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Shipping News

Prestige drives home need to deal with refuge issue
THE Prestige disaster should convince the international community once and for all of the urgent need to deal with the issue of places of refuge, according to the president of the International Salvage Union .
Piracy in Asia costs US$25b a year; threat is growing
HK container traffic up 4.9% in Jan-Sept
Ship explosion kills 1
US drill reveals huge economic cost of terrorist activity at ports

Air and Land Transport

Business continues as usual worldwide: United
UNITED Airlines said yesterday that its reorganisation in the United States will not affect its ability to continue operations in Singapore, the US or the rest of the world.
China's account of air crash raises security questions
Asian carriers may face price battle
Abacus expands roles of main executives
Boeing, Virgin Blue to build flight training centre

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Shipping News

Prestige drives home need to deal with refuge issue
THE Prestige disaster should convince the international community once and for all of the urgent need to deal with the issue of places of refuge, according to the president of the International Salvage Union .
Piracy in Asia costs US$25b a year; threat is growing
HK container traffic up 4.9% in Jan-Sept
Ship explosion kills 1
US drill reveals huge economic cost of terrorist activity at ports

Air and Land Transport

Business continues as usual worldwide: United
UNITED Airlines said yesterday that its reorganisation in the United States will not affect its ability to continue operations in Singapore, the US or the rest of the world.
China's account of air crash raises security questions
Asian carriers may face price battle
Abacus expands roles of main executives
Boeing, Virgin Blue to build flight training centre

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U-Freight opens new facility in Guangzhou as business booms M&M Tianbao granted China NVOCC licence Evergreen gets safety thumbs up from ABS society PSA throughput in Singapore increases 7pc in November Emery Forwarding gets new ocean services VP Management Dynamics and Horizon Services partner United files for bankruptcy, reorganisation started Southwest Airlines employees agree to extend contracts Exel relocates to Stuttgart Airport's Cargo City

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DECEMBER 10, 2002
EU companies happy with US respite Industry is making grateful use of the sixty-day period of grace before the United States starts to take firm action against container transport that fails to comply with the 24-hour rules. China Air cites strong cargo demand China Airlines, Taiwan's largest air carrier, Tuesday raised its pretax profit forecast for 2002 by 31 per cent to NT$2.91 billion (US$1=NT$34.854), citing strong cargo business in the third quarter. CSX-boss snow to become minister President George W. Bush announced his intention to nominate John W. Snow, chairman and chief executive officer of CSX Corporation, to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Qantas, Air NZ fantasy for high alliance benefits Qantas Airways Ltd's proposed alliance with Air New Zealand may benefit Australia and New Zealand's economies by more than NZ$2.4 billion (S$2.1 billion), according to a report commissioned by the two airlines. United's creditors line up United's top 20 unsecured creditors are collectively owed more than $3.62 billion. PSA at 17 million Teu in Singapore PSA Corporation has almost topped its 2001 container throughput in Singapore one month before the end of the year, placing it on track to get close to its 17 million Teu goal in 2002. PSA handled 15.37 million Teu in the 11 months to Nov 30.

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SCI posts Rs 241.56 cr. net profit for 2001-02 Indian Ports and Shipping Conference ends on optimistic note - Pinto reiterates commitment to developing ports & shipping Exports to Latin American countries rise by 40 pc during April-August 2002 India to hold trade talks with S. Africa, Asean Pinto holds out hope of Naval clearance for tall Vallarpadam cranes NMPT permits use of transit sheds in Port premises VPT sets national single-day handling record ICD-Sanathnagar sets record in LCL cargo handling - Domestic cargo terminal being constructed Pending Exim Policy notifications to be issued soon: Shourie F.O.B. value of exports to be basis for DEPB credit Giving PCFC to exporters is uneconomical: Banks Textile Ministry wants 40 pc duty on import of raw silk IT hardware industry seeks zero duty regime AEZ for mangoes in AP sanctioned Indirect tax: Advance ruling facility may be extended to 100 pc foreign subsidiaries Ganesh K. Gupta named Chairman of Fieo-WR

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DECEMBER 10, 2002
Panama suffers from Venezuelan strike US Company move Argentina market update Oil prices 'have peaked' US oil demand turns corner OPEC's theory and practice to come closer? Venezuela's strike a disaster for oil industry The Baltic in brief Daily bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents Great Belt: Winds drop, bunkering made easy again Northern Russia: Market overview Fujairah little affected by falling cargo value St Petersburg: Ice breakers out, MDO problems resolved OPEC meeting: Higher quotas, lower output suggested Oil softer as Venezuelan strike may end Steady conditions in Uruguay Rotterdam opens with same range as Monday Hong Kong demand up, but can it deliver? California Sales Tax Reminder

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DECEMBER 10, 2002
UAL Corp. files for Chapter 11 reorganisation American Bureau of Shipping certifies Evergreen for Safety and Quality EIB signs loan BLS in upwind Gebrüder Weiss has taken over Eybl's transport division Inland shipping freight market, week 49, 2rd/6th December, 2002

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DECEMBER 9, 2002
Numast Wants Royal Navy Protection Against Ship Attacks

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Chavez plays game of risk to end tanker stranglehold CRISIS-TORN Venezuela slipped further into chaos yesterday as pro-Chavez supporters took control of tugs owned by international operators in an effort to get petroleum and cargo flowing in the world's fifth largest oil producer. UK under fire for secrecy over tonnage tax owners SECRECY surrounding the identity of shipowners benefiting financially from the UK's tonnage tax has been and branded as scandalous by critics of the scheme. Global piracy bill hits $25bn PIRACY is costing the global economy $25bn, with the criminal gangs involved now as well organised as al-Qa'eda, according to an Australian academic.

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DECEMBER 10, 2002
Africans vulnerable to pollution Drifting boxship towed to Falmouth Bolivian scandal: noose tightens Safety measures threaten supplies Vanuatu denies scam involvement Grimaldi appoints MD Alberghini Prestige leaking 125 tonnes a day Hanjin P prepares for repair work Dredger owners reject bail demand Winter icing hits Novorossiysk Santos price fixing condemned Majors show interest in Guayaquil Spanish PM speaks out on Prestige Terrorism cover set to rocket Japan to target North Korean ships EUKOR venture launched today China Harbour to build Karachi pier Thailand yet to claim spill damages

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DECEMBER 10, 2002
Tanker rates hit two-year high Supertanker daily rates have soared to levels not seen since 2000 as a shortage of tonnage for charter coincides with the United Nations' decision to extend Iraq's oil-for-food program. Hong Kong to deploy U.S. box security U.S. Customs inspectors will be posted to the world's busiest box hub "within the next few months," a Hong Kong government official said. Replacement for MSP near: Schubert The head of the U.S. Maritime Administration said he is confident that a replacement for the Maritime Security Program is likely to be approved though it's unclear when that will take place. Post Office cuts losses in half World Shipping Council endorses OSC Norfolk Southern plans $798M capital budget Strikes threaten British airports Tankers wait on Venezuela oil Polar debuts scheduled Hawaii service Railroad's coal line clears legal hurdle Rulings should speed West Coast cargo

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Gand réduit ses tarifs en 2003 L’Entreprise portuaire de Gand (GAB) va changer de cap l’an prochain sur le plan tarifaire. Non seulement la GAB renonce pour 2003 à l’indexation annuelle traditionnelle des droits portuaires, mais elle va plus loin en réduisant les droits perçus sur les navires et les cargaisons. Les droits d’amarrage (“dock dues” - sur le navire) sont ramenés au niveau de 1994. Par rapport au niveau qui aurait été atteint en cas d’indexation, la diminution s’élève à environ 6,5%. Les droits de cargaison (“cargo dues” - sur la marchandise) reviendront au niveau de 2000, soit environ 5% de moins que s’il y avait eu indexation. Par ces mesures, l’administration portuaire entend adresser un message fort aux utilisateurs portuaires actuels et potentiels et appuyer la baisse des tarifs de pilotage décrétée par la Région flamande. Brointermed Lines dessert désormais l’Algérie L’armement Brointermed Lines, qui exploite depuis 1986 un service régulier mixte conventionnel/breakbulk/containers d’Europe du Nord vers l’Afrique du Nord, plus précisément la Libye, a décidé de donner une nouvelle dimension à son opération en y ajoutant une desserte séparée de l’Algérie. Le premier départ d’Europe du Nord aura lieu le 22 décembre avec le m/v “Nordkap”. IRU: les négociations sur le système TIR en Russie ne donnent rien En Russie, les négociations au sommet avec le directeur-général de l’IRU Martin Marmy concernant les problèmes avec le système TIR dans le pays n’ont rien donné la semaine dernière. C’est ce que nous a déclaré un porte-parole de l’organisation internationale de transport routier à Genève. L’IRU aurait dès lors décidé de ne plus délivrer de carnets TIR à l’association de transport routier russe ASMAP. “Le succès en transport combiné est possible, il faut saisir les opportunités” Le succès du transport combiné ne dépendra pas seulement des mesures prises par les autorités politiques ou de l’amélioration de la qualité. Aujourd’hui déjà, il existe des opportunités pour faire un usage accru du transport combiné et du rail en particulier, mais il faut les saisir. C’est le message que nous avons ressorti du débat organisé hier matin dans le cadre de la bourse professionnelle Intermodal 2002 à Rotterdam, sous le thème “Intermodal Transport and Logistics – Objectives, Strategy and Reality”. Un débat qui n’a pas vraiment produit autant d’étincelles qu’on pouvait attendre.

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DECEMBER 10, 2002
Venezuelans fear explosion Military meddling in refinery operations could lead to a major accident, sources worry. PDVSA credit hangs in the balance Moody's agency reviewing state oil giant's ratings as Venezuelan conflict escalates. Eimskip sets own course Iceland Steamship splits shipping, fishing and investment businesses. Essar Shipping redeems debentures Indian owner pays back $26m of fleet expansion finance. Ship that sank was a CTL Mystery owner prevails against insurers who suspected scuttling. Turks take another Croatia Line boxship Nemtas Nemrut wins auction for bankrupt owner's last remaining vessel. Agate oil "reaches Indonesian beach island" Crude spilled from aframax off Singapore has reportedly come ashore to the south. Engineer dead after ship blast Several more crew reported injured following explosion on Sanasia bulker off Australia. Peel wins two-thirds of Clydeport Manchester Ship Canal manager becomes main owner of UK ports and shipping group, but is still aiming for 90%. CSDC charters out boxships and bulkers China Shipping Development has won bareboat deals for its fleet from other group companies. Further delay for Coral Princess Maiden voyage of $360m P&O Princess newbuilding is again postponed. Stolt director quits Well connected Richard Fisher resigns from chemical carrier for personal reasons. HMM focuses on containers Upturn expected next year in box trades, as Korean owner sheds car carrier unit. AP Moller caught in bulker pay dispute Chief officer allegedly strikes crewmember as dispute on Dalnave's Myron N escalates. Dockwise returns Nottingham to the UK Dutch firm's heavylift vessel Swan arrives off southern England with damaged British destroyer.