks CII help to market non-mulberry products Textiles outlay may be doubled

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
Daily Bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents Yemen admits Limburg damage possibly terrorist-linked Little interest despite weak prices in the US Gulf High demand amid softening prices in ARA region Falling Singapore fueloil kick starts healthy demand Crude down on reduced war risk Demand high in soft South Africa Resupplied Oman competes with falling Fujairah market Italian Indications in impromptu upturn US East Coast market snapshot

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
Ecu-Line opens office in Mauritius Elite International Announces 2002 Cargo and Supply Chain Security Conference MAG appoints manager for network safety performance Mr. J.D. Bax new Chairman of Vopak's Supervisory Board New service Africa and South America EGL transfers to barge New cold store Kloosterboer Luka Koper signs an agreement with the port of Pancevo ConTrain GmbH opens new inland container terminal in Hof/Bavaria UK security firm first in Europe to help combat load theft and crime against lorry drivers

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
Conrad gets an order and pulls a plug Conrad Industries reports a contract from the Corps of Engineers and says it has pulled the plug on its deal to acquire Swiftships' assets Cruise ship project to continue P&O Princess and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will continue with construction of the fire-damaged Diamond Princess Hull insurance rates set to soar Major losses such as the Diamond Princess shipyard fire are hurting hull insurers

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
Yacht builder taps Port Angeles as site of new construction project Teamsters begin contract talks on new U.S. master freight plan Washington State Ferries will resume regular service early Rail car institute predicts boom in freight car orders Burlington Norther Santa Fe offering money back guarantee

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Terror proof on Limburg puts tankers in firing line FRENCH investigators have confirmed growing fears that tankers have become the latest "soft" target for terrorists after evidence of an attacking boat was found during the first detailed inspection of the French-flagged tanker Limburg yesterday . Ship casualty spate fuels rocketing insurance rates SHIPOWNERS have been handed the strongest warning yet that marine insurance rates could rocket, writes James Brewer. P&O and yard agree Diamond Princess will be rebuilt AGREEMENT has been reached by P&O Princess Cruises and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to continue construction of the fire-damaged Diamond Princess (above) at the Nagasaki Shipyard. Bibby Group chief's death mourned SIR Derek Bibby, president of Bibby Group, has been found dead at his Cheshire home after apparantly taking his own life, writes David Osler.

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
Dole fails to retrieve LA bananas Limburg salvage progress report Riovia partners bale out Port casualties halt sugar exports Cochin sets terminal target date Sir Derek Bibby Diamond construction to proceed Hull committee warns of rate rise Filipinos take refresher courses Dutch builder to refund subsidy ISM is dog's breakfast, says Grool NSW port seeks terminal interest New management boosts Vostochny Brindisi bows to gas pressure Korean lines admit USWC disruption Disgraced minister in press probe Photos suggest VL terrorist attack Reef safety enhanced by palm pilot Korean yards seek foreign labour Greek tanker revives Gadani hopes USWC ports resume operations

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
Ports open, but conflict goes on West Coast ports were moving cargo again Thursday, but the labor strife that led to a lock-out of union longshoremen by waterfront employers seems far from over. Atlantic carriers set congestion charge Anticipating an ongoing West Coast logjam, carriers "forward publish" a temporary congestion surcharge of $500 per TEU. Slow movement on West Coast Air carriers adding more flights from Asia BAA, Air France boost cargo traffic FMC trans-Pacific hearings postponed Commonwealth Business Media licenses GTA data to Vector SCM Offer to revive Consolidated Freightways Vancouver grain terminal shutdown continues FedEx flies white tigers to Thailand Danzas AEI joins C-TPAT Seaboard Marine adds St. Maarten BAX Global offers online hazmat service

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SNTM CNAN renforce son service Anvers/Algérie “Nous avons décidé de renforcer considérablement notre service régulier entre Anvers et l’Algérie, car cette liaison est porteuse. Nous y affectons désormais cinq de nos navires, de sorte que la fréquence, qui n’était pas très régulière par le passé, est devenue hebdomadaire. Nous pensons d’ailleurs que ces cinq navires ne seront pas suffisants, car la demande est forte”. Ali Koudil, le président-directeur général de l’armement national algérien Société Nationale de Transports Maritimes CNAN, fait résolument preuve d’optimisme en ce qui concerne le service Anvers/Algérie en particulier et l’avenir de sa compagnie en général. Côte ouest: les dockers pourraient freiner la reprise de l’activité portuaire Le travail a donc repris dans les 29 ports américains de la côte ouest américaine placés sous le régime de réquisition que permet la loi Taft-Hartley. Nombreux sont les milieux d’affaires de cette partie des USA qui s’interrogent sur l’efficacité du travail portuaire au cours des prochaines semaines. Assez paradoxalement, la loi en question est destinée à remettre au travail des dockers en grève. Or, ils ne l’étaient pas officiellement. Le syndicat ILWU, pour imposer ses exigences, avait préféré opter pour la tactique du travail au ralenti, ce qui avait amené les exploitants de terminaux à instaurer le lock-out. Les deux parties sont donc réquisitionnées. Toutefois, les propos tenus par la haute direction de l’ILWU ne sont pas passés inaperçus: “Le syndicat se réjouit du retour au travail, mais nous ne sommes pas heureux de l’intervention présidentielle. Les dockers suivront strictement le contrat et les règles de sécurité...” En d’autres termes, les dockers se contenteront de faire le strict nécessaire. ABX: l’UPTR veut que le gouvernement respecte sa parole L’Union Professionnelle du Transport Routier (UPTR) se déclare “très préoccupée par l’évolution d’ABX et des décisions qui pourraient êtres prises par la SNCB”. Cette déclaration, écrit l’UPTR dans un communiqué, est soutenue par le groupe Ziegler et la Confédération des Expéditeurs de Belgique (CEB). Cette inquiétude est motivée “par les derniers résultats d’ABX, fin août 2002, qui font apparaître une perte nette de 42 mio d’EUR, ce qui se situe bien en deçà du budget 2002”, dit le communiqué. Et d’avertir que si jamais la SNCB devait décider d’une nouvelle injection d’argent frais - sous quelque forme que ce soit - dans sa division logistique, l’UPTR devra durcir sa position.

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OCTOBER 10, 2002
Yemen does not rule out attack on Limburg TV reports say authorities now not denying possibility of terrorist hit on VLCC. Thomas Byrne retires from Manitowoc Marine Dennis McCloskey will take over as president at end of 2002. Northrop mulls HDW stake purchase The stake sale will have to be approved by german authorities. Novoship to boost Hyundai order Lapsed South Korean aframax tanker options set to be revived. Eidsiva approves ACLN deal Fraud probe company becomes biggest shareholder in Oslo listed shipowner. Bibby chief commits suicide Seriously ill shipping chief dies from pesticide poisoning RSL ferry purchase hits loan snag Latvia's Riga Sea Line needs a ship, but state representatives are worried about underwriting the cost. VLCC rates jump Large tankers enjoy end-year revival but tone of uncertainty lingers on. Tai Ping refloating efforts continue Owner and local marine authority disagree on refloating strategy. Ventspils Nafta denies sale of Latco to Kauzov Latvian owner's major shareholder is not selling out to Sergei Kauzov, former husband of Christina Onassis. Kirby links with Coastal Towing US tank barge giant expands crude fleet with purchase and management deal. Strike Club boosts reserve Ship delays fall but US West Coast port dispute poses costly threat. Yard and owner reassure on newbuilding But new delivery date as yet undecided for rebuilt Diamond Princess. P&O Stena Line crew member dies during drill Woman collapses during routine exercise aboard P&OSL Aquitaine at Dover. ITF targeting Asian shipowners The International Transport Workers' Federation began Asia Week of Action campaign on Monday. US ports reopen as exporters fear Asian ship shortage Terminals tackle west coast backlog as Asian ports anxiously await return of vessels.